8 November
So where has the time gone this month? Already it is the 8th!
The good news is I am playing the harp more steadily. This hospital gig makes that happen. I try to play a new tune every week - this week it was Inis Oir, even if it was a bit shaky it sounded fine I think.
Flakes flying about today.
Sunday is one of our "Among Friends" musical gatherings and I am playing Sport on the harp with a flute friend. We sound pretty decent I think! I'm kind of amazed, I've only been working on that tune for ten years! I finally simplified the left hand and bingo! Michael Rooney I ain't.
30 November
OK so I have been a terrible blog host or whatever I am !
The Among Friends party went swimmingly, and I am so happy that I have finally nailed Sport - well - not nailed but kind of tacked it up so it mostly goes as it should.
I've been playing the harp a lot. Last Sunday (the.....23rd?) I found I had the house to myself and sent out an open invite and two friends were able to come over and they 'forced' me to play the harp instead of the concertina (which I never even got out of its box!) the whole time. What a nice afternoon it was, one flute, one fiddle and one harp - and lots of shared tunes, including a good deal of Carolan.
I think I have Mme Maxwell in pretty good shape, so it's a 'what's next'? for Carolan - I think I should bring some of the oldies back up to speed, like Planxty Irwin and then pull Inchiquin up a notch or two.
Otherwise the jig set of Old Man Dillon and The Green Hills of Woodford is really starting to come together and I am beginning to work on a new set of The Gallowglass and The Legacy. I'm finding it more and more these days that I do like to think of tunes in sets - I don't have to be glued to them - but I find it more satisfying to figure that part out too and learn them together. It certainly helps make that transition a smooth one!
Heaven knows what December will bring. I have a number of non-musical obligations (not just holiday stuff but also my work) that will be taking up a huge amount of my time, but we'll see. I've been buffing up Henry McDermott Roe because my bro who plays the cello has learned it and will be eager to play it when he comes up for New Year's.
Hope everyone else is doing well and harping away!
It's great to have a regular gig to keep you motivated and to keep the momentum up. Is your 'Among Friends' thing sort of like a session?
ReplyDeleteNo it's more like a private open mike, the idea is to get over or work on performance anxiety - so it's pretty much just our group that's been learning from Benedict and Hilari - the first one was smaller, more just the core group, so this time will be different.
ReplyDeleteAh, it's a great idea!
ReplyDelete