From the Florida Harpers & Friends Newsletter
Winter 98-99

Florida Harpers would like to take this opportunity to focus on the "and Friends" portion of our membership. one of them, bodhran player Alyn Breathnach (Bunnell), wrote this article about her experience playing at the Barbervill Pioneer Days Jamboree, November 7, 1998.

From "A Friend's" Perspective

By ALYN NI BREATHNACH

I'd never been to the Pioneer Days, but will remedy that in the future. This mix of past and present, music and craft, young and old, presented human culture at its finest. It was with a happy heart that Chris Purdy (Daytona Beach) and I planned our journey to Barberville, where we would be joined by Marg Chauvin (St. Augustine). There, we would play for a few hours, enjoy the sights, and go home with the knowledge that we had done our part to bring culture to the backwoods and have a little fun too. At least, that was what I was thinking. It wasn't what happened.

Two harps and a bodhran found themselves welcomed and appreciated from the moment we arrive at the old schoolhouse on the Pioneer Settlement property. Setting up the harps brought onlookers interested in the tuning process. When all was in readiness, we did a few warm-up pieces -- which quickly turned into a set -- then an hour, then two hours.

We announced our lunch break at 1 p.m., but weren't able to get away until 1:30. People would not let the soft music of the harps and the grace of the players slip away so easily. "Play one more." "What's the difference between these harps?" "Play something so we can hear." -- all comments set to keep us from our appointed lunch. But when one is faced with such an appreciative audience, how can a true musician refuse?

Ah, you say, but that is the beauty of the harp -- angelic, peaceful, serene. I'll grant you that. But let's just say we add a beat to that, something people can tap their toes to. Something that, during the softer notes of the harp, the pause in their voice, keeps going on, letting people know the piece is not yet over; wait, just a little longer... That would be me, the quiet drummer in the corner, the bodhran on my knee, my hand keeping the quiet patterns from fading too far from memory.

We did our break, finally, and when we returned, we had found a fiddle to join us. Our three became four, and the music filled more space -- stealing out into the hall, waltzing briefly onto the porch... More people lingered. More people paused. And, more people said, "Please, stay -- just a little bit longer."

Editor's Note: Although the majority of our membership is made of harpers/harpists, we also have composers, fiddlers, tin whistlers and flutists, and drummers. We'd like to celebrate our diversity! If you have music you have composed, or music for instrument other than harp, bring some copies along to circles and jam session and share it. We can all learn from each other.

Tallahassee Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festival

MEMBER REPORT

The Tallahassee Hot Harpists played October 10 at the Festival at the Faslls Chase Subdivision. The day was sunny and cool; approximately 15,000 people attended at the beautiful meadow surrounded by forests. The harps were placed in dappled shade on a wooden deck away from the bagpipers. Members played two group performances, and individuals played throughout the day.

Members playing included Casey Blanton, Sarah Keller, Sina Booeshaghi, Carol Wintermute, Mary Ann McGowan, Martha Paradeis, Wolfgang Wesson, Bridget Wesson, Arielle Ray, Chelsea Kendall, Caroline Campbell, and Karen Jackson. Mary Ann McGowan's group "Paddy Go Lively" (haro, dulcimer, fiddle, and bodhran) played and sang.

Visiting harpists from other towns stopped to listen and were invited to play. One self-taught harpists in the audience watched the technique of the children to pick up ideas becasue no teacher lives in her area. Another who is now the first harp major at the University of Georgia was there. She had been introduced to the harp over 10 years ago at the Grandfather Mountain North Carolina Highland Games by FHF's Karen Jackson. So, you never know who's going to be listening! Between sets, harpists and harpers watched the dancers, shepherding dogs, pipe bands, jousting and sword fighting; rode the ponies and hot air balloons, and sampled lots of goodies from the Britist bakery.

©FHF 1998