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!