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.