It's a Rosebud in June - for 2 Harps

Happy Valentine's Day!  Here's an English folk song, which dates from before 1715.  This version was arranged in 1916 by Cecil J. Sharp, and I transcribed and adapted it for 2 harps.  It makes a lush, harpy backdrop for some lovely pictures with roses.  The video runs about 2 minutes.

Pictures in Video -

1 - Rose Island, book illustration from Greenhouse Flora of Europe, circa 1866
2 - Juin, print from calendar by Samuel Grasset, 1896
3 - Growing Buckbee's American Beauty Roses, Victorian trade card, circa 1911
4 - Rose Garden, painting by Charles Vetter, 1926
5 - Roses, painting by P.S. Kroyer, 1893
6 - Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, painting by John William Waterhouse, 1909
7 - Girl with Rosebush, painting by Hugo Kauffmann, 1904
8 - Early Lovers, painting by Frederick Smallfield, 1858
8 - God Speed! detail of a painting by Edmund Leighton, 1900
10 - The Soul of the Rose, painting by John William Waterhouse, 1908
11 - Rosa Triplex, watercolor by Gabriel Rossetti, 1874

The Holly and the Ivy - for Harp and Ukulele

One of my favorite Christmas carols, The Holly and the Ivy is arranged here for harp and ukulele.  It runs about 1 minute.

Pictures in Video -

1 - Window with Ivy Tendrils, German stained glass, circa 1819
2 - Heigh Ho Holly, book illustration by Walter Crane, 1900
3 - Battle for Wesnoth, elvish style digital portrait, 2011
4 - Holly, book illustration by Laura Coombs Hills, 1890
5 - Pia de Tolomei, detail of painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, circa 1870
6 - Janvier, print from calendar by Samuel Grasset, 1896
7 - Scribner's for Xmas, poster print by Louis Rhead, 1895
8 - Harper's Bazar Xmas 1894, magazine cover, 1894
9 - Winter, book illustration by Florence E. Dudgeon, 1800s

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

Revelation: Variations on Christus Resurgens - for Harp

This is a 12th-century Gregorian chant, Christus Resurgens, that I arranged for 2 harps in the form of 4 themes with variations.  Why call this "Revelation" when the original melodies were about the Resurrection?  We are in times that appear to be apocalyptic, and the world could use a resurgence of Christ's teachings.  The video runs just over 4 minutes.

Pictures in Video -

Apocalypse paintings by Gebhard Fugel, 1933
1 - Angel with Book
2 - Eating the Book
3 - Before the Apocalypse
4 - Book with Seven Seals
5 - Woman and Dragon
6 - Michael's Fight
7 - By the Waters of Babylon (circa 1920)
8 - Beast from the Sea
9 - Babylon the Great
10 - Court of Justice Announcement
11 - Horsemen of the Apocalypse
12 - Angel with Seal
13 - Angel with Stone
14 - First Trumpet
15 - Bowls of Wrath
16 - Falling Rocks
17 - Abyss Opens
18 - The Last Dish
19 - Final Battle
20 - Satan Shackled
21 - Souls at the Altar
22 - Great Flock
23 - The New Jerusalem

How Shall I Fitly Meet Thee - for Harp

Here's another Bach chorale for the Christmas season. "How Shall I Fitly Meet Thee" is from the Christmas Oratorio, and it runs about 2 minutes.

Pictures in Video -

(A European collection of sacred art--for a more ethnically diverse set, see my "What Child Is This?" video.)

1 - border from The Nativity of Our Lord, book illumination by Alfred Trevor Crispin, 1873
2 - The Angels Approaching the Shepherds, book illumination by Alfred Trevor Crispin, 1873
3 - The Adoration of the Magi, book illumination by Alfred Trevor Crispin, 1873
4 - The Nativity of Our Lord, book illumination by Alfred Trevor Crispin, 1873
5 - The Adoration of the Shepherds, book illumination by Alfred Trevor Crispin, 1873
6 - The Annunciation to the Shepherds, illumination by Willem Vrelent, circa 1460
7 - Nativity with Harps, post card from Germany, 1907
8 - The Adoration of the Shepherds, painting by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622
9 - The Birth of Jesus Christ, book illumination by Alfred Trevor Crispin, 1873

Jesu, Joy of My Desiring - for Harp

Joyous Holidays! Here's a harp arrangement of one of my favorites. Once again, I have taken the liberty of changing a word in the title. While "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" is the popular English name, the original hymn's title from 1661 was "Jesu, Meiner Seelen Wonne," which translates to "Jesus, Bliss of My Soul." This arrangement is of J.S. Bach's chorale setting from a cantata written in 1723, and it runs about 3 minutes.

Pictures in Video -

(A European collection of images of Jesus--for a more ethnically diverse set, see my "What Child Is This?" video.)

1 - Joseph Sleeps Through the Nativity, book illumination, anonymous, circa 1330
2 - Madonna of the Small Trees, detail of painting by Giovanni Bellini, 1487
3 - The Adoration of the Shepherds, painting by Gerard van Honthorst, circa 1650
4 - The Adoration of the Magi, bas-relief drawing by John Flaxman, circa 1794
5 - The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, detail of painting by Pompeo Batoni, 1758
6 - The Triumph of the Innocents, detail of a painting by William Holman Hunt, circa 1890
7 - The Finding of the Savior in the Temple, painting by William Holman Hunt, circa 1854
8 - The Baptism of Christ, painting by Jose Ferraz de Almeida Junior, 1895
9 - The Sermon on the Mount, painting by Carl Bloch, 1890
10 - Address to Saint Philip, painting by James Tissot, circa 1890
11 - Casting Out Money Changers, painting by Carl Bloch, circa 1860
12 - The Shadow of Death, detail of a painting by William Holman Hunt, circa 1870
13 - Christ Taking Leave of His Mother, painting by El Greco, circa 1595
14 - Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene After the Reserrection, painting by Alexander Ivanov, 1835
15 - The Doubting of Saint Thomas, painting by Matthias Stom, circa 1645
16 - Christ and the Two Marys, painting by William Holman Hunt, 1847
17 - Head of Christ, painting by Rembrandt, circa 1648
18 - The Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ according to Saint Peter, book cover illustration by Carlos Schwabe, 1895

Ode to Joy for Harp Ensemble

Play Ode to Joy video.

 

To celebrate all things Spring, here's a harp ensemble version of Beethoven's Ode to Joy from his 9th Symphony.  I arranged it from Franz Liszt's transcription for 2 pianos, and both of those guys were total geniuses.  The best way to fully experience this video is with a headset for the music and a full-sized screen for the art.  It's a wild, harpy ride through the glories of nature - just over 13 minutes long.

Pictures in Video -

1 - Study of Clouds with a Sunset Near Rome (detail), by Simon Alexandre Clement Denis, circa 1793
2 - Moonrise, by Guillermo Gomez Gil, 1906
3 - A Cloud and Landscape Study by Moonlight, by Johan Christian Claussen Dahl, 1822
4 - Crimean Coast by Moonlight, by Ivan Aivazovsky, 1853
5 - Nighttime Horses Grazing, by Arkhip Kuindzhi, circa 1906
6 - Evening Scene with Full Moon and Persons, by Abraham Pether, 1801
7 - Moonlight on the Water, by Ivan Choultse, pre-1939
8 - Moonlight Over the Coast, by Lionel Walden, pre-1933
9 - Twilight Over a Lake, by Hermann Herzog, pre-1932
10 - Swans at Dawn, by Caspar David Friedrich, circa 1832
11 - Bean Geese Shedding, by Bruno Liljefors, 1921
12 - Florida Sunrise, by Martin Johnson Heade, circa 1895
13 - Before Sunrise in the Mountains, by Caspar David Friedrich, circa 1930
14 - Sunrise in Nicaragua, by Martin Johnson Heade, 1869
15 - Sunrise with Flowers and Sky, by Maritess Sulcer, 2018
16 - Partridge with Daisies, by Bruno Liljefors, 1890
17 - Meadow with Poppies, by Pal Szinyei Merse, 1896
18 - Before a Thunderstorm, by Nicolay Dubovskoy, 1903
19 - Study of Clouds with a Sunset Near Rome, by Simon Alexandre Clement Denis, circa 1793
20 - Before a Thunderstorm, by Ivan Shishkin, 1884
21 - After the Storm (detail), by Nicolay Dubovskoy, 1897
22 - Birch Tree in a Storm (detail), by Johan Christian Dahl, 1849
23 - The Gust of Wind, by Gustave Courbet, circa 1865
24 - Rain in Oak Forest, by Alexander Shishkin, 1891
25 - Grazing Cows on the Meadow, by Wilhelm Zillen, 1864
26 - Hare in the Field, by August Heyn, pre-1837
27 - A Passing Storm, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1849
28 - Twilight, by Apollinary Vasnetsov, 1889
29 - Gathering Storm in the Valley, by Albert Bierstadt, 1891
30 - Vale of St. Thomas, Jamaica, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1867
31 - Klansko Lake in Storm, by Marko Pernhart, 1852
32 - Thunderstorm in the Rocky Mountains, by Albert Bierstadt, 1859
33 - Horses in a Thunderstorm, by Thomas Woodward, 1823
34 - Storm in the Mountains, by Hermann Herzog, pre-1932
35 - The Storm, by George Caleb Bingham, circa 1852
36 - Dramatic Rapids Landscape with Figures and Mill Buildings, by Marcus Larson, 1854
37 - Deer in an Autumnal Landscape, by Henryk Weyssenhoff, pre-1922
38 - Lake Keitele, by Akseli Gallen Kallela, 1905
39 - Leaping Trout, by Winslow Homer, 1889
40 - Saugers and White Bass Fishes, by Bob Hines, pre-1994
41 - Trout Breaking, by Winslow Homer, 1889
42 - Salmon Fish Swimming Upstream, by Bob Hines, pre-1994
43 - Black-Throated Divers, by Bruno Liljefors, 1901
44 - Duck Family Among Reeds, by Bruno Liljefors, 1917
45 - Common Swifts, by Bruno Liljefors, 1886
46 - Ducks Taking Off, by Bruno Liljefors, 1908
47 - Stretching Swans, by Bruno Liljefors, 1915
48 - Morning in a Pine Forest, by Ivan Shishkin, 1889
49 - Twelve with Pack, Christian Kroner, 1888
50 - Horses in the Pasture, by Friedrich Anton Kilp, pre-1872
51 - Long-Tailed Ducks in the Outer Archipelago, by Bruno Liljefors, 1911
52 - Mother and Son, by Henry William Banks Davis, 1881
53 - Forest Scene with Two Deer and a Fawn, by Adolf Mackeprang, 1910
54 - On the Prowl, by Otto von Groote, circa 1920
55 - Mountain Lake with Steep Rock Face, by Heinrich Heinlein, circa 1865
56 - Cayambe, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1858
57 - Rainy Season in the Tropics, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1866
58 - Aurora Borealis, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1865
59 - Internal View of the O'Neill Cylinder, by Don Davis, circa 1976
60 - Jupiter and Io as Seen by Voyager 1, by Don Davis, 2007
61 - Earthlike Planet Art, NASA
62 - Kepler 186, by Tim Pyle, 2014
63 - LkCa 15b, Keck Observatory, 2011
64 - Study of Clouds with a Sunset Near Rome (detail), by Simon Alexandre Clement Denis, circa 1793

What Child Is This - for Ukulele & Harp

 

This year, my ukulele-playing friend, Mary, and I have been arranging Christmas music for baritone uke and harp.  Our first was What Child Is This, to the tune of Greensleeves, and it has a great, lutey, stringy sound.  It runs about 2 minutes.

Pictures in Video -

1 - Virgin Mary of Hoshiv, copy of icon, Ukraine
2 - Adoration of the Shepherds, a 1905 copy of an anonymous 15th century painting, Siena, Italy, circa 1450
3 - The Star of Bethlehem, watercolor by Edward Burne Jones, England, circa 1885
4 - Nativity, fresco by Sandro Botticelli, Italy, circa 1476
5 - Adoration of the Christ Child by the Shepherds, engraving by Johannes Bourgois, Belgium, circa 1600
6 - Illumination from the Trivulzio Book of Hours, Belgium, circa 1470
7 - Adoration of the Shepherds, painting by Gerard van Honthorst, Netherlands, circa 1622
8 - Adoration of the Shepherds, painting by Josefa de Obidos, Portugal, 1669
9 - Black Madonna of Czestochowa, tapestry in Phillipines church
10 - Mystical Nativity, painting by Sandro Botticelli, Italy, 1500
11 - Scene from the Life of Jesus, fresco by Johannes Zick, Germany, 1746
12 - The Virgin with Angels, painting by William Adolph Bourguereau, France, 1900
13 - St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi in Adoration, painting by Josefa de Obidos, Portugal, 1647
 

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