CD and How I Compose

Making a new CD. How do I compose new tunes? I play what I'm yearning to hear, it's that simple. Although, it's not exactly simple. I do let the music flow from my heart, mind and soul, as I long to hear it, moving from different harmonies and allowing my intuition to move my hand along a melody I'm longing to hear. I rework some melody and harmony directions when I'm not pleased with what I've heard. It's almost exclusively what I hear or need to hear that guides my composition.

I'm working on a project of recording a CD of my own compositions of relaxing harp music, for meditation, calming, massage and spa treatments. Perfect for massage facilities, guided meditation, retreats, therapy settings, bath time, to induce sleep and relaxing at home or work, for personal and professional settings. I have some tunes composed already in my collection and this morning I began some new selections. I've been having a relatively creative week, even though I was feeling a bit down. The results were that I moved in an excessively creative path, composing, sewing, gardening, decorating, so I now have new rewards to satisfy the ego and the soul.

Every Artist has his own Voice

Each musician has her own signature sound, touch, interpretation, so that you can tell who is playing a piece when you hear it, even if you don't know beforehand who will be playing. When you hear Isaac Stern, you  know it's Isaac Stern. When you hear Itzak Pearlman, you know it's Itzak Pearlman. When you hear Liberace, when you hear Mancini, when you hear Harry Connick, Jr, when you hear Alasdair Frazer, you know who it is! Each musician artist has his or her own signature sound and touch of their instrument and interpretation of their music. Each artist musician has his own "voice" in his/her instrument! The instrument becomes his/her own "voice", just as real as a singing voice!

It's not just any ole person playing the instrument. It's not that just anyone can press down the keys of a piano, can press down the stops of a flute, or pull the strings of a harp, or pull a bow over the strings of a violin. It's not just the scientific, mechanical motion of "playing" the instrument. It involves an interpretation and energy that comes through the artist, comes from the heart and mind and soul, to interpret the music and produce a beautiful sound. This is where the true art comes alive and it's more than what you can get from books or lessons or printed music. It's the Soul of the music that's interpreted by each individual artist. 
This is why it's not just the 'piano' that you're hearing. It's that artist's piano. It's MY piano. It's not "the piano", as if all pianos sound alike. It's MY piano. It's MY harp. It's Carol's harp. It's Dayna's violin. Each one sounds different than someone else playing a piano, harp or violin.
This is the true art of playing music: when a musician can interpret and play beautifully from the heart, not just pluck out the notes from a piece of paper. We all have our own unique sound, even tho we're all reading from the same sheet of music.

Keep a Journal

Thoughts inspired by a post from jentheharper.blogspot.com
When you're learning to play harp, you will benefit by keeping a journal. Keep a record of new tunes you're learning and one you want to learn. Make notes on your progress and any tips you learn or discover to help you remember how you like to play particular tunes. Make penciled in notes on your music to remind you of fingering, phrasing, chord and bass note changes which you prefer, dynamics and pausing notes. When you keep a journal, you will see what progress you've made. It's easy to forget how much we've learned when we move to new tunes and put old tunes in the back of our folder or memory. When we're focused on new tunes, it's easy to forget some old tunes, forgetting to play or practice them. A journal and list of tunes will remind us that we have a growing repertoire.  A journal will help you chart your progress and give you energy to learn more.

Harper vs Harpist

If your patronym is "Harper", your family from way back came from someone who played the harp. Just like, MacNeil meant "son of Neil", McKinney meant "son of Kinney", O'hara meant "of the family of Hara". The original harp was a small instrument, light enough to be carried in hand or packed on a camel or horse! In various sizes, it can be called a lap harp, folk harp, Irish harp, Scottish harp, Peruvian harp, and more recently, lever harp. Only in the last couple of centuries was the pedal harp developed. That's the large harp you see in the orchestra. The pedal mechanism was, apparently, developed to make a speedier change of the pitch of strings, play in different keys and modes and put in accidentals. In later centuries, as well, the small harp was adapted with "levers" to enable key changes and accidentals.
Am I a Harper or a Harpist? The surname "Harper" was deveoped for someone who played the folk harp centuries ago. The family was the family of the "harper". They were the "harpers". The family was not called the "harpists". Descendants of harp players are known as Harpers. "Harpist" more recently came to mean one who plays the large pedal harp. The original term, then, was "harper". Even so, "harpist" and "harper" are identifying terms used interchangeably, in general. More accurately, I'm a "harper". I play the folk harp, Scottish harp, Irish harp, Celtic harp, lever harp. But, you can call me either one. Both terms mean I play a harp!

Feb & March performance

Beautiful harp music of Tour Around the World, music from different countries and cultures, presented for Assisted Living and Health Care centers in February. This program includes demonstrations and history on large and small harps, fiddle, guitar, bodhran, bones and pennywhistles.

Workshops with harp will be Historical Harp and Songs, including Composers of Celtic Music; Music Around the World; Music, Poetry how to choose accompaniment.
Historical Harp and Songs - Composers
This program, primarily music performance, will include the history of the harp, references to ancient harpers and their music. This may present arrangements of harp music and information on the structure and types of some tunes. There will be a demonstration of styles of music from different eras and lands.
Music Around the World
A program of music with the harp, leading the listener on a journey to different countries. The Harper will demonstrate the unique styles of music popular in various parts of the world. There will be examples of how to identify from where a tune originates. Listeners will be invited to sing along and participate in question and answer time.
Poetry and Readings with Harp
This is a program where the Harper reads or recites poetry or a literary selection while
including harp music as introduction, interlude and conclusion to the reading. This makes for a multi-level experience and mood-setting for the reading. Some shows will include an opportunity for a member of the audience to read and be accompanied by harp music.
The Music Room
DeLuxe Package of various musical instruments, how to play them, origins, crafting, history. May include harps of varying sizes, fiddle, guitar, bodhran, pennywhistle, bones, finger cymbals and, occasionally, keyboard.

December Harp Music

I have a great and growing schedule this month for harp performances! I'll be playing background music for a special 2-hour yoga class in Fishers. It will be a very relaxing evening. I'm excited to be playing the "Calm Harp" style music, which includes my own compositions of relaxation therapy music. I plan to make a CD soon of relaxation harp music with my "spa" tunes. My titles include "Rainforest", "Circles", "Light" & "Moonstone". I'll post a link to them when I get them recorded for YouTube. Here's a sample of the celtic tune "Far Away".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz72YZob6ew
I'll be playing other gigs at Health Care Centers and already played an annual banquet at the Milano Inn.