June! Harp Story #3

Of course, this has nothing to do with harping, but we are hosting this little family, a bit anxiously, hoping the two little ones make it.  They are two weeks old as of today, June 6.  Double the size they were last week.  I watched them have bathing lessons today.  To die for.

So.

On with installment #3 in the Saga which I intend to drag out, if you were wondering:

#3 Carolan’s Receipt

The next chance I got (was it a day? a week?) I scampered into a store that sold CD’s, where I found Derek Bell playing mostly solo on Carolan’s Receipt.  It was all  Carolan, whoever he was.....  Of course, not knowing anything, I had no idea how lucky a find this was.   I mean no insult to anyone, but I could have, so easily, gotten ‘new age‘ not the real thing.   I like to think that that ‘made all the difference’. 

In a frenzy of anticipation (somehow I knew) I popped Derek Bell in the car CD player and sat in the parking lot listening.  The first selection was Sheebeeg Shemore. I couldn’t believe the sound of it.  It was as if all my life my ears had been waiting all for this.   I played piano and then, briefly, cello and really, there is something about the harp that is present in both of those instruments more than any others. 

Some tunes had a metallic echoing edge, others had a softer sweeter sound. I read the liner notes.  Wire strung harp?  Nylon strung harp?  Hunh?  You know how it is, you think..... I’ll have some tea..... then someone says.... what kind of tea? China? India?  Assam? Earl Grey? Green?   At that moment I had an inkling of ‘uh oh‘ there are obviously harps and harps and other harps.... like everything if you open up the magical door you step in to a bottomless pit of choices and differences and complexities...

Around then Derek Bell started to play Carolan’s Receipt and that was it.  

Exactly as described by others here, I was bowled over, knocked over the head, blown away:  I have to play this instrument.  I.have.to.  

With the small amount of rational mind left to me, I whimpered:  This is so not like me!

Next up: Enter the Paki Harp!