Well, I was up way too late last night trying to put 2 new strings in the highest octave of my 34 string Kortier. I was only supposed to be replacing the F string, but snapped the neighboring E string because I was distracted and turned the wrong tuning pin! AArrgghh! I had checked online for videos of how to tie knots, and replace strings, to see if someone had tips or tricks to make what has- for me-usually been a very trying experience! I did learn that the center stick from Qtips makes a great anchor! And then I watched Sylvia Woods put the string up, around pull tie, etc...looks so easy for her, but these 2 strings needed a fair amount of slack, being so high, and after 2 or 3 times around and not quite catching.....aaaarrrrggghhh...the string began to crimp...and the slack began to twist, and I realized I needed a 3rd hand, and the heat and humidity in my living room began to rise, and I was a wreck. Take it out, start over...breathe, try again...calm down, it is only a string, for Pete's sakes! I must be a total numbnuts! I have put plenty of strings on in the past, but not for quite a while, now. Been very lucky til this crazy weather finally won. Anywho- once I am on a roll, it is not so hard, but relearning after a significant amount of time has passed, a real trial. I am not happy with the final results, as the string on the pin is not caught quite the way the rest on the harp are, but so far seem secure. What am I doing wrong?! Two hours for 2 strings is ridiculous! Mind you, the 2nd only took 15 minutes, but still that seems excessive. This is elementary stuff, but I have always dreaded the procedure- will do most anything to avoid a broken string- and the thought of restringing a harp just because it has been awhile? Yagottabekiddinme!
The good news is, actually spent time this week playing! Hooray!! The fingers still work!! Now to keep that up on a regular basis- even while fearing the potential broken strings in this weather!
Hope my sad tale of stringing woes does not get me booted off the blog for immaturity and general whineyness! Can't wait to hear about Somerset!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
JULY! It's Somerset Month!
Just the fact that I haven't been around should tell you something. June was a very solid harping month but so far July, which admittedly, hasn't even been a week, is proving to be highly distracting - in part because we've had a huge amount of rain and I have spent a ridiculous amount of time and energy doing things like digging water bars and trying to keep our driveway from washing out...... and after a round of that I'm too tired for music. But I have high hopes anyway. I am a bit unfocussed as to goals which is always a problem, but if I do start this volunteer gig at our local hospital that will likely concentrate my energies!
Week One
Lame so far!!! Did run through Kean O'Hara 3rd a bunch of times for some unfathomable reason.
Week Two
Well..... I'm loving both the Carolan tunes I learned recently, Planxty Sweeney - very short and sweet and George Reynolds, really a graceful tune indeed with some nice unexpected turns in it. Otherwise I'm falling into that trap of the smorgasbord confusion - so many great tunes, so little time...... What I would like to do is work up a set with Caislin Or and Her Golden Hair. I can't decide what keys to play them in though......I have various recordings, I do have 'the book' somewhere that Junior Crehan's daughter put together and ultimately it is best to learn these tunes in keys so that other folk can play with you..... so that means I'll have to find the book which means another distraction from actually playing anything. So you all have a good week now while I.......
Week Three
(Hard to believe that it is the third week of July already!). I've been playing mostly tunes that I already play pretty well, tuning up the two other harps going with me - one of which I am thinking I might try to sell, the Camac. I don't use it and I thought I might do some teaching but I haven't been doing that. On the other hand, the minute I do sell it, someone will want lessons, right? Haven't been able to connect with the person at the hospital who organizes the music in the lobby, but I think it is that summer time problem of people being in and out.....
I'm at Somerset now - working behind the desk...... my obsession is the Harp Corral and this year I'm trying out a new approach - short and long term parking - the first is self serve to save my back. I was so exhausted last year it was painful. I'll find out at lunchtime if this is going to work. Otherwise - I've had some tunes with Laura and Dennis.
Soooooo Somerset is over and it was great this year. Things went smoothly, there were more attendees than ever, lots of classes to choose from. My parking idea turned out brilliantly and I think everyone was happier and calmer getting to park their own harps and not having to wait around in line. I was happier not having to do so much schlepping!! The Carolan Marathon was great - played the two new tunes from the Festival - although Geo. Reynolds had no more than a feeble accompaniment...... What made me happiest was playing after all the activities ended. Cormac de Barra was new to the Festival and I hope he'll be back, he made the late night sessions rock!
Week 4
It's Wednesday already and I haven't started in on this week.... although that will be OK because July is a long month... I haven't done more than review the slides that Grainne taught (well, she really only taught one and 'gave' us another - Mrs. Murphy's Quadrille being the first and An Choisir being the second. Both delightful tunes. I feel that I haven't said enough about Somerset - but really - my perspective is a bit skewed. Despite the fact that the Hilton was in an annoying state of 'under construction' in many inconvenient ways, it seemed that overall the mood was buoyant and few were going to let the inconveniences bother them. Usually I swim a couple of times and even use the work out room, but not this time. I somehow managed to lose 2 lbs so I guess I was busy. I brought my own breakfast and lunch and it made all the difference, I think. Which has nothing to do with harping, not really.
Been working a little on the two slides An Choisir and Mrs. Murphy's Quadrille (one just a recording and handout) we 'got' from Grainne and also on The Boys of the Town and The Green Hills of Woodford which I am putting together..... they are just dissimilar enough to be intriguing together, I think..... sort of flowing from one to the other...... I'm trying to make my own accompaniment, riffing off of Grainne's a little but trying to make something that feels right for me.
Also working on keeping Molly St. George alive...... I'd really like to get this one into the long-term storage area of my brain.
Week One
Lame so far!!! Did run through Kean O'Hara 3rd a bunch of times for some unfathomable reason.
Week Two
Well..... I'm loving both the Carolan tunes I learned recently, Planxty Sweeney - very short and sweet and George Reynolds, really a graceful tune indeed with some nice unexpected turns in it. Otherwise I'm falling into that trap of the smorgasbord confusion - so many great tunes, so little time...... What I would like to do is work up a set with Caislin Or and Her Golden Hair. I can't decide what keys to play them in though......I have various recordings, I do have 'the book' somewhere that Junior Crehan's daughter put together and ultimately it is best to learn these tunes in keys so that other folk can play with you..... so that means I'll have to find the book which means another distraction from actually playing anything. So you all have a good week now while I.......
Week Three
(Hard to believe that it is the third week of July already!). I've been playing mostly tunes that I already play pretty well, tuning up the two other harps going with me - one of which I am thinking I might try to sell, the Camac. I don't use it and I thought I might do some teaching but I haven't been doing that. On the other hand, the minute I do sell it, someone will want lessons, right? Haven't been able to connect with the person at the hospital who organizes the music in the lobby, but I think it is that summer time problem of people being in and out.....
I'm at Somerset now - working behind the desk...... my obsession is the Harp Corral and this year I'm trying out a new approach - short and long term parking - the first is self serve to save my back. I was so exhausted last year it was painful. I'll find out at lunchtime if this is going to work. Otherwise - I've had some tunes with Laura and Dennis.
Soooooo Somerset is over and it was great this year. Things went smoothly, there were more attendees than ever, lots of classes to choose from. My parking idea turned out brilliantly and I think everyone was happier and calmer getting to park their own harps and not having to wait around in line. I was happier not having to do so much schlepping!! The Carolan Marathon was great - played the two new tunes from the Festival - although Geo. Reynolds had no more than a feeble accompaniment...... What made me happiest was playing after all the activities ended. Cormac de Barra was new to the Festival and I hope he'll be back, he made the late night sessions rock!
Week 4
It's Wednesday already and I haven't started in on this week.... although that will be OK because July is a long month... I haven't done more than review the slides that Grainne taught (well, she really only taught one and 'gave' us another - Mrs. Murphy's Quadrille being the first and An Choisir being the second. Both delightful tunes. I feel that I haven't said enough about Somerset - but really - my perspective is a bit skewed. Despite the fact that the Hilton was in an annoying state of 'under construction' in many inconvenient ways, it seemed that overall the mood was buoyant and few were going to let the inconveniences bother them. Usually I swim a couple of times and even use the work out room, but not this time. I somehow managed to lose 2 lbs so I guess I was busy. I brought my own breakfast and lunch and it made all the difference, I think. Which has nothing to do with harping, not really.
Been working a little on the two slides An Choisir and Mrs. Murphy's Quadrille (one just a recording and handout) we 'got' from Grainne and also on The Boys of the Town and The Green Hills of Woodford which I am putting together..... they are just dissimilar enough to be intriguing together, I think..... sort of flowing from one to the other...... I'm trying to make my own accompaniment, riffing off of Grainne's a little but trying to make something that feels right for me.
Also working on keeping Molly St. George alive...... I'd really like to get this one into the long-term storage area of my brain.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Happy 4th!
The sun is shining!! Two days in a row!! But the temps are rising, and after I got a facebook post from Sue Richards showing the harp she had been tuning that exploded in her arms, in pieces, snapped at the neck, and read the comments from other harpers that they had seen (or had) the same thing happen in the same spot- I panicked! I have never babied my harps (while trying to keep them reasonably humidified and temperate) because I felt if they were used to "perfect" all the time, I could never take them out to other places where conditions would be so different. So far that has worked for me... but my new harp is so new and still settling in, when I saw the photos, and the weather forecast, I put the new baby back in his/her case and plunked it in the basement, where I do have a dehumidifier running, and the temp is about 68 degrees right now. Not the place to practice, but I don't want the new glues melting as the strings are getting settled! Yikes! There is no way I can provide perfect in my house- so this is the best I can do for now. And I loosened the strings on the big harp, as well. Till things even out a bit, that is what I am doing...
So glad to hear that it is not only MY red and blue strings that disappear in the lights on stage! Such a disorienting place- if the lights are too bright or too dim, I am in trouble. I definitely prefer being "background music" than performing front and center! Will have to try and catch Pam and her hubby at the farmers market- they sound SO good together! If you have a chance, grab a cellist, as harp and cello, or harp and flute, also make great duos. AND, I am much more comfortable on stage if it is NOT all ME!
Have fun!! Stay cool!
So glad to hear that it is not only MY red and blue strings that disappear in the lights on stage! Such a disorienting place- if the lights are too bright or too dim, I am in trouble. I definitely prefer being "background music" than performing front and center! Will have to try and catch Pam and her hubby at the farmers market- they sound SO good together! If you have a chance, grab a cellist, as harp and cello, or harp and flute, also make great duos. AND, I am much more comfortable on stage if it is NOT all ME!
Have fun!! Stay cool!
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
The Whole Month is Mine!
Week One
You can tell I'm a teacher by the title of my post. Summer is so exciting and relaxing at the same time if you're a teacher. Clean out the garden, refinish a floor, reading, kayaking...the possibilities are endless! And, of course, more time than ever to practice my harping. Thanks to Andee's example, we've decided to busk at our local Farmers' Market in a few weeks. I hardly ever play outside, so that's cool to begin with. And who doesn't like playing and having fun when most people are not too focused on your performance??? (And everyone who has a table at the market sends a little gift your way - last year we got the BEST Wild Blueberry Jam...)So far the other biggie is Somerset, about which it's almost impossible to speak. Harp 24/7, so much to see and try! I hope to come back with some South American tunes that will make for good harp/guitar duets.
I work on O'Farrell's Welcome every day, but I seem to have hit a plateau. It sounds more like an exercise than it does a snappy dance tune. So I think I'll put it on the back burner and choose a new Kim Robertson arrangement of some other tune. If I come 'round to it again in a few weeks, maybe I'll bust it out??
My dehumidifier is working overtime with all this New England humidity, but so far only one broken string!
Week Two
The heat/humidity twins make it hard to move. Too lazy to tune, just phoning in my practicing. Can sight read through Kim Robertson's Slumber My Darling, too darned stupified to clean it up and make ready for a performance. O'Farrell's creeps along slowly - I am thinking that in 4-5 years I will play it as fast as IrishKeyley(sp) on YouTube. When I'm done typing will go to iTunes and buy Grainne's version, which is maybe a little slower? (in my dreams...) If the weather cooperates my husband and I will play for an hour or so at the local Farmers' Market this Saturday. We have maybe 20 songs we always play together, so it should be OK; nevertheless I need to go back to 'Slow Tuesdays' and stop nancy-ing around. You'd think the thought of the zillions of terrific harpists I'll hear at Somerset would make me get off my duff. We'll see.......
Week Two and a Half
So hot and sweaty I wear an old pillowcase over my forearm while I'm practicing. :))
Week Three
Played at the local Farmers' Market for an hour. Made $25, not much but still we were happy to be paid. After the 1st 15 minutes was not nervous at all, and when I had a tiny brain freeze once or twice, found my way right back into the phrase with no issue. Of course, it helps that the guitar covers you while you're unfreezing....Our set list included Scarborough Fair, Swan Lk 243, Sheebeg, Planxty Drew, Carolan's Concerto, Fanny Poer, Squire Woods, My Love is Like a ..., Ashokan Farewell, Baptist Johnson, George Brabazon #1, Var Det Du, Grenadier and the Lady, Trip to Sligo, O'Carolan's Welcome and Kean O'Hara #3. Nice children asking questions, nice puppy licking my foot, very nice shoppers who snapped our pix. In an unrelated story, got a wedding gig on top of our local ski area. Now, all focus will be on Somerset. Lucy, did you download the phone app? I can hardly say how much I like it! Your schedule, a hotel map, to-do lists (as in remember to bring a 3-hole punch this time!), artist bios, etc, etc. Will post more from Parsippany....
You can tell I'm a teacher by the title of my post. Summer is so exciting and relaxing at the same time if you're a teacher. Clean out the garden, refinish a floor, reading, kayaking...the possibilities are endless! And, of course, more time than ever to practice my harping. Thanks to Andee's example, we've decided to busk at our local Farmers' Market in a few weeks. I hardly ever play outside, so that's cool to begin with. And who doesn't like playing and having fun when most people are not too focused on your performance??? (And everyone who has a table at the market sends a little gift your way - last year we got the BEST Wild Blueberry Jam...)So far the other biggie is Somerset, about which it's almost impossible to speak. Harp 24/7, so much to see and try! I hope to come back with some South American tunes that will make for good harp/guitar duets.
I work on O'Farrell's Welcome every day, but I seem to have hit a plateau. It sounds more like an exercise than it does a snappy dance tune. So I think I'll put it on the back burner and choose a new Kim Robertson arrangement of some other tune. If I come 'round to it again in a few weeks, maybe I'll bust it out??
My dehumidifier is working overtime with all this New England humidity, but so far only one broken string!
Week Two
The heat/humidity twins make it hard to move. Too lazy to tune, just phoning in my practicing. Can sight read through Kim Robertson's Slumber My Darling, too darned stupified to clean it up and make ready for a performance. O'Farrell's creeps along slowly - I am thinking that in 4-5 years I will play it as fast as IrishKeyley(sp) on YouTube. When I'm done typing will go to iTunes and buy Grainne's version, which is maybe a little slower? (in my dreams...) If the weather cooperates my husband and I will play for an hour or so at the local Farmers' Market this Saturday. We have maybe 20 songs we always play together, so it should be OK; nevertheless I need to go back to 'Slow Tuesdays' and stop nancy-ing around. You'd think the thought of the zillions of terrific harpists I'll hear at Somerset would make me get off my duff. We'll see.......
Week Two and a Half
So hot and sweaty I wear an old pillowcase over my forearm while I'm practicing. :))
Week Three
Played at the local Farmers' Market for an hour. Made $25, not much but still we were happy to be paid. After the 1st 15 minutes was not nervous at all, and when I had a tiny brain freeze once or twice, found my way right back into the phrase with no issue. Of course, it helps that the guitar covers you while you're unfreezing....Our set list included Scarborough Fair, Swan Lk 243, Sheebeg, Planxty Drew, Carolan's Concerto, Fanny Poer, Squire Woods, My Love is Like a ..., Ashokan Farewell, Baptist Johnson, George Brabazon #1, Var Det Du, Grenadier and the Lady, Trip to Sligo, O'Carolan's Welcome and Kean O'Hara #3. Nice children asking questions, nice puppy licking my foot, very nice shoppers who snapped our pix. In an unrelated story, got a wedding gig on top of our local ski area. Now, all focus will be on Somerset. Lucy, did you download the phone app? I can hardly say how much I like it! Your schedule, a hotel map, to-do lists (as in remember to bring a 3-hole punch this time!), artist bios, etc, etc. Will post more from Parsippany....
Monday, July 1, 2013
July
Well I started out July on a good note (well ended June, more like). Mike and I went to a new open mic night and it was fantastic!
In the first half I played The Morning Star and The Temperance Reels and the Eleanor Plunkett / The Rights of Man. In the second half I played She Moved Through the Fair / Cooley's Hornpipe and Black is the Colour / Nellie Your Favour I'm Afraid I'll Not Gain.
I stuck with familiar stuff because no-one would have heard me play it before since it was a new venue in a different town *and* familiar material is best when I may be confronted with new things that will throw me off like dim lighting (I can't see!), a red floor (my red strings disappeared) and lots and lots of black tangled wires (my blue strings disappeared, too!) everywhere!
Anyway, I did fine with only a few minor mess-ups. Practice does help--a lot!
Week 2 I'm getting an hour set together for two performances coming up. One is the little performance at Kirkstall Abbey in August, the other is The Saltaire Festival in September. I need an hours' worth of material polished up. Saltaire is only 40 minutes, but I can pick the best from the hours' worth.
I think I'll have more airs for the Abbey gig and knock some of them out for the Saltaire Festival because of the different moods of both gigs.
Did I mention I have put the finishing touches on Lament for Limerick? It's really pretty.
Here's a pic from the open mic night at The Sparrow in Bradford from two weeks ago. Some guy did a review of the evening and said I was one of the highlights (wow!)!
I'm right now gearing up for our usual open mic night. I think I'll do Lament for Limerick and The Mist Covered Mountain / Cliffs of Moher in the first half. Not sure what I'll do in the second half yet...
I did Father O'Flynn / MacAllistrum's March and She Moved Through the Fair / Cooley's Hornpipe.
All went well, hardly any mistakes. Now only a week and a half until we go to Ireland for two weeks!
End of July I played through my hour long set yesterday with an eye (ear?) to what needs working on the most and what I've got to do in order to get it polished. Afterwards I found out that Mike's friend can't play that day (Mike and his friend Brian--known as Craig & Wylie--were supposed to play from 3-4 after I play from 2-3). So now my perfect set list will have to be re-arranged a bit and maybe a couple more sets of tunes thrown in. Mike will do some of his songs and play with me on several sets so I won't have to add *too* many more pieces.
We're off to Ireland tomorrow morning!
In the first half I played The Morning Star and The Temperance Reels and the Eleanor Plunkett / The Rights of Man. In the second half I played She Moved Through the Fair / Cooley's Hornpipe and Black is the Colour / Nellie Your Favour I'm Afraid I'll Not Gain.
I stuck with familiar stuff because no-one would have heard me play it before since it was a new venue in a different town *and* familiar material is best when I may be confronted with new things that will throw me off like dim lighting (I can't see!), a red floor (my red strings disappeared) and lots and lots of black tangled wires (my blue strings disappeared, too!) everywhere!
Anyway, I did fine with only a few minor mess-ups. Practice does help--a lot!
Week 2 I'm getting an hour set together for two performances coming up. One is the little performance at Kirkstall Abbey in August, the other is The Saltaire Festival in September. I need an hours' worth of material polished up. Saltaire is only 40 minutes, but I can pick the best from the hours' worth.
I think I'll have more airs for the Abbey gig and knock some of them out for the Saltaire Festival because of the different moods of both gigs.
Did I mention I have put the finishing touches on Lament for Limerick? It's really pretty.
Here's a pic from the open mic night at The Sparrow in Bradford from two weeks ago. Some guy did a review of the evening and said I was one of the highlights (wow!)!
I'm right now gearing up for our usual open mic night. I think I'll do Lament for Limerick and The Mist Covered Mountain / Cliffs of Moher in the first half. Not sure what I'll do in the second half yet...
I did Father O'Flynn / MacAllistrum's March and She Moved Through the Fair / Cooley's Hornpipe.
All went well, hardly any mistakes. Now only a week and a half until we go to Ireland for two weeks!
End of July I played through my hour long set yesterday with an eye (ear?) to what needs working on the most and what I've got to do in order to get it polished. Afterwards I found out that Mike's friend can't play that day (Mike and his friend Brian--known as Craig & Wylie--were supposed to play from 3-4 after I play from 2-3). So now my perfect set list will have to be re-arranged a bit and maybe a couple more sets of tunes thrown in. Mike will do some of his songs and play with me on several sets so I won't have to add *too* many more pieces.
We're off to Ireland tomorrow morning!
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