Amazing Grace - for 2 Harps

Arranged for 2 harps, this version of Amazing Grace is just over 2 minutes long.

Pictures in Video -

1 - Studies of a Woman Praying, detail of a drawing by Ludwig Emil Grimm, 1836
2 - Old Woman Praying, detail of a photo by Rudolf Erickemeyer, Jr, circa 1890
3 - Man Saying Grace, fragment of a painting by Joseph Geirnaert, circa 1830
4 - Grace, photo by Eric Enstrom, 1918
5 - 'Slum Sisters' Singing Grace, magazine illustration by Georgina A. Davis, 1893
6 - The Vespers Hour, detail of a book cover illustration by H.H. Emmerson, 1881
7 - The Grace, painting by Michael Ancher, 1919
8 - The Thankful, painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1894
9 - The Prayer Before Supper, print by Claes Janssen, circa 1640
10 - Blessing Before Supper, painting by Charles de Groux, 1861
11 - Study of Women and Men Saying Grace Before a Meal, drawing by Hubert von Herkomer, circa 1880
12 - Children Saying Grace Before Lunch - refugees near Paris, photo, circa 1917
13 - School Lunch Program - in Depression-era U.S, photo, 1936
14 - Skippers' Children Praying Before Eating - Dutch photo, 1955
15 - New England's Own Delivers Thanksgiving Dinner to Patrol Base Boldak, Afghanistan, U.S. Marines, photo by Cpl Katherine Keleher, 2011
16 - Grace, stained glass window in German Church of Stockholm

Doxology - for Harp

The Doxology is part of the soundtrack of my youth.  We sang it absolutely every week.  In choir, since we all knew it so well, we would get creative and break into crazy-mega-harmony at the end.  That was a musical education.  The melody is called "Old 100th" and it was written by Loys Bourgeois in the 1500s.  The video runs about 3 minutes.

Pictures in Video -

1 - The River Oyat, painting by Vasily Polenov, 1883
2 - Summer View of a Forest Fen, painting by Henri Biva, 1929
3 - Lake in Ermenonville, painting by Antonin Chittussi, 1882
4 - Geese on the Shore, painting by Bruno Liljefors, 1921
5 - David the Shepherd Boy, Bible card, pre-1923
6 - King David, painting by Gerrit van Honthorst, 1622
7 - West Rock New Haven, painting by Frederic Church, 1849
8 - Niagara Falls from the American Side, painting by Frederic Church, 1867
9 - Prophets, Patriarchs, Saints, and Music-Making Angels in Glory, detail of drawing by Giovanni Bautista Gaulli, circa 1670
10 - Adoration of the Shepherds, painting by Peter Candid, 1685
11 - Design for the Hall of Stars in The Magic Flute, aquatint print by Karl Friederich Schinkel, circa 1848
12 - Illustration of comet, appeared in Germany 1456, drawn 1552
13 - Internal View of the O'Neill Cylinder, by Don Davis, circa 1976

Once to Every Person and Nation - for Harp and Chamber Ensemble

 I admit, I brazenly changed a word in the title of this song: "Man" to "Person."  This old Welsh melody has been my all-time favorite hymn since I was a teen - minor key, low, grinding march-type tune.  The first 2 lines are "Once to every man and nation, Comes the moment to decide." I think it is particularly appropriate in our time. It's about 2 and a half minutes long.

Pictures in Video -

1 - etching by William Strang, 1913, "The Aeroplane"
2 - painting by Honore Daumier, 1856, "Theater Audience"
3 - painting by A. Yakovlev, 1918, in Peking
4 - newspaper illustration, circa 1871 Louisiana, "French Opera House"
5 - print, 1868, "The High Court of Impeachment"
6 - painting by Fritz Beinke, 1873, "The Juggler"
7 - detail of postcard illustration by Albert Guillaume, circa 1914, "15 minutes of Entr'acte"
8 - detail of painting by Antonina Rzhevskaya, circa 1902, "The Music"
9 - detail of aquatint print by George Cruikshank, 1821, "Drury Lane Theatre"
10 - detail of drawing by B. Kustodiev, 1908, "Yakov Turok Is Singing"
11 - detail of painting by William Geets, 1809, "The Accident"
12 - woodblock print by Utagawa Hirosige, 1838, "View of the Kabuki Theaters"
13 - book illustration from "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, written 1678, illus. 1821, "Road from City of Destruction to the Celestial City"

Be Thou My Vision - for Harp

This video is in honor of Ukraine, and also for my friends Ruth & Kermit Hugo, who could use some peace and inspiration right now.  I think we could all use some of that.  The melody is a well-known hymn, Be Thou My Vision, which has an Irish folk melody as its haunting and stately basis.  It's just over 2 minutes long.

Pictures in Video -

1 - Rainbow, painting by Archip Kuindshi, 1903
2 - Big Clouds, painting by Hans Emmeneggar, 1903
3 - The Rocky Mountains Landers Peak, painting by Albert Bierstad, 1863
4 - The Reedsee with Tischlergruppe Mountains, painting by Johann Varrone, 1864
5 - The Gate in the Rocks, painting by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Germany, 1818
6 - The Voyage of Life: Childhood, painting by Thomas Cole, 1840
7 - Mountain Lake with Steep Rock Face, painting by Heinrich Heinlein, circa 1865
8 - The Wreck, painting by Frederic Edwin Church, 1852
9 - Fervaal, opera illustration by Carlos Schwabe, Paris, 1898
10 - The Christian Martyrs, detail of a painting by Gustave Dore, France, 1871
11 - The Voyage of Life: Old Age, painting by Thomas Cole, 1840
12 - K2-138, NASA illustration by Robert Hurt, 2019
13 - Kepler 47, NASA illustration by Tim Pyle, 2019
14 - White Dwarf Planet Death, NASA illustration by A. Garlick, 2009
15 - Pulsar PSR B1257+12 System, NASA illustration by Robert Hurt

All Things Bright and Beautiful

At Thanksgiving time, I think of this song and how thankful I am for Nature. Arranged here for harp, bells, lute, and bass, the video runs about 2.5 minutes.

Pictures in Video -

1 - Deer in a Sunny Forest Glade, painting by Franz Xaver von Pausinger, 1880
2 - Fox Stalking Thrushes, painting by Bruno Liljefors, 1887
3 - Highland Wanderers, painting by William Watson, 1907
4 - The Alpsee Near Hohenschwangau, painting by Karl Millner, 1872
5 - Common Eiders on a Rocky Islet, painting by Bruno Liljefors, 1899 6 - Loons, painting by Bruno Liljefors, 1913
7 - Geese, painting by Bruno Liljefors, 1922
8 - Stretching Swans, painting by Bruno Liljefors, 1915
9 - Deer, painting by Alfred Bassel Rehbrunft, 1903
10 - On the Prowl, painting by Otto von Groote, circa 1920
11 - Adirondack Black Bear, attributed to Oliver Kemp, 1902
12 - Deer in Repose, painting by Rosa Bonheur, 1867
13 - Morning in a Pine Forest, painting by Ivan Shishkin, 1889
14 - Playing Lions, painting by Wilhelm Kuhnert, circa 1900
15 - The Two Majesties, painting by Jean Leon Gerome, circa 1850

A Mighty Fortress - for Harp

This hymn was a kind of theme song from childhood for me and my brother in the 1960s.  It was featured in a children's clay-animated tv show produced by the Lutheran Church: Davey and Goliath.  One of my favorite hymns that we sang in the Methodist church, A Mighty Fortress was written by Martin Luther and later harmonized by J.S. Bach.  With that in mind, it was a pleasure to arrange it for harp - the video runs about 3 minutes.

Pictures in Video -

1 - A View of Tantallon Castle with the Bass Rock, Scotland, painting by Alexander Nasmyth, circa 1815
2 - Edinburgh Castle and the Nor' Loch, Scotland, painting by Alexander Nasmyth, 1824
3 - An English Frigate in Choppy Waters in the Tagus [River] Passing the Belem Tower, Portugal, painting by John Thomas Serres, circa 1790
4 - Belem Tower, Portugal, bookplate, 1917
5 - Conway Castle By Moonlight, Wales, anonymous painting, circa 1795
6 - The Gate in the Rocks, painting by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Germany, 1818
7 - View of Mont Blanc, France, painting by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, 1813
8 - Conway Castle, Wales, painting by Thomas Moran, 1917
9 - The Norman Gate and Deputy Governor's House Windsor Castle, England, painting by Paul Sandby, 1765
10 - Medieval City on a River, painting by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, circa 1815
11 - Kidwelly Castle, Wales, 1791
12 - Mannorbeer Castle Moonlight Scene, Wales, 1815
13 - Gothic Church on a Rock By the Sea, painting by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, 1815
14 - Landscape with Pilgrim, painting by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, circa 1813
15 - The Voyage of Life: Youth, painting by Thomas Cole, 1840

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing - for Harp

Another hymn that I like for Thanksgiving is "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."  It works particularly well on harp.  The line, "Here I raise my ebenezer, hither by Thy help I'm come" always comes to mind for me with this song.  This video is all about ebenezers, or standing stones, memorial stones, etc. It is around 2-1/2 minutes long.

Pictures in Video -

1 - The Frithjof Memorial Stone on Leikanger by Balestrand in Sogn, painting by Hans Leganger Reusch, Norway, circa 1825
2 - The Bridge of Brodgar, postcard by Walter Hugh Patton, Scotland, 1875
3 - A Burial Mound from Ancient Times by Raklev on Refsnaes, painting by Johan Lundbye, Denmark, 1839
4 - Menhir, painting by Ferdinand du Puigaudeau, France, circa 1900
5 - Danish Winter Landscape with Dolmen, painting by Nordahl Grove, Denmark, 1873
6 - Winter at the Sognefjord, painting by Johan Christian Dahl, Norway, 1827
7 - Haymaking Between the Menhirs at Nornes, painting by Johan Christian Dahl, Norway, 1839
8 - A Walk at Dusk, painting by Caspar David Friedrich, Germany, circa 1838
9 - Cleder Menhir, postcard by Emile Hamonic, circa 1900
10 - Menhir Near Plouneour-Trez, by Auguste Mayer, France, 1845
11 - Cross of the Apostles at Logonna-Daoulas, by Eugen Cicen, 1867
12 - Sewell Memorial, sculpture by Arthur Calder, New Jersey, 1910
13 - Evening Landscape with a Dolmen, painting by Carlo Dalgas, Denmark, 1844
14 - Sunset at a Dolmen, painting by Carl Frederik Bartsch, Denmark, 1882

Simple Gifts - Arranged for Harp

Here's one of my favorite hymns, which always puts me in a Thanksgiving mood.  "Simple Gifts" was written in 1848 by Shaker Elder Joseph Brackett, and I've arranged it here for harp.  If you're familiar with the work of the American composer, Aaron Copland, you'll recognize my little musical homage to him at the end.  This is a look at Shaker life and art from mostly over a hundred years ago. The video is about 2-1/2 minutes long.

Pictures in Video -

1 - A Little Basket Full of Beautiful Apples, Shaker drawing by Hannah Cohoon, 1856
2 - Shaker village, postcard, Sabbathday Lake, Maine, circa 1920
3 - Shaker box maker, photo, 1935
4 - Stone barn Shaker meeting house, postcard, Harvard, Mass., circa 1915
5 - Tree of Life, Shaker drawing by Hannah Cohoon, 1884
6 - Shaker gift drawing by Polly Jane Reed, before 1881
7 - Gospel Union Tree, Shaker drawing by Polly Collins, circa 1840
8 - Shaker gift drawing, by Polly Collins, circa 1840
9 - A Bower of Mulberry Trees, Shaker drawing by Hannah Cohoon, 1854
10 - A Present, Shaker drawing by Polly Jane Reed, before 1881
11 - Tree of Life or Blazing Tree, Shaker drawing by Hannah Cohoon, 1845
12 - Wreath, by Polly Collins, circa 1840
13 - Enfield Shaker village, postcard, Enfield, Maine, circa 1920
14 - A Tree of Love a Tree of Life, Shaker drawing by Polly Collins, 1857
15 - Harvard Shaker village, postcard, Harvard, Mass., circa 1905
16 - Shaker village, postcard, Alfred, Maine, circa 1915

If You Could Hie to Kolob - Arranged for Harp

This is the first in a little series of hymns I've done for Thanksgiving.  I am grateful for the many fine instrumental and vocal renditions of "If You Could Hie to Kolob," which inspired me to do a harp arrangement.  The tune is an old Irish melody, and I have included 5 verses so you can sing along if you want.  It's about 3 minutes long.

Pictures in Video -

1 - The Little Lame Prince, book illustration by Hope Dunlap, 1909
2 - Off on a Comet, book illustration by Paul Phillippoteaux (Jules Verne author), 1877
3 - The Earth and the Milky Way and Moon, charcoal drawing by W.T. Benda, 1918
4-Off on a Comet, book illustration by Paul Phillippoteaux (Jules Verne author), 1877
5 - Around the Moon, book illustration by Emile Antoine Bayard (Jules Verne author), 1872
6 - Figure 36 from Astronomia by Joseph Norman Lockyer, 1904
7 - The Signals from the Arctic Circle, book illustration by Daniel Carter Beard (Dan Beard author), 1894
8 - Illustration from Bible Primer by Adolf Hult, 1919
9 - Illustration of comet, appeared in Germany 1456, drawn 1552
10 - Illustration from "Alienist and Neurologist" book, 1919
11 - The Callisto and the Comet, book illustration by Daniel Carter Beard (Dan Beard author), 1894
12 - Off on a Comet, book illustration by Paul Phillippoteaux (Jules Verne author), 1877
13 - The Planets (Holst), painting by Zorro Mettini, 1995
14 - Der Donati'sche Komet von 1858, illustration produced in Germany, 1881
15 - Halley Comet in 1759, illustration produced in 1910
16 - Back to Earth, book illustration by Daniel Carter Beard (Dan Beard author), 1894
17 - Our Day in the Light of Prophecy, illustration by William Ambrose Spicer, 1921
18 - A Comet, book illustration from book by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, 1902
19 - Off on a Comet, book illustration by Paul Phillippoteaux (Jules Verne author), 1877
20 - Off on a Comet, book illustration by Paul Phillippoteaux (Jules Verne author), 1877
21 - Starlight Sower, painting by Hai Knafo, 2011