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I’ve never heard of an easier version either, and it’s hard to imagine how it could be made easier. If you’re sure she’s capable and she has sufficient time to practice, I would recommend going with the original. It’s not something you can sight-read at a rehearsal, but it can be learned in a day, since it’s a very short cadenza. Then it’s just a matter of practicing it many times to lock it in and get it up to tempo.
We’ve had an unusually snowy winter so far in southeastern Pennsylvania. It’s also been by far the coldest winter in all of my 26 years here. Temps have dipped into single digits often, and even sub-zero a couple of times. That’s extremely rare here. Regarding Carl’s comment, I have a humidifier going at all times in the room where my instruments are, and it’s struggling to keep ahead of the dryness. Usually I have 50% humidity in that room, lately it’s been closer to 40%.
I love colorful soundboard art on some harps, but a plain board can also be absolutely beautiful, depending on the design of the harp.
Dear Basel, I hope that it gives you some comfort to see that you have harp friends all over the world who care about you and pray for your safety, health, and happiness. You are loved, dear friend.
I will have to ask Basel on what basis he applied for the visa. I wonder if it would be possible to just get him over here for a visit? Even just a reprieve, a month or two away from the chaos and the cold, would be such a help.
I will definitely pass your loving thoughts on to him Sherj, John, and Kay! It will mean a lot to him. Are you on facebook? Basel is very active there as “Harpissimo Basel.” He also has another fb page, called, I think, Harps of Paradise. As for what we can do for him, I do not know. I wonder if it would benefit him to apply for refugee status. I heard Lebanon is accepting refugees, but his situation there might not actually be any better than if he stays where he is. He also is responsible for elderly parents, whom he does not wish to abandon, understandably.
Basel has entertained thoughts of coming to the States to pursue a PhD, but he is not confident that he could pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) that would be required. I actually think his English is excellent, but he does not feel up to taking the test. And his parents are still a big consideration.
Basel speaks very highly and very fondly of Carl Swanson. I don’t know if Carl has any ideas or has spoken with him recently.I hear from Basel regularly. He has been safe so far, but he is living in a besieged area, and things are very challenging. Last I heard, he had no heat — and as you may have heard, it is bitterly cold in Syria right now. As you can imagine, he is profoundly upset by everything that is happening around him. Thank you for keeping him him your prayers. I lie awake at night worrying about Basel. I will tell him that you asked about him and I am sure he will be very touched to know that he is in people’s thoughts and prayers.
It’s a sliding switch. How about just putting a piece of electrical tape over it? If you prefer to take out the batteries, it’s not necessary to remove all three. Removing just one battery will break the connection.
I think cherry is more beautiful, but to each his own! More significant than the subtle difference between woods will be the often not-so-subtle differences between harps. Make sure to try any harp you are considering buying; don’t make a purchase based solely on the wood or other materials used.
I don’t know where it went, of course, but my guess is that it went into a savings account until she saves/raises the remainder of the funds.
Stupidest comment I ever heard (does it count if the guy was drunk? Because I’m pretty sure he was) was when I was playing at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock. A man approached me and asked me if he could climb up the harp and sit on top of it. When I just stared at him, unable to even muster a reply, he said in a wheedling tone, “pleeeeeze? I’ll give you twenty bucks!”
