Summer Music

In a few weeks, our Farmer's Market will open for the season - a time we all look forward to! The market opens Thur, May 28, on Cowl's Street, between 2nd & 3rd, & runs for 20 weeks. The Downtown Association coordinates booking vendors & musicians.

McMinnville's market is well known throughout the valley, with vendors coming from the immediate area & from out of County. Produce fresh from the farms, jewelry, soap, honey, herb plants, meat, cheese & eggs from naturally farmed animals, fresh flowers, & representatives from the Native Plant Society & Garden Club . . . the list of this year's vendors is posted on the DTA site.

One of the features is weekly music, & I've played harp at the Farmer's Market since 2003, always a fun event!
This year I'll be at the Farmers' Market: Thur, June 11from 1:30-6 PM.
Another popular event is 'Who's on Third?' "The second weekend in July, McMinnville's longest standing festival (formerly known as Turkey Rama), offers a stroll downtown with over 150 booths featuring arts and crafts, local community and non-profit groups, area businesses, and an array of festival food."

Last year, the name changed, & the focus shifted from increasingly trite & commercial to promoting local businesses, artists & musicians. The 'carnival' has been moved out of the downtown area, & booth spaces are now in the center of the street (rather than on the sidewalks). This year I've been invited to be one a 'street musician,' stationed on the 500 block.
In the past, I've painted faces, done massage, so it will be fun to 'wear a new hat' as Ladyharp!

'Who's on Third?' Friday July 10: 1:30-3:30 in the 500 block (on Third Street)

I hope you can make it to one or both events!

Saint Patrick's Day at Bistro Maison

The wedding (my daughter's) was lovely :) We all had a grand time, the harping went well, she was a beautiful bride, etc! The music all came together, & things are returning to what passes for normal.

Deborah from Bistro Maison, a lovely French restaurant in McMinnville, called to invite me to play harp for Saint Patrick's Day dinner, Tue March 17. A few years ago I played for this dinner, & it was very popular - a full house in a lovely setting with great food, & harp - what's not to like?
So if you're thinking of going out for the evening, & would like to hear some Celtic music, played on an Irish style Celtic harp, Bistro Maison is the place!
Most of the tunes will be Irish, with a smattering of other Celtic pieces.

Of course, any harper might have some mixed feelings about Patrick himself ( ~ 400 AD) - who drove the 'snakes' (or druids?) out of Ireland. Harpers, who held the traditional stories & songs in their heads, were often persecuted by those wanting to spread the 'new religion.'

From Alison Vardy's website: "The period starting from the 1600s during English rule in Ireland was difficult for Irish harpers as the harp as a folk and court instrument was suppressed to prevent a resurgence of nationalism. Harps were burnt and harpers executed. The tragic extinction of this harping tradition at the end of the eighteenth century had a number of causes: the Angloization of the Irish (and Scottish) cultures, the increased popularity of step-dancing and the fiddle, and the inability of the harp to play the musical accidentals required for classical music, which started coming in to vogue in Dublin and Edinburgh during the then Baroque era. Only in Wales was the Folk harp tradition unbroken."

In the late 18th century, Edward Bunting began collecting traditional tunes, including many by Turlough Carolan (1670-1738), the blind Irish folk harpist. My set will include a number of these, & other Irish & Celtic pieces, including some from Wales & from Brittany & Celtic Spain!

Some of 'Patrick's Breastplate' comes from an old Gaelic blessing:

I bind to myself today:
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
the brightness of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The flash of lightening,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea
The stability of Earth,
& the compactness of Rocks.

In a workshop with a Gaelic woman raised as a Druid, I learned a dance (similar to TaiChi) that accompanies this blessing. Harps have become the national instrument of Ireland, & I've collected a few harp items from Ireland & England this winter, including these two bells.

Weddings

In a few weeks, my daughter is getting married, & I've been practicing her 'special request' songs! Sharon Thormahlen's 'Planting Dandelions' (from 'A Rose in Winter') while the kids toss flower petals; the theme from 'Friends' for the attendants, & 'You Say it Best When You Say Nothing at All' for her own walk down the isle. I'll play one of my songs for the candle lighting, & the Bridal Chorus at the end. She's a beautiful bride, & her girls are so excited to 'finally' be in a wedding! I'll be playing 'Rowan Luchair' (above), my 34 string harp from Rick Kemper.

It's also time for the annual publication of the Bridal guide, & my ad is up for renewal. Our local paper gives out the guide to all brides as they publish their engagement photos, or their wedding date, so it's a good connecting point.

I have a tentative booking for a Sept. wedding; at times I play for several weddings in a year, other years, only a few; & there are always the requests for a CD - maybe this year??

Let it Snow

As romantic as harps & snow are, they aren't very compatible!
With over a foot & 1/2 of snow (a lot in usually rainy & maybe 3" of snow Western Oregon!) we are shut down & snowed in!
I did play once more at the insurance office building, but the other events scheduled last week were canceled. Perhaps after the first of the year I'll go in to play for my granddaughter & her classmates. My daughter, her fiance & I are off work - chickadees, juncos & other little snowbirds are in the yard, & we've put out birdseed. The path between our houses is buried, & my chihuahua thinks snow is pretty ridiculous! It's still coming down, tho smaller flakes than yesterday.

Hot chocolate, old movies & craft projects are in order!

Three down, . . .

Had a lovely time harping around yesterday & today! I wore the green ribbon wreath again, & was pleased that a couple of folks at the more formal Oregon Mutual (Insurance) gig commented on what a nice touch that was!
One of the managers made the very common (but welcome) observation on what lovely background music the harp offers - "It was a nice undercurrent, & I noticed its absence when you stopped playing!" I'll go back Wed to offer lunchtime music in the lobby. Last year I was upstairs, by a railing, so you could hear the harp as you entered the building.

Today I was set up at the gallery & frame shop where I get my 8 x 5" mattboard for my SoulCollage card. There was lots of activity downtown, with carriage rides & many businesses offering holiday music, but not as much traffic in our block - boo! Some friends came down specifically to hear me, which was so sweet, & I met some new friends.

Then over to Hillside, where I was by the fireplace - not lit, but more festive than my usual corner - & folks seemed to talk less. I love 'wallpaper gigs' for the reason stated by the fellow yesterday - it isn't too loud to talk, & it adds such a nice touch. But it's also nice to have more of an audience, & some of the seniors get a bit upset when they can't hear me.
The refreshments were set up in another area, around the corner, by the Christmas tree. So folks down there hadn't heard me, & they asked me to bring the harp over!  A fellow (visiting his mom from out of state) said "I want to dance with mom (90 something!) & I need music - how can I help you?" I had him carry my bench & music, & played a bit longer! He danced with a dear friend (one of the spunkiest 86 year olds in town!) & moved his mom's wheel chair closer to me - she proceeded to 'dance' her feet, & talking to an unseen partner! So precious.

Santa said 'So we meet again! We've been doing this five years now - & you are doing the same thing I am, bringing people happiness!!'
Wow! Jolly old elf & elvin harper . . .

Hoping the predicted snow holds off & I'm able to get out to the golf course Sunday afternoon! Monday's lunchen has been cancelled to avoid weather worries.

December Events

December is always a busy time for a harpist! Last year I think I had 17 events throughout the month, including visiting 2 classrooms at my eldest grand daughter's school.

Here are the current offerings; check back for more events as the month unfolds.


Fri. Dec 12: Staff Christmas Party Oregon Mutual Insurance

Sat Dec 13: Hidden Treasures frame & art shop, 3rd Street 11-1
" " " : Hillside Memory Care, West Second Street 2-3 PM

Sun Dec 14: Soroptomists Tour of Homes, White House at Bayou 2-3 PM

Mon Dec 15: (Mac Garden Club, Hillside Manor, Hill Road 11-12:15) cancelled due to weather predictions!

Wed Dec 17: Oregon Mutual, Lobby, 11:30-1:30

Thursday Dec 18: Columbus Elementary School, 12 noon

Sun Dec 21: Valley New Thought Fellowship part of the Christmas Sunday program, 10-11 AM

& Third Street Art & Wine Walk, Sat Dec 20?? Not scheduled yet

A Harmony of Harps

Having studied piano with an excellent teacher as a child, I began playing harp in 1993., & felt an immediate connection with harps & harp music. Over the last 15 years, three harps ihave joined my 'Harmony.'

The first, 27 string 'Tuilleadh,' ('Tille') was built by Corvallis Luthier Dave Thormahlen, Her name comes from the Gaelic: "to give abundantly, in full measure." Her woods are Big leaf Maple, Black Walnut trim with a Sitka Spruce soundboard, & at 14#, she's easiy to play & lovely for use in nursing homes or for small events.

In January 2007, I wanted a bit more range, & added a 34 string Sligo harp, 'Rowan Luchair,' crafted by Rick Kemper in Maryland to my harmony of harps. Rowan is a round backed, Irish inspired harp made of Koa; the soundboard is spruce & cedar, faced with cherry veneer, & the strings fluorocarbon. Rick's name for this harp, 'Luchair,' is Gaelic for "Joy."
Koa, more familiar in ukuleles, is being discovered by luthiers around the country as an excellent harp wood. Folks loves Rowan's rich bass, & the lowhead style & modest weight (17#) makes her also portable!
My third harp, Bella Luna, came to me as the reward for fulfilling a Millenium Harp Quest. She arrived Feb 20, 2008, the day of a lunar eclipse! Her range is 26 strings, so though smaller than Tuille, she has a surprisingly large voice.

I began using Reiki 'hands on' & distant healing in 1989, & naturally integrated Reiki into my harp music. I have also studied Song Medicine with Eric Vormans, the Sunray Meditation Society, & musicians Laurie Riley, Ani Williams, & Tina Tourin. With the music background, I find it natural to compose & arrange music for the harp.