I learned how to play the harp many years ago. It was a Troubadour model, made by Lyon & Healy. By the time it fell to me it had been through many hands. It wasn’t in the best of shape, the string band was one long curve upwards and there were several significant cracks in the body. But I played it anyway. And I fell in love with the sound–so much space between the notes. It’s still the thing that I find most compelling about the harp.
I’ve owned a harp for most of the time since then. It’s a wire-strung 36-string that has a lovely bell-like tone, very different from the nylon or gut-strung instruments you tend to see. For quite a few years I only played it when I needed something ‘just so’ for a recording. It would sit for ages in between being used. Then a little while ago I picked it up again for personal reasons. When I did I discovered the most amazing thing–I was able to play the melody to any song I’d ever written. I mean without practice or having to ‘figure it out’. That may not seem like a big deal until I point out that I couldn’t have done any such thing before I took that long break.
I’m still not sure exactly how that all worked out. But I’m enjoying the results. When I get a moment I’ll record a little something for you to hear. It is a pretty sound. In the meantime I’m enjoying playing it. And I’m still looking for an explanation about what happened.