The other night I had a dream that was harp related. I do believe that some / most dreams are loaded with meaning and there for us if we choose to listen.
In the dream I was agreeing with an older gentleman that yes, I would be available to play for his group (not sure what his group was, but some kind of club of members with similar interests of some sort). The performance was to be music and something to do with Seamus Heaney.
Now of course I am familiar with Seamus Heaney but I've never read his poems. Today I read a few of them and definitely resonate with at least a couple of them.
Would it be pretentious to read a poem and follow it with a tune or an air that I felt went well with it? My choice at the moment it Lovers on Aran teamed up with Mist Covered Mountain / Cliffs of Moher. Here's the poem in case you're curious.
Lovers on Aran
The timeless waves, bright, sifting, broken glass,
Came dazzling around, into the rocks,
Came glinting, sifting from the Americas
To posess Aran. Or did Aran rush
to throw wide arms of rock around a tide
That yielded with an ebb, with a soft crash?
Did sea define the land or land the sea?
Each drew new meaning from the waves' collision.
Sea broke on land to full identity.
Came dazzling around, into the rocks,
Came glinting, sifting from the Americas
To posess Aran. Or did Aran rush
to throw wide arms of rock around a tide
That yielded with an ebb, with a soft crash?
Did sea define the land or land the sea?
Each drew new meaning from the waves' collision.
Sea broke on land to full identity.
Seamus Heaney
My question is: Is this pretentious?
A weird thing about the dream; the next day an older gentlemen acquaintance of mine who I hadn't seen in ages stopped by my shop to say hello.
He is about to become secretary of the Retired People's Club and I asked him if they had need of a performance anytime in the future as I asked a couple of years ago but things were all booked up for the whole year. He said yes and I gave him my card.
Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) It's east to laugh off Danny Boy and to vow never to learn it on principle. However, I have changed my mind.
I recently watched a program on BBC about the history of Danny Boy. It was the most comprehensive program ever conceived about one song, ever! There were musicologists, musicians, singers, social historians, actors (like Gabrielle Byrne)--so many people all talking about Danny Boy from its original roots as Londonderry Aire to it being set to words (by an Englishman in 1913) and it's place in history. How it was politicized during The Easter Uprising, WWI, and WWII. How it was incorporated into jazz, blues, rock and country (they showed everyone from opera singers, film stars, Elvis, Johnny Cash and my favorite--Harry Belafonte (who knew?!) doing fantastic versions.
Well guess what piece I am now obsessed with learning? I will have a super version by St. Pat's Day!
Danny Boy is shaping up as is Tell Her I Am (finally) and am going to play the two as a set. Don't think it'll be ready for open mic tomorrow, though....
I am hearing very good things about a newish harpmaker in Galway, Brian Callan, whose harps are supposed to be just like Fisher harps in sound and quality. My friend Fiana (was taught by Janet Harbison) reports that she adivsed Brian at the early stages of his harp building and now many of Janet's students (many of which have the Camac Janet) are now on waiting lists for one of Brian's harps. But you can't get them anywhere else except for Galway at the moment. Might look into trying one next summer when we're in Clare.
Open mic night last night was good. I played my Irish Christmas set of Silent Night / O'Sullivan's March and Flying to the Fleadh. 'Flying' could have been better, but it's really getting there. I'm thinking of doing that one at the fleadh this year if I decide to compete.
In the second half I did Danny Boy / Tell Her I Am. I barely had those two ready, but it turned out pretty good, but I had to think *a lot* during Danny Boy about which chords were next.
My second piece was the poem (Lovers on Aran) and then into Mist Covered Mountain / Cliffs of Moher which I do think people appreciated. I'll do it again in the future, but I'll just practice my delivery (phrasing) of the poem a bit more.
I also brought my homemade chocolate chip cookies to pass around and they held their weight fairly well among the more traditional British treats of mini sausage rolls and mince pies.
Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) It's east to laugh off Danny Boy and to vow never to learn it on principle. However, I have changed my mind.
I recently watched a program on BBC about the history of Danny Boy. It was the most comprehensive program ever conceived about one song, ever! There were musicologists, musicians, singers, social historians, actors (like Gabrielle Byrne)--so many people all talking about Danny Boy from its original roots as Londonderry Aire to it being set to words (by an Englishman in 1913) and it's place in history. How it was politicized during The Easter Uprising, WWI, and WWII. How it was incorporated into jazz, blues, rock and country (they showed everyone from opera singers, film stars, Elvis, Johnny Cash and my favorite--Harry Belafonte (who knew?!) doing fantastic versions.
Well guess what piece I am now obsessed with learning? I will have a super version by St. Pat's Day!
Danny Boy is shaping up as is Tell Her I Am (finally) and am going to play the two as a set. Don't think it'll be ready for open mic tomorrow, though....
I am hearing very good things about a newish harpmaker in Galway, Brian Callan, whose harps are supposed to be just like Fisher harps in sound and quality. My friend Fiana (was taught by Janet Harbison) reports that she adivsed Brian at the early stages of his harp building and now many of Janet's students (many of which have the Camac Janet) are now on waiting lists for one of Brian's harps. But you can't get them anywhere else except for Galway at the moment. Might look into trying one next summer when we're in Clare.
Open mic night last night was good. I played my Irish Christmas set of Silent Night / O'Sullivan's March and Flying to the Fleadh. 'Flying' could have been better, but it's really getting there. I'm thinking of doing that one at the fleadh this year if I decide to compete.
In the second half I did Danny Boy / Tell Her I Am. I barely had those two ready, but it turned out pretty good, but I had to think *a lot* during Danny Boy about which chords were next.
My second piece was the poem (Lovers on Aran) and then into Mist Covered Mountain / Cliffs of Moher which I do think people appreciated. I'll do it again in the future, but I'll just practice my delivery (phrasing) of the poem a bit more.
I also brought my homemade chocolate chip cookies to pass around and they held their weight fairly well among the more traditional British treats of mini sausage rolls and mince pies.
Hi Andee!! I will get my December blog up tomorrow! I'm going to take a picture of my Dusty what lives in Florida now, because that is where I am! It sounds so sweet after the robustness of the Fisher.
ReplyDeleteAfter I came home from the music shop I played my Dusty and it sounded super robust compared to the Camac Janet. Do you know anyone who has the Janet? Also, remind me again why you've been going down to Florida--and where in Florida are you?
ReplyDeleteI don't - I must have played one at Somerset, but I don't remember! The Camac sound is 'thin' somehow, that is my greatest objection to it, in fact, but it is also a somewhat 'old-fashioned' sound - not so unlike, say, an old Clarke harp. I would describe the Dusty as a 'wide' sound by comparison, and the Fisher as robust and also kind of layered in some indescribable way - that is what makes it such an exceptional instrument.
ReplyDeleteI explained in my December blog entry what I am up to as it is likely to be a distraction from music for some time to come......
Hmmm, I have never heard an old Clarke harp in person, I would love one though--painted green with gold shamrocks all over it! I think I know what you mean by thin, so I'd better do a lot of comparison before I buy anything! I don't make quick decisions on big purchases...
ReplyDeleteOn the poem- I don't think it is pretentious at all! Unless you are planning to do some melodramatic over the top reading! I think it fits perfectly with the tunes. I think more poetry needs to be spoken aloud in public anyway- I know people used to be able to quote poetry, hymn lyrics, famous speeches, off the cuff- and did- all the time. Now our kids are told not to bother memorizing, as "you can always look it up"...but there you go! I think poetry and harp music are a natural combination. In fact- Pamela had a poet read WHILE she played Var Det Du softly behind her, and it was really cool, and very well received at the Coffee House!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote of confidence on the poem, Sharon! I didn't even think about actually memorizing it, though it's a good idea!
ReplyDeleteI want to add my vote of confidence too - I think it is a superb idea and not pretentious at all.
ReplyDeleteYay! Thanks Lucy!
ReplyDelete