I am sure many of you have had the experience I’ve had–only a few day’s notice to play a “lovely little piece” called TOMORROW WILL BE MY DANCING DAY. I seem to remember in the past a petition to the publisher to “withdraw the work until a playable harp part is produced” and further advice that “if you get a call to play this piece–you’re busy!”

I decided to do an incredibly dumbed-down and vastly simplified version of the harp part. I know there are those out there who will sniff the air and condemn me for this: “if you can’t play it as written, you shouldn’t play it” or “if you’d just APPLY yourself, David, I’m sure you could play it.” (And you know who you are!!) Well, when you have 3 orchestras, 4.5 hours of music to learn/polish in 6 days, and have this piece laid on you with only a few days’ notice, you must take shortcuts!

I offer it here “for the rest of us” who don’t have the time to spend 6-8 weeks to learn/memorize essentially a 3 minute ditty, especially during the Christmas season.

I would NOT suggest using this version if:

1) You are using this as an audition piece for the New York Philharmonic.
2) You are playing this with the Robert Shaw Chorale, with Robert Shaw conducting.
3) You are recording this for your first CD on Telarc.
4) You are playing this for your doctoral or master’s degree recital, or for a Holiday Concert with the Dean of Music attending.

I would suggest using this if:

A. ) You are handed this 6 days in advance and told “it is a lovely piece and it doesn’t look hard at all!”
B.) You are handed this a few days in advance and told “the budget is limited” and they can only pay you $50.
C.) You don’t have the time or energy to spend 6 or 8 weeks of harp hell trying to get this memorized and up to tempo of a quarter note = 189.
D. ) You are asked by the lovely church down the road to play this with a few day’s notice and the sopranos can’t carry a tune in a bucket and/or the choir as a whole would be booted off X-FACTOR after 3 bars.
E. ) You have a life outside of practicing for months on a 3 minute ditty–and/or other gigs to play as well.

If you want it, email me at harpdude@cox.net

Dave Ice