The strings and the fingers
are smiling tentatively at each other,
recalling long ago acquaintance
but feeling shy with each other.
Once, fingers danced with strings
for hours, without a glance to
the books of lines and staffs that
were their matchmaker.
Then they were separated
and the comfortable rhythm
they once shared
slowly dissolved
into awkward tentativeness
on the rare occasions
when they came across one another.
Relationships take commitment,
after all.
Now they’ve been reintroduced.
The matchmaker pushes them together
and fingers hesitantly
caress the strings,
leave them vibrating,
longing for more.
.
It’s been far too long, but I’m finally back playing the harp. So far I’m working on a great book, Rose in Winter, by harpist Sharon Thormahlen of Corvallis, Oregon. Her original pieces are so pretty and fall easily on the fingers. In this photo (circa 2002) is my Bresch Jubal harp (33 strings) behind and my double strung Brittany from Stoney End in front. (The Brittany is cherry, and has the most beautiful, shimmering grain and a tremendously loud voice for a wee harp!)
Shawn L. Bird 
Got your book. Waiting patiently for your cd.
Thanks for getting the book, I hope you enjoy it. It will likely be a lonnnnnnnnng wait for any c.d.! 🙂 It is good that I haven’t forgotten everything, but depressing how much is gone and must be coaxed back.
I feel that way whenever I go to the gym 🙂
lol
fingers quicken
heart vibrating strings
dawn breaking
Very nice!
You are inspiring me to get back to my harp. It’s a clarsach, a small 33 stringed portable scottish harp, and I love playing it….so why did I stop? Your photo is beautiful incase you didn’t know 🙂
What a kind compliment! My Brittany is a low head clarsach type harp- 3 octave size with concert spacing, but in two parallel courses, so there are 44 strings. No levers on that one and it’s tuned in C. The strings are G to G though, so if I was smart I’d probably tune it to G for maximum flexibility!
I know how easy it is to stop: life gets so busy and there are only so many hours in a day! We can inspire each other. What are you working on? 🙂
I love the harp – how great that you know how to play it, I also love photographing harpists and have taken some recent photographs of one.
When I was actively harping, I knew hundreds of harpists and harpers all over North America. These days, not so much. Who have you been photographing?
Just a harpist at a music workshop in Australia, I don’t see too many harpists in our small country town so I enjoyed it, and want to travel more.
This strikes a chord [ahem] with my piano playing. Scared to go back to the keys. Fearful of my inability to realise my musical dreams. Yet I will go nowhere without just sitting down and playing. Starting with the familiar. Learning something new. Then when the unconscious brain/finger connection takes over, slipping into some improvisation and losing myself in the music for a time.
And I love harp music. Love hearing it on the classical radio station here in Australia. Collecting the works of the Swiss musician Andreas Vollenweider (my second favourite artist ever).
I would like to listen to more harp music, would you have some recommendations?
My favourite is probably Sharlene Wallace of Toronto. I studied with her at workshops back in the 90s. http://www.cdbaby.com/artist/SharleneWallace http://www.sharlenewallace.com She is a professional orchestral pedal harpist, but her recordings are on lever (Celtic) harp.
I’d also recommend Latin American harpist Alfredo Rolando Ortiz http://www.alfredo-rolando-ortiz.com/ (Sharlene plays some of his compositions).
American harpist Kim Robertson is also very good. http://www.kimrobertson.net/ (I’ve also studied with her). There are many great artists!
[…] This is a response to harping romance. […]
will you send us links so we can listen to your music? 🙂 beautiful blog by the way.
I’m glad you enjoy my blog! I wouldn’t put you through my playing at this stage, but if you visit shawnbird.com/harp you can hear some of my favorite harpers.
haha fair enough. i started teaching myself to play the acoustic guitar last year and still a newbie. i dont play for anyone to hear just for myself. will check out the link thank you.
I will play out again at some point. I’ve played funerals, weddings, church services, dinners, theatre productions, etc. but it’ll be a while before I’m back playing that well.