Sharon's November Thoughts

                                            Sharon's November Thoughts

It is definitely getting chilly after a long and wonderfully colorful fall in NH.  Prettiest autumn we have seen in the area in years!  The month started off for me with the Coffee House at Smith Church, where I introduced my new Fisher harp ("Colleen") and got to find out if I needed to amplify her or not.  For years I have brought my workhorse- the 36 string birds eye maple Kortier- and stuck a mic down inside him, and let the sound guy in the back of the room work his magic.  For such a big harp, and with such a big hollow base, he has a mellow but very quiet voice.  When Sue Richards met him last summer in Lubec, Maine, she was surprised at how quiet he was , especially for his size.  However, Colleen is just fine relying on her own power- no amplification necessary at all.  Really makes things simpler- I can play the strings with a normal firm hand, instead of tickling the strings to avoid feedback and un pleasant sounds!  I was thrilled- and so was the audience!  Just played 4 tunes- Cliffs of Moher, Eleanor Plunkett, Cooleys Slide, and ended with Woe Betide Thy Wearie Bodie.  The next night was our Celtic Evensong at church, and I went back to the Kortier with amplification, because I was not sure the Fisher would carry in that huge sanctuary, with the sound dampening wall tiles and the carpet.  I just didn't have time to check that out, with the Fisher, so went with what works.  Next month I will bring Colleen instead.

I have been asked to bring my harp to another church later this month, as they experiment with an evening service for the first time.  I checked out that sanctuary and I think the Fisher will project in there just fine.  They want 3 separate musical interludes.  Should be fun.  I will be doing them all from memory- I find I can use music if I am doing background stuff, but if I am front and center, I want to have what I play thoroughly memorized, with just a few gig notes.  And I am still so amazed at how much faster I learn, and how much longer I retain, pieces I have been taught by ear and rote!  As opposed to learning by sight reading- and I sight read really well.  I read the explanation of why that is so, but it still amazes me! 

Christmas music!!  Need to learn some more, fast!  My stand bys are, Greensleeves (What Child is this)Da Day Dawnes, That Night in Bethlehem, Silent Night and Christ Child's Lullaby.  I am working on: Blessed Be That Maid Marie, The Friendly Beasts, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, and a few others...not sure they will all get into the memory banks, but I would prefer that!  Does anyone know of any other Irish traditional Christmas tunes that I should add to the holiday repertoire?

Thanksgiving is coming- and I am very thankful for harps and harp music and harpers!!
Have a great one!