Another long blog hiatus - translation, yoga and harping are occupying quite a bit of my time these days, and writing, cooking, crafting and socializing have been on the back burner over the winter.
I have many joyous harp tidings to share: In the long-standing tradition of crazy harppeople with more strings than brains, I am pleased to announce a new harp has joined our family this spring: a 25-string Triplett Christina Therapy Harp!
I have wanted this particular harp for some time, as I want to focus on playing in spiritual, healing, wellness and therapeutic settings, and in addition to my weekly lessons, I am studying the distance learning material for the International Harp Therapy Program this year. I have a Reverie therapeutic harp for non-musicians and people with restricted mobility to be able to play along with me, and its companion needed to be significantly lighter and slenderer than either of my current harps in order to be compatible with my walking/public transportation lifestyle.
Since this harp is specially designed for therapy, and has such a sweet, clear voice, it couldn't be more perfect for my needs! This particular model is fully levered with Camac levers and is made of bubinga, an African rosewood that is wonderfully rich and resonant. I'm taking it to the luthier tomorrow to adjust a few levers that are out of tune, and then will be spending lots of time playing it so it can further develop its voice (the seller developed arthritis shortly after purchasing it, so it really is like a new harp). So if you call and I don't answer, I'm probably lost in my dreamworld, and didn't even hear the phone.
Even more exciting perhaps, if that's possible, is that I am making plans to attend the Southeastern Folk Harp Conference this fall, a whirlwind of concerts, master classes and special workshops. Because it's in Asheville, I'll get to spend some time with my mother and grandmother, too!
This winter I've been working on some Bach, Handel and Haydn, some gorgeous arrangements and original compositions by Kim Robertson, and Celtic pieces from Scotland, Ireland and Wales. I'm also trying to master a number of special techniques, some more maddening than others, the most crazymaking being able to consistently play harmonics. Guitarists don't know how easy they have it!
