First Night in Northampton

During First Night festivities, we purchased a button that gained us admittance to one of 17 concurrent performances at the various performance spaces scattered throughout the downtown area. We arrived early at Memorial Hall and were conscripted to help arrange chairs for the "Mother Pluckers". This harp quartet not only played, but also sang 4 part harmony for several songs. It was exciting to hear the changes in the musical textures as voices and harps were added and subtracted during different songs and tunes.

Afterwards, we also heard Banish Misfortune in the Dynamite Space of Thornes Market Place. This group performs their traditional Irish and Old Time music regularly on Sunday evenings at the Northampton Brewery.

Then we grabbed some coffee at Starbuck's on the way to St. John's Episcopal Church where we heard the precise fiddling of Katherine First with Last Night's Fun. They performed many standard Irish tunes. Katherine really shined on the jaunty rhythms
of a strathspey she performed.

At 6:15, everything stopped and everyone looked up at the Fireworks display.

We dipped into the Center for Arts to see the ballroom on the top floor, then zipped into First Churches to see this interior. Then we circled back to St. John's to hear Occidental Gypsy. This 5 member group performed gypsy tunes with a jazz twist. The virtuoso violinist added gypsy flourishes to the jazz standards and original compositions of the groups members.

We changed gears to hear the new "old timey" songs of Rusty Belle at the Unitarian Society worship space. The absolute conviction of each of the 3 members of this group made their performance compelling. Each song, mostly originals, was unique and sung with committed abandon that swept the audience into their musical journey. What a treat to experience the magic and joy of their performance!

We finished our evening back at St. John's to hear Seth Glier. After hearing his performance, one can understand how Seth has recently been nominated for a Grammy Award. For some songs this local boy from Shelbourne Falls sings with a passionately fluid gospel voice, but  then shifts to the honest intimate voice of a folksinger for other songs. Accompanying himself on grand piano with the combined grace of Billy Joel and George Winston and backed by his best friend on guitar and synthesized sounds, Seth filled the sanctuary with his soulful presence. Seth often returns to his elementary music school to collaborate on a songwriting unit with his elementary music teacher, and during the performance he invited his mentor to join him in performing. Seth is a nice guy who remembers his roots and weaves the important stories of his life into songs.

A Visit to Lyon & Healy Harps

While spending Christmas with Doug's brother's family in Chicago, I decided to arrange a visit to Lyon & Healy Harps. Brenda dropped us off at the train station around 6:45 a.m. After catching a train into Chicago from the suburbs, we walked several blocks and boarded a bus. We got off the bus near "The Billy Goat" restaurant which had the comical Cheeseborger Cheeseborger Cheeseborger posted on the side of the building. We walked a few blocks to the Lyon & Healy factory and were buzzed inside. It was 8:30 a.m. Someone escorted us to the freight elevator and took us to the showroom floor where we were greeted by Nancy O'Brien. She apologized for her casual attire. All of the employees would be enjoying pizza and doing inventory in the afternoon. This was the last day before closing for the holiday season and re-opening on January 2.

I had no idea there would be rows and rows of harps. "What would you like to play first?" asked Nancy. I decided to warm up on a Chicago model harp. Later Nancy played short bits of music on several natural wood Style 30's and I selected one for her to dolly into the tasting room. We repeated that with 2 of the Style 100 harps. Doug listened patiently and requested that I play a phrase on a harp, and then play that same phrase on another harp. Back and forth between harps I went comparing sounds. Nancy also played phrases of music back and forth between harps so I could also hear the harp from the audience perspective. As I decided upon preferences, she would dolly some of the harps back out of the tasting parlour to "clear the palate". 

At the end, we had Nancy bring in one of the used harps that we first noticed when we came in. This quintessential harp was originally built in 1927 and had been refurbished. I liked this one the best. Doug described it by saying, "It sounds like its sound is coming up from somewhere deep inside the earth." I agreed! There is something very special about that harp.

Rachael and Jon's Wedding in Chicago

Rachael is Doug's niece. I've known her for most of her life and was honored last Christmas when she asked me if I'd play for her wedding. I agreed without hesitation. This was before I knew the exact date (which turned out to be in November, and they were hoping for an outdoor wedding) and before I thought about the necessity of driving to Chicago so I could transport my harp. Luckily the temperature was around 60 degrees and Doug had agreed to fly to Columbus so he could drive with me.


Many of the rooms at the hotel where we were staying were also booked by parents of young hockey players. They were in town for a big hockey tournament. I think the kids were having fun playing on the elevators because sometimes it took quite awhile for an elevator to arrive. I left the hotel room before Doug, since he was still getting ready and I knew I couldn't just squeeze onto any elevator with my harp. I'd gotten downstairs and loaded my harp into the car when Doug arrived. "Oh, you forgot your belt," I noticed. Doug asked if he had time to go back upstairs to get his belt. I hesitated. I knew I had just enough time to drive to the wedding venue, unpack, get settled, and warm up before things started rolling. Any long waits for elevators back up to the umpteenth floor and back down could really mess me up on being ready. Doug quickly replied, "I can catch a ride with someone else." Cool...no delay. So I arrived at the time I expected and got prepared. Before I knew it, it was time for prelude music. I remembered that a program had not been available the night before at the rehearsal, and I'd forgotten to pick one up before I started playing. Darn! Oh well...I'd just have to get one between playing a few of my prelude pieces. Then a huge influx of people arrived on a bus from the hotel. Keep playing. Then, the coordinator opened a door near me and whispered, "The parents of the bride and groom are coming in now." No time to stop and grab a program. Then the doors opened again and I was cued that the bridesmaids were entering. As the bridesmaids were entering I began playing their music. I thought, "I don't even know how many bridesmaids there are...Stacey is the maid of honor (I think), but she wasn't at the rehearsal...but she'll probably be the last one. Then the doors closed just as I finished their music. I re-set a bajillion levers on my harp and began the bride's music. Everyone stood, and since I was in back I thought, "Great...I'll have no idea when to stop playing since I won't be able to see when the bride gets to the front! Just then, Doug stood and walked down the side aisle and whispered, "She's almost to the front...okay, start getting ready to end." Whew! Good job, Doug! Of course, I still had no program, and I still had no idea what order things were happening. I thought, "Oh well...I'll just watch and be ready to start when they start doing something." Luckily, the presider announced each portion of the ceremony. That helped. All in all, I was well-prepared and didn't feel nervous even when all of those thoughts popped into my head, because I knew it would all be just fine. 

National Scottish Harp Competition

All day, I thought about the National Scottish Harp Competition. Towards evening I sent a text to Mike saying, "Well?" He sent this photo which shows Jen, Kelly, and Mike bundled up for 30 degree weather as they competed in the Masters Category at the National Scottish Harp Competition at the Highland Games in Richmond, VA. Congratulations to Kelly Stewart- 2011 National Scottish Harp Champion of America!

Sadie's First Lesson

I am very excited. My niece, Sadie, is borrowing my Triplett 34 string Celtic harp and is taking lessons with Nancy Bick Clark. So cool!

Remembering

I took this 27 string harp to my parent's home for the weekend. Since Mom has Alzheimer's she often doesn't remember recent things. She didn't remember that Dad had me take the 34 string Triplett harp back to Columbus since it was so large and he said that Mom was wasn't playing it. As Mom sat down and began strumming across the strings, she looked up at me and said, "Oh, this is a small one. Didn't I used to have a bigger harp?"

A Thank You Package Arrives

A wonderful Thank You gift and card arrived. Linden Miller, the young woman whose mother had tuned her harp in a different key at the Ohio Scottish Games, wrote to thank me for helping get her harp re-tuned correctly before the competition. This really touched my heart!

Engraving the Traveling Trophy

It took several calls to the various engravers around town to find someone who could add my name to the the name plate on the traveling trophy for the National Scottish Harp Champion of America. Below are the champions that are engraved on the trophy.

The Herbert P. MacNeal Trophy for the National Scottish Harp Championship of America

1984 Angus Fallon MacGregor

1985 Sue Alleshouse Richards

1986 Martha Clancy

         Mary Fitzgerald

1987 Tracie Brown

1988 Sue Alleshouse Richards

1989 Barbara Duhl-Emswiler

1990 Sue Alleshouse Richards

1991 No Competition Held

1992 William A. Taylor

1993 Peter McNaughton

1994 Sue Alleshouse Richards

1995 Russet (Jennifer) McMillan

1996 Carol Rose Duane

1997 Janet Jackson Biely

1999 Wayne Eugene Elrod

2000 Cynthia Cathcart

2001 Russet Jennifer McMillan

2002 Cynthia Cathcart

2005 Cynthia Shelhart

2006 Tracie Brown

2007 Tracie Brown

2008 Sairey Miller

2009 Chad McAnally

2010 Steve Schack

Playing Harp in St. Patrick’s Church in Waterton, MA

Doug had work to do in Waterton, so I took my Lionwood Bridget harp along. I figured I'd find someplace to play. I checked the sign in front of St. Patrick's Church, and no masses were scheduled and the door was unlocked. Since I was raised Catholic, I feel a sense of belonging. I guess I was wrong on that one. Or the spirit of the congregation in which I was raised was just a little different. Here's what happened: I'd been playing inside for about an hour when a custodian walked through the church carrying a florescent light. He glanced in my direction and went on his way. I continued playing for about another hour when I heard someone enter from outside. This person was wearing a backpack and had stopped in to pray, so I softened my volume considerably. The custodian reappeared and began working on an outlet. He stopped and said, "Does anyone know you're here?" "I don't think so," I replied. "Well...it would have been nice to ask." I pondered for a few seconds, because his vehemence caught me off guard. Then I replied honestly, "I checked the mass schedule and the door was unlocked, so I figured it would be okay to come inside." He replied, "That is for people to come in to pray, not to play music." Again, I hesitated. Still perplexed by his anger I said, "For me, music has always been a form of prayer." "Well I find it very distracting." At that point, the person wearing the backpack left. I don't think the custodian was even aware he had been there. I quietly packed up my harp and left. What a weird experience...playing a harp in St. Patrick's Church.

Dotan Negrin, Fallon, and Brando and www.pianoacrossamerica.com

This is the East Glacier Park Lodge. Directly behind me is the Amtrak station with trains arriving from Chicago and from Seattle.  

I love the tall tree columns with their bark still intact in the lobby.

When Doug and I arrived at a trailhead parking area near Two Medicine Lake, I saw a man emerge from a panel truck. I was curious and asked, "Are you staying in the back of your truck?" That curiosity was rewarded as he told his fascinating story of traveling across the country and playing his piano in various places. Notice his dog, Brando, atop the piano. Near Brando is the wench that he uses to pull or lower his piano up and down the ramp. 

Fallon and Brandon have been seeing each other about 5 years before embarking on this adventure. They talked passionately and enthusiastically about their journey. Follow their blog and enjoy their travels at www.pianoacrossamerica.com Making this kind of a connection with people that are passionately following a musical dream was ultimately rewarding. We were able to spend just a bit of time together as we took a short hike to Running Eagle Falls (also called Trick Falls because water continues to flow through an underground tunnel instead of over the falls during low rainfall).

Later in the day, as Doug and I continued our way to Waterton Park in Canada, we passed landscapes that reminded us of "The Sound of Music." 

10 Years

This is my first harp, and I got it 10 years ago today while on vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine at "Song of the Sea". This continues to be a great travel harp. I've got a double strength cardboard box that I had made for it before it's first flight several years ago, and that box just meets the size requirements for checked luggage. 

Deborah Henson-Conant

After a week of harp classes at the Ohio Scottish Arts School, I went to a creativity workshop with Deborah Henson-Conant on Friday evening from 6-10 pm. Though I was tired, this was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Carol, on the far left, thought so too. She was at the Ohio Scottish Arts School as well, and she decided to head south a few hours for this workshop before returning home to Detroit. Deborah is a dynamic jazz harp performer. View the link, but be sure to listen past the first 3-4 minutes to hear her sing "The Nightingale". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dz4noAEwwU

"Waulking"

The Ohio Scottish Arts School is always amazing fun. We had Ann and Charlie Heymann, Jo Morrison,  Seumas Gagne, and Sue Richards as instructors. This year, one of the highlights for me was learning about “waulking” songs from Seumas Gagne from Seattle. “Waulking” is the process by which woven cloth is processed to tighten the weave, remove the natural lanolin, and soften the fibers. In Scotland, the women (or women and men in Nova Scotia) would sit at a table beating wet, newly woven cloth in time to the music and rotate the loop of cloth around the table. Each morning, Seumas taught us the chorus in gaelic for several songs while he sang the verses in gaelic. Seumas gave lots of historical and social contexts for the songs and the language, but he also gave the warnings. For, you see, while woven cloth is being “waulked” you cannot repeat any verse. Otherwise the cloth would be cursed and could never be used. So, you had to pay attention to what you were doing. Seumas wanted us to be able to experience the process in a hands-on way. He wished he had an old Indian blanket so he could fasten the ends together for us to sing as we beat the fabric in time to the “waulking” songs. Luckily, I had a grey army blanket in my car. We had a blast as Seumas showed us how to position our hands as we grabbed the cloth, beat it against the table, and then passed the cloth clockwise around the table as we sang these wonderful songs. Then, Seumas would measure the cloth with his knuckles, and declare in gaelic that the cloth was “not ready yet”. Since this had been a group project, I decided to cut the blanket into strips so everyone could take a piece home. They could weave the strip of wool blanket into their harp strings to mute the sound for a special effect. And then, an idea blossomed. Jen, Mark, and I wove the fabric strips together. In our final gathering today, each person came up and removed one strip from the weaving as Seumas played his harp and lead us in gaelic song. The fabric was made wet again, but this time by the tears of friends saying their fond farewells until we  meet again.

Ohio Scottish Games

Master Harp Competitors: Cindy Shelhart, Jen Narkevicous, and me.

After the competition, Jo Morrison gave a workshop. Then harpers played through several favorite tunes together. Pictured here are Jen Narkevicous, Karen Babb, Jo Morrison, and Sue Richards.

I planned on being a spectator at the Ohio Scottish Games this year instead of being in the harp competition. Like many other harpers, I arrived on Friday night. Then we went out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant. While Jen and I enjoyed our margaritas,  Jo Morrison (the judge for tomorrow’s competition) lamented that no competitors had signed up in the Master’s Division. With the competition being low on competitors, the scholarship awards would not be given out. Jen (former president of the Scottish Harp Society of America) quickly said that she would enter the competition. Then she pressed me into service. Since she and I were going to compete without having prepared, we decided to get Cindy Shelhart (former National Scottish Harp Champion of America) to compete with us. 

The next morning was amusing. A string on my harp broke. After I replaced it and ran through my tunes, I realized that this string’s note featured prominently in every tune I would be playing. This new string would be continually going out of pitch for the next few days. Besides that, I usually have my nails clipped way ahead of time. Because of needing to replace the broken string, I was clipping my nails before the competition. Beside me, a new competitor was having a nervous breakdown. Her mother had decided to help by tuning her harp while she was gone. She was having trouble because she was using an app on her iPad that was picking up every sound echoing in the building. After I offered her the use of my electronic tuner and clip on sensor, I found out that her mother was tuning the harp using a completely different tuning scheme. They were ready to pack things in. Amidst all the tension, I offered to re-tune the harp. After getting the harp tuned up, the competition began without me having time to get my thoughts focused and having a chance to play through my tunes again. 

It was all so comical, that I had no choice but to resign myself to the fact that things were just going to come out the way they did. Amazingly, that helped me to relax more and feel less tension. And, it turned out to be a very good performance for me. I was awarded 2nd place in the Solo Harp-Master Level. I placed 1st in the Harp with Vocal category singing a song I’d not performed publicly before. And I was awarded the Bardic Cup for continuing the bardic traditions of singing or storytelling with the harp. Thank goodness for daily practice which helped things to come out right when the need arose. And thank goodness for the lack of prep time to become nervous!

Scottish Country Dance Ball

Today we had the seventh bi-annual June Scottish Country Dance Workshop during the day and the Formal Ball in the evening. Bruce Hamilton was the teacher. He was joined by musicians Jim Stevenson-Mathews (piano) and Mara Shea (fiddle). Everyone dresses a bit comfortably during the day but wears something more special in the evening. The evening ball program included the following dances:

The Merry Reapers (24J3c)

The Royal Deeside Railway (32R3c)

Lady Glasgow (32S3c)

A Capital Jig (32J3c)

Flowers of Edinburgh (32R3c)

The Minister on the Loch (32S3c)

The Laird of Milton’s Daughter (32J3c)

The Missing Turn (32R3c)

intermission

Maxwell’s Rant (32R3c)

The Robertson Rant (80S4c)

The Duke of Atholl’s Reel (32J2c)

Miss Nora Kindness (32R3c)

Sugar Candie (32S3c)

Mrs Stewart’s Jig (32J3c)

Alison Rose (32S4c)

The Reel of the Royal Scotts (32R3c)

Eslpeth is the local dancer who provided me with
my McNaughten tartan kilt from her family.

Fiddler Mara Shea, Teacher Bruce Hamilton, Pianist Jim Stevenson-Mathews

Dancers during the afternoon workshop

Columbus Dancers

Pianist Jim Stevenson-Mathews with his partner Gaitley.
Gaitley asked me if I knew Fred and Joseph. When I got
home from the workshop, a postcard from Fred and Joseph
had arrived in the mail. Interesting coincidence.

I'm standing between Laura Russell, our Scottish Country Dance Teacher, and
Margaret McCullough, past president of Mid-Ohio Scottish Heritage Society,
Daughters of Scotland, and Ohio Scottish Games Advisory Board

The information in parentheses indicates how long the music is for each time through the dance, whether the dance is a Jig, Reel, Strathspey (or Square Set), and how may couples are active in the dance. Most of the dances are done in four couple sets. The dances above not only represent a variety of music, but also a variety of complexity. When you attend a formal ball, you are expected to already know each dance. There were no walk-throughs or instruction. Each dance was merely “briefed”. This means that a short synopsis of the figures of the dance were talked through before the music starts and the dance begins. Our Heather ‘N’ Thistle groups has danced 99 different dances this year. The “dance of the month” or dances that appear on the ball program may come up several times. It is a very different venture to work towards a big celebration like a Scottish Country Dance Ball. But, very satisfying.

Sadie's Email

The last time I visited my parents, I taught my niece how to tune the harp that I took for my Mom to play. Sadie can play for a bit and then encourage my mom to play.


My Mom doesn't remember so much these days. Sometimes she doesn't remember that I'm her son, but Sadie relayed the following in her email:


"I was telling grandma how good she sounded without taking lessons.... and she said that she had a son, Steve, who plays the harp really good, but he lives far away..... I thought you might like to know that she said that...."

Leaving Work

Two police cars were parked near an intersection where I turn to come home. A third police cruiser joined them with the female officer leaving her vehicle and drawing her gun. I turned in the opposite direction. No need to catch any stray bullets.

The Harp Gathering

Mark plays my Timothy Llyr Harp in our hotel room
at Sauder Village where the Harp Gathering happens.

Frank Voltz and Mark Bruening play the same song on each harp during the harp tasting so audience members can listen to the sound qualities of each harp.

Mark quickly adjusts his technique to bring out the
best qualities in each harp. He is only allowed to play
a 30 second soundbite on each harp, so he plays his own arrangement which will give a good taste of the unique
and subtle flavors of each harp. 

After playing on each of the seven smaller harps, Frank and Mark play a different tune on the twelve larger harps in the harp tasting. This new tune will accentuate the resonant qualities and expanded range of a larger harp. Harp tasters in the audience sit with their back to the stage, listen intently, and take notes on each harp which is identified only by number. This allows them form unbiased judgements on the auditory qualities of the instrument and not on any visual information or preconceptions about any harp luthier. 

Denise Grupp-Verbon plays a 36 string
walnut Timothy Llyr Harp in the vendors
hall. Denise, and her husband Michael,
are the organizers of Harp Gathering.

Timothy Harper performs during the Saturday evening concert.
Timothy is a great singer and songwriter. He plays several instruments and is an outstanding harp builder.

My great friends Wendy and Karen listen to the
spontaneous jam session of the harp masters.

Louise Trotter and Kim Robertson in an impromptu
session in the vendors hall. 

Karen plays her beautiful walnut Fisher Harp
late into the nite. When friends are together and
the music is good, it's hard to sleep.

Coincidences

A work colleague has connections with Houston, TX. When she noticed my tie, I mentioned that I had gotten it at the Art Car Museum in Houston. A few days later, I saw this art car in the parking lot at Columbus Brewing Company.

Sessions

After a glorious day at Hancock Shaker Village in MA, Doug and I stopped at Brewmaster’s Tavern in Williamsburg. As we walked in, I heard live Irish music and asked to be seated nearby. How lucky to arrive while a session was going on. 

A few days later, we specifically chose to go to Northampton Brewery because we knew there was going to be live Irish music.

I’ve known that a session happens at Claddagh Irish Pub on Sunday evenings. Last Sunday I finally went (to listen) and had a great time. Sometimes traveling helps you to remember the great things in your own backyard.

Brewmaster's Tavern Session in Williamsburg, MA

Northampton Brewery Session

Claddagh Irish Pub Session in Columbus, OH

I meant to return again this evening, but I’ve been retroactively updating my blog for the past three hours!

Happy Mother's Day

The sun made a rare appearance for
Mother's Day today!

Renaissance Faire on the South Oval at The Ohio State University

Drunk and Sailor 

OSU Students in Festive Attire

Scottish Country Dancers Jane and Laura
also do English Country Dance. Laura is
my Scottish Country Dance teacher.

Kyle Meadows on Hammered Dulcimer
is joined by Fiddler Stewart Brand

I went to the Renaissance Faire with hopes of watching or dancing around the Maypole. I love this ritual and I'm still amazed to see the ribbons weave their way down the pole. Each year, the organizers need to re-locate the buried pipe which supports the Maypole, often with the help of a person with a metal detecter. This year, a construction fence curtained off the area where the Maypole was usually located. The Maypole lay on the ground, and workers at the information booth informed me that the Maypole would be happening later in the day. In the meantime, I caught the act of Drunk and Sailor as they encourage the audience to join in their fun, rousing choruses. I joined friends towards the end of their English Country Dance demonstration. After listening to a hammered dulcimer player for a long while, I purchased one of his CD's. When I read the back cover, I found that he lives about 15 minutes from where I grew up. Another interesting connection!