Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Hi Balfour!
I haven’t tried “The Christmas Song” yet on lever, but one of these days if I feel adventurous, I will.
You’re inspired me to add “Wexford” and “Sussex”. I’ve never heard of “Baloo Lammy”, though, so I looked it up on YouTube. It’s a sweet song! I would love to add it as well to this year’s line up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1mude2_zsg
I love “O Holy Night” and “Silver Bells”, too. Personally I lean towards sacred music at this time of year but provide more secular offerings as well like “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bells”.
My particular clients expect me to provide bonafide Christmas tunes for Christmas gigs. I could never get away with playing a bunch of Celtic songs for these gigs (and personally wouldn’t want to play them). Christmas is a very special time of year, especially because a lot of the music explains the message of Christ. For me, a set of Celtic music belongs in other settings like for St. Patrick’s Day or at a Celtic or Renaissance Festival.Hi Howard,
I agree that “Christ Child’s Lullaby” is very beautiful! It isn’t as well known as many Christmas tunes, but it definitely should be performed more often. I always include it in my Christmas harp gigs. I hope that you do learn it on the harp in the future!
Hi Stardust,
I went to YouTube to look up Tiffany Schaefer. She has quite a number of instructional and harp music videos on her page, in case anyone else would like to check her out.
Here is a link to a video of three of her Christmas tunes, played at the intermediate level: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPmn5jNUT2Y
Thank you for telling us about her!Thank you, Biagio, for the “Ave Maria” suggestion! Sylvia Woods also has an easy version of the song in her book, “Hymns and Wedding Music for All Harps”.
Balfour–I just printed out the version of “Away in a Manger” by Spilman that you are recommending and will learn it and add it to my other two versions of the tune. Thank you!
Hi Biagio,
Good to hear from you (and everyone)!
“Ave Maria” is such a beautiful and compelling piece of music. What arrangement of it do you play? (I’m assuming that it would be for solo lever harp.)
Also, I am not that familiar with “The Holly and the Ivy” but will definitely check it out.
Hi Balfour!
The Wexford and Sussex carols are not as well-known but are quite beautiful. I am glad that you include them in your repertoire.
I did not know that “I Wonder as I Wander” was also called “The Appalachian Carol” and that it originated in North Carolina! I always learn new things from the harpists on this site.
Also, you say that you do three versions of “Away in a Manger”. Please tell us more about this. I only know of Murray’s and Kirkpatrick’s versions.Hi Balfour!
“La Source” is so wonderful!
It’s good to hear that you will be performing Christmas music this year. This will be a blessing for all who hear you. What are you favorite Christmas songs to play? Some of mine are “Away in a Manger” (arr. Murray), “One Small Child”, “Mary Did You Know?” and “Silent Night”.
I hope that you and your wife have a very good Christmas!
Hi Veronika!
So good to hear from you!
I wasn’t familiar with the Captain O’Kane tune, so I looked up Aryeh’s arrangement of it on YouTube. It’s beautiful! For those who might be interested, here is an address to it that you can copy/paste into your browser if it doesn’t come up automatically: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EaA_WVlIAg
“Broceliane” is also terrific, has a majestic feeling to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC3ligTP4WsI have the first volume of Carl’s edition of the Bochsa etudes and would very much love to have the second volume from him!
If you have a dream of studying in the UK and their schools meet your requirements, then I hope that you pursue it, regardless of the political vicissitudes of their government. Life should always go on. (I personally would not let any negativity stop me.) I hope that some of our UK Harp Column members will answer your questions.
I haven’t been to a World Harp Congress before, but since the next one will be in Cardiff, I think the awesome harpist Ben Creighton-Griffiths will likely participate. I would love the chance to see him perform live and to work with him!
Hello all,
I just heard from a close friend of Basel’s in Scandanavia who told me that he died from a sudden brain hemorrhage. He had been suffering from severe migraines prior to that.
Jennifer–He lived in Sweden. I don’t know what branch of Catholicism he belonged to, but he had a very strong faith in Jesus and was an inspiration to myself and others.
To those of you on this website who befriended him over the years, I just want to send my heartfelt thanks to you for your kindness to him!
