In the story I was writing, an attempt at fantasy, there was a woman who had been put out to sea in an enchanted boat, so that she could not marry the king’s son as planned. Nobly born as she was, it was also known her mother was a witch from the North and many did not like the idea that she would pass this heredity onto their children. And so, before the wedding, the kidnapping by a cabal of royal wizards, men who disliked the idea of women practicing magic. However, there was one (of course) who did not fully believe the witches were such a problem and could not bear the thought of murdering a young and innocent person, and so after she is put in the boat and the other wizards have gone, he casts a spell that puts the boat and the young woman into a state where the boat will be protected and where she will not age. Then, as with all spells, in order to work have to be breakable, he hid a harp with no strings in the boat. If she found the harp, could string it, tune it, and play the melody that would shatter the spell, then she would be free.
After I wrote this, I thought, I don’t know blank-all about harps, I don’t know what they really look like, how many strings, how you would tune it..... not a single thing. I’d better go and do some research. So I went to the nearest library which happened to be, at that moment, the main branch of the Philadelphia Free Library, which has an entire room devoted to books and journals about music, recordings and sheet music, and asked for books about harps, their origins and history.
They brought me a stack. I picked out the most general one first and began to read.
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They brought me a stack. I picked out the most general one first and began to read.
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Once again, I can't seem to get it together until the month is half-way spent, but that is better than not at all......
Meanwhile, I have been playing the harp a decent amount, after all that, working the hardest over Carolan's Fairy Queen, and after that The Blackbird to be followed by The Crib of Perches a set which I was going to play at our bi-annual Among Friends party with a friend (flute) however, she can't attend, so that will have to wait for the fall party. Also working on Planxty Dermot Grogan a very pretty tune (I have a recording about somewhere .... whistle and fiddle). I should be brave and play The Fairy Queen at the upcoming Carolan festival in June but..... I hate playing alone, and that is a problem.
Since I missed commenting on your thread Andee - I love the 'play-together' group name - so much nicer than 'harp circle' which I've never cared for. And I like that you teach other tunes to each other.
One thought I've had from time to time, that may not appeal, or it may, is for one of us to choose a tune for all of us to learn - then if and when we see each other we might have some tunes to play together. The one whose turn it is could record themselves playing it slow.
Also as I mentioned in a note to Pam I may try to get back to thinking more about music and the harp and writing in more depth about some of the things I think about. I'll start at the beginning, most likely, with how I found the harp or it found me. They'll take time to write, so be patient with me!
I'm so happy that you all post even when I am being dilatory!
Well, sometimes the play-togethers can be quite tedious (except the ones I run of course--haha!) because they can be like a workshop where spend a couple hours learning something you know you will never play again. But I do like the social aspect of it very much!
ReplyDeleteI could write on the same theme--'how I found the harp or how it found me', it's a good idea!
Let's do it!
ReplyDeleteOoooh! The telling of your tale is a story within a story! Loving it!
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