Willow Kitty March 2009 - October 6, 2024
On Sunday, October 6, 2024 our beloved 15 year old Willow Kitty passed away from kidney failure and complications of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis). She was the beloved feline sister of Toni and Daisy, the much-loved kitty of my late father (d. 2019) and favorite feline friend of Jasmine Kitty. She is also greatly grieved by husband […]
Update on my harp! Triplett Luna
My 15 year old Triplett Luna wire harp made the 3,000+ miles trip from Vermont to San Luis Obispo, California in July, back to the workshops of Triplett Harps for a much-needed rebuild. After I accidentally knocked over my harp while recovering from Covid this past winter, the instrument was severely damaged and needed major repairs. […]
Harp Ornaments (the carved wood kind)
My Argent Fox double-strung harp was originally planned to have wood carvings added to it but that final touch was overlooked as other concerns took precedence preparing for the harp’s delivery in fall 2022. This spring I decided it was time to revisit that forgotten detail and complete the visual aesthetic of the harp. My […]
Lessons & Carols on double-strung wire harp
We’ve selected the carols and Christmas hymns we’ll be singing for Lessons & Carols at our church on December 31st. Most of these will be played on the pipe organ and I’ll be accompanying on my double-strung wire harp. The collection this year will be: (from the Episcopal Hymnal 1982) Once in Royal David’s City […]
Harps in memory of our beloved kitties…
After two months of carefully changing out my bronze wires for copper phosphor bronze ones and bringing my double-strung harp up to tension (currently at A=390, Baroque pitch), my newest wire harp is ready to make his grand appearance at our Christmas Eve services! In the harp world, we tend to give our harps a name. […]
Thoughts on playing a cross-strung wire harp How you can play one too!
Since my double strung harp is out of commission for the time being, I’ve been relying on my lightweight (10 lbs.!) Esabelle harp to come to church with me every Sunday. Playing her on a weekly basis has certainly helped improved my technique! Cross-strung (X) harps are usually not wire; they normally have nylon strings instead […]
Pipe Organ and Wire Harp A How-to for Your Church!
Almost every Sunday, unless husband George has to be away (substituting at another church, playing the carillon for Convocation or Commencement at either of his two colleges), he’s playing the historic pipe organ at our church. Preludes, postludes and hymns. With, of course, wire harp accompaniment! If you happen to have a spouse, friend […]
Creation Care Season & Feast of St. Francis
“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24) Culling, Curfews and Caps: Australia ‘Declares War’ on Its Cat Problem A departure from my usual posts here on liturgical harp. May we pray and seek to defend God’s creatures and His Creation from cruel and unnecessary predation by […]
Irish Wire Harp at Communion Source of Melody...
My favorite time to play my harp during Sunday morning church service is at Communion. At our church, members are invited to come up and gather in a circle around the altar after our priest elevates the Host, breaks it and begins to distribute it to each in turn, saying: “The Body of Christ, the […]
Polish Easter Hymns My 5th collection available for download
Just in time for Easter, I’ve completed compiling a new collection of Polish language hymns from the Polish American Liturgical Center at Orchard Lake, Michigan. There are 22 hymns in this pdf document, along with an index and English translations of the titles. I had mine printed and spiral bound at UPS Store, with a […]