Category Archives: Performances & Videos

Live performances, concerts, recordings, videos

If I were a blackbird, Kim Robertson, La Crosse Irish Fest 2008

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Apologies for the lack of updates recently, real life has taken over in a big way and computer activities are at a minimum right now (most harpists can relate to the craziness of the holiday concert season; add major home renovations on top of that and you get the general idea). My goal is to get the Harp Blog back into its usual swing in the new year. In the meantime, here’s a video of the incomparable Kim Robertson, who I had the honour to meet and chat with at the Northern Lights Harp Fest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK_HnPZwsC0&feature=PlayList&p=2D02B1104D8263B7&index=3&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL

To find out more about Kim and her music, you can visit her website at www.kimrobertson.net. You can see more videos of Kim at La Crosee ’08 via the LAXIrishFest YouTube channel (or by following the links in the video above).

Alan Stivell: Brian Boru on gold harp

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atxyOCHFd8U

Very cool version of Brian Boru’s, from the master of Celtic fusion himself.  I had only ever heard (and played) the traditional march version of this tune before, but it works surprisingly well as a song.  Complete lyrics are included below (they’re pretty much identical on all the online lyrics sites, including the notes in French and English, presumably taken from the liner notes of the CD).

The Harp Blog posted Brian Boru’s as a tune of the month way back when, which you can download here.  Following the link to Chubby Sparrow Music will take you to a midi version of the tune (along with a bunch of other free trad Celtic midi files).

A summary of Alan Stivell’s career and influence on Celtic & harp music can be found here (and of course the standard Wiki entry, here).  Alain’s official website is www.alan-stivell.com (trilingual in Breton, French & English).

LYRICS:

Marv Brian Boru ‘rein buhez ‘n Iwerzhon
Dihan e Bro-Ulad ha ba ker Dulenn
Undedan tiegezhn unded an dud-man
Unded ar Gelted hag an douar

Maraiodh Brian Boru chun beatha nna heireann
Siochain in gcuige Uladh agus i mbaile ‘cliath
Aontacht an teaghlaigh, aontacht na dtuath
Aontacht an domhain is na gCeiltteach

Diouzh nerzh ar c’hadou da nerzh an ehan
Diouzh ‘bed doueek bennozh ar c’haroud
O neart an chata go neart na siochana
On brith dhiaga beannacht an ghra

Duirt siad gurbh i seo sochraide ar muintire
Gur choir duinn bheith sollunta fein
Biodh nach Raibh bronach

Marv Brian Boru ‘rein buhez ‘n Iwerzhon
Dihan e Bro-Ulad ha ba ker Dulenn
Undedan tiegezhn unded an dud-man
Unded ar Gelted hag an douar

Ta muid ‘nos ha haimsire
Go hairid an ghrian
Agus thogh muid ait bhog cois abhann.

NOTES:

Brian Boru :
Nom d’un chef irlandais qui fut vainqueur posthume des Vikings.
Brian Boru, chef de Tuath, chassa les Danois du Munster,
conquit le Leinster, devint le roi-suprème de l’Irlande en 1002
et battit les Vikings en 1014 à Clontharf.
Mais il fut assassiné dans la soirée par un fuyard alors qu’il se reposait.

Transmuter l’énergie de guerre en énergie de paix.
Mort brian Boru donnant vie en Irlande
Paix en Ulster et dedans Dublin
Unis les Celtes et la terre !
De la force des combats à celle de la paix
Du monde divin, bénédiction de l’amour.
ALAN STIVELL.

They said that we were shameless celebrating our love
With devastation all around us
We are like the weather, specially the sun
And we choose a soft place by the river.
CAITLIN MAUDE, from Amhran grà Vietnam.

Andy McKee – Into the Ocean

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The harp guitar is one of the few oddball hybrid instruments to stand the test of time. Depending on when you mark the first occurence of a “true” harp guitar, it’s been around in one form or another since the 18th/19th century (also in early forms as the “harp lute”).

For more info:
harpguitars.net – As its name suggests, a site dedicated to harp guitars. Includes explorations into the instrument’s history and the entymology of the term “harp guitar”.
myspace.com/andymckee2 – More music by Andy McKee. See also Andy’s profile at Candy Rat records.

Stairway to Heaven on Celtic Harp (Anne Roos)

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRwYhSBDU6E

It happens to everyone, no matter where you play; some idiot is bound to come up to you and ask if you do Stairway to Heaven, or Smoke on the Water.  The best response, I find (aside from stoically ignoring them), is to actually start playing it.  It’s also fun to play during a quiet period in a Celtic jam, and see if anyone notices.

Would be cooler without the annoying intro and the way the TV news guy cuts Anne off before she’s properly finished.

Here’s another sweet Celtic tribute to Zeppelin, with crop circles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ_q_ORctQk&NR=1

Double Harp Demo Video with Acacia Lyra

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49Nj1VpVDs0

From Joanne Griffin, Secretary, Northern Lights Harp Fest:

“I know many of you have been curious about the V68 harp-for-two. Since this harp will be used for the open-mic-for-two at the Northern Lights Harp Fest, www.northernlightsharpfest.com, we decided to shoot a demo video to show folks that it actually plays and sounds like a harp (or harps). Acacia Lyra (Susan Sweeney Herman & Janine Dudding), who will be performing and giving a workshop at the Fest, kindly agreed to perform their rendition of Chanter Meets the Fairy King for the video.

The regular registration deadline for the NLHF is July 15th. If you haven’t already done so, sign up now for what promises to be an entertaining, informative and exciting harp experience!”

Credits: V68 harp by Don Peddle, Artwork by Patricia Doyle (Blackburn ON), Videography by Lois Siegel Productions Inc. (Ottawa ON)

Cynthia Valenzuela on Metallic Harp

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meueuXTcczg

Live performance at Encuentro de Arpa de Durango 2005 “Diva’s Harp”.  And yes, the actual harp itself is made of metal, not just the strings. Certainly makes for a unique sound! Too bad it gets cut off at the end.

You can see another short video of Cynthia demonstrating the “Vera” metallic harp below.

Sarah Deere-Jones: By a Woodland Stream

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BCPVjQqm9A

According to phantombagpiper:

“By a Woodland Stream” was written by Sarah as a ‘classical’ piece for Celtic Harp. It is in the style of Marcel Tournier from the turn of the last Century. He taught Sarahs’ Teacher, Renata Scheffel-Stein, so the piece has a link to the past. The sheet music is available at www.cornwallharpcentreshop.co.uk

Robin Ward plays Suite Royalle on Triple Harp

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmTJYj-k_MY

According to Mr. Ward:

An arrangement of Robert de Visee’s Suite Royalle in Dm. Originally for Lute/Theorbo. Performed on an Italian styled triple harp, built by the performer.

You can see more of Robin Ward’s playing here, and visit his website at www.earlyharps.com. (Along with performing he also teaches and builds harps).