Recording the harp is an interesting process, it’s such a great sound it’s easy to get lost in it. I feel like there’s a huge amount of space between the notes somehow, and all that space is full of rich, ringing tones as the strings resonate with one another. You don’t notice it as much when you add other instruments, it’s an easy thing to obscure. A badly recorded harp can sound pretty much like a cheap electric piano, at which point one has to wonder why not just go with the piano. But on a good recording you’ll hear all of those harmonics rolling around. Particularly when it’s a solo thing.
Working with the harp for so many years was great ear training for me. Certainly was necessary to learn how to tell when the string was at the right pitch, with or without an electronic tuner. I’m reminded of the saying common among players–that the harper spends half of their life tuning the instrument, and the other half playing the instrument out of tune. Sad but true. So you can imagine that tuning the average guitar is no longer a scary prospect. I’ve had worse. Way worse.
Of course once it’s tuned you have to do something with it. The other day I said I’d let you hear some of the sound. Here’s something.
The tune –> In the Bleak Midwinter
A seasonal thing I suppose, although that’s not why I play it. It’s a melody I love, and was one of my father’s favourites as well. Hard not to think of him while I’m playing it. I think maybe that’s one of the things music is for. I hope you enjoy it.