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Radio Show – Episode 48 – More Harp – April 19, 2020

With the fullness of Spring and music in the air, what can I say? I have to bring in more harp!

And if you groove on the joy, beauty, and surprise that this angelic and, in expert hands, brash instrument can bring,  you’ll enjoy this follow-on to our previous all-harp show.  We head off-trail with some contemporary sounds, but return again to Celtic-rooted music and themes. We also journey down to the shore to listen to an old Scots Gaelic prayer, and witness a boat blessing.

Inspired by this unusual and threshold time in which we live, I share a magical tale of my own about  Rose Hip and Snowberry, two children who venture into the woods when technology falls away and their modern world changes.

You’ll also hear music from a new group of which I am part.

Harpers featured are Sue Richards, Lily Neill, Verlene Schermer, Séamus Ó Flatharta in High Time Irish band, Moya Brennan and Cormac de Barra, Màiri Chaimbeul (backing Jenna Moynihan), and Deb Knodel, Claudia Slayman, Verlene Schermer, and Jane Valencia as Spooky Redtail Moon

Listen to the show on demand until May 3

The second hour is an encore airing of Show 27:  On the Wing

01:30 Sue Richards / Nyth y Gwcw
04:19 Lily Neill / Bedford Row
08:01 Verlene Schermer / Flying
14:04 HighTime / An Maoilín
18:04 Moya Brennan and Cormac de Barra / Crann Ull
22:01 Jenna Moynihan / The Eagle’s Whistle / Major Campbell Graham
27:45 Scots Gaelic Boat Blessing and Prayer; Music: Sound Healing Center / Healing Harp by the Sea
32:13 Sara & Maynard Johnson with Rogues’ Consort / Rowing From Isla to Uist
35:35 Sibéal / An Cailin Alainn
41:27 Story by Jane Valencia / Rose Hip and Snowberry
53:22 Spooky Redtail Moon / Tam Lin – The Glasgow Reel

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Spooky Redtail Moon: Come Enjoy Our Music Videos!

With Shelter in Place, three harp friends — Deb Knodel, Verlene Schermer, Claudia Slayman — and myself came together virtually to put together four videos. The concept: we each choose and start and tune, record our part, then pass the video to one another. Verlene engaged in tech-wizardry to weave and mix these videos — synchronizing the videos, balancing the audios, and working magic to produce them.

The videos were great fun to put together,  and we’ll be doing more.  In the meantime, please welcome us into your living room!  Here’s the music we play:

The Water is Wide (traditional and much loved English folk song)
Glenlivet – trad. Scottish
Dans Keff Avec – trad. Breton tune
Tam Lin – also known as the Glasgow Reel – composed by Davey Arthur

You can access the whole playlist here.

A note on our group and group name: Spooky Redtail Moon combines three group names that four musicians worked under either currently or in the past. Spookytree is Deb Knodel and Jane Valencia, Redtail & Gingko is Claudia Slayman and Deb Knodel, and To the Moon is Verlene Schermer, Deb Knodel and Claudia Slayman. We met through our love of the Celtic harp, and have been friends for over 25 years, playing music together whenever we are together at harp retreats, Scottish Games, and other events.

Cheers!

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Radio Show – Episode 47 – Mostly Harp – April 3, 2020

With lockdown continuing, I’m inspired by what’s taken wing online, especially the Edinburgh Harp Festival, now gone virtual! Here’s Forest Hall’s version of a harp celebration. For the first time, this show features harpers in every piece of music. Enjoy the elegance and vitality of traditional styles as well as flights of vigorous and imaginative contemporary expression. Harpers featured are Màiri Macleod, Cheyenne Brown, Rachel Hair, Moya Brennan and Cormac de Barra, Anne-Marie O’Farrell , Séamus Ó Flatharta in HighTime Irish band, Gwenan Gibbard Siân James , Elinor Bennett and Meinir Heulyn, Robin Huw Bowen, Patrick Ball,  Verlene Schermer, Sharlene Wallace and Kim Robertson.

The second hour of the show is an encore airing of FHC’s very first show! Episode 1 offers the playful natural magic and beauty of springtime, a ninth century Irish poem, and Jane Valencia’s retelling of the Irish myth, “Airmid’s Herbal Cloak.” Hear harp in the music of Ann Heymann, Mary Macmaster and Patsy Seddon (in Clan Alba), and Shelley Phillips (in Orison). Find playlist for Show 1 is here.

Listen to Show 47 and Show 1 until April 19.

Playlist for Show 47:

01:31 Màiri Macleod – Crossing the Minch/Tail Toddle
06:16 Cheyenne Brown – Cold Frosty Morning
13:43 Rachel Hair Trio – The Duke of Fife’s Welcome to Deeside
17:45 Moya Brennan and Cormac de Barra – Taim Breoite go Leor
23:19 Anne-Marie O’Farrell – Caitlín Ní Haodha & The Sport of the Chase
25:38 HighTime – The Village of Cloch Bhuí
33:23 Gwenan Gibbard – Nei Di Ganu ‘Nghan?
37:52 Siân James – Mae Nghariad I’n Fenws
41:31 Elinor Bennett and Meinir Heulyn – Cader Idris
43:01 Robin Huw Bowen – Jig Y Doethion
47:07 Patrick Ball – Lady Dillon – Turlough O’ Carolan
50:51 Verlene Schermer – A Jig in Your Pocket
53:50 Sharlene Wallace and Kim Robertson – Last Night’s Joy / Moving Cloud