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Happy Harping & colorful sunsets! |
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Weekend of Workshops! Alexander Technique workshop on Sunday Join us for a full day of harp workshops on Saturday, October 17th, by two visiting harpers from Europe -- Erik Ask-Upmark is here from Sweden, and Nancy Thym is here from Germany. Each will present two workshops, and since they'll be presenting them twice, you can participate in all four workshops for the amazing low price of $40 for the day. That will also get you into the evening concert! Others who would like to come to the concert only will pay $10 at the door. The workshops start at 10 am, and will be done by 4:45, then a break for dinner and a 7:00 concert. It all takes place at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto. You will need to sign up for the workshops by emailing info@verlene.com. Here are the workshop descriptions, followed by information about both Erik and Nancy, and their respective duos, Dråm and Cantefable. Medieval Music and Song for Ensemble - Nancy Thym and Thilo Viehrig Historical Dances - Nancy Thym and Thilo Viehrig Scandinavian Harp Music -Erik Ask-Upmark
Scandinavian Style and Songs - Anna Rynesfors CANTEFABLE Cante for the music, which enchants the spirit "Cantefable“ is a term from the Middle Ages for a story, which is partly spoken and partly sung or accompanied by music. The programs offered by Nancy Thym and Thilo Viehrig are a refreshing blend of medieval and traditional music interwoven with stories and dance which transport the listener to far-off times and places. Nancy Thym is recognized internationally for her programs which combine harp music, songs and stories. In her native California she studied theater, dance and anthropology and later folklore and ethnomusicology. She has received awards and grants for her research on the Bohemian hook harp, the Siberian harp and the Norwegian krogharpe. For over 20 years she has lived in Germany where she transforms her extensive research on the history of the harp into programs which are both entertaining and educational – storytelling combined with songs and harp music, ballad programs on specific themes or one-woman theater pieces in which she portrays harpists of the past. Instrument builder and musician Thilo Viehrig studied violin and organ building as well as instrument restoration in East Germany. For over 20 years he has concentrated on the performance practice and reconstruction of historical instruments. He established the musical instrument museum at the Center for Performance Practice in Michaelstein, Germany and his copies of historical instruments (harps, bowed instruments, clavichords, harpsichords and organettos) can be viewed in various museums. As a musician he has specialized in historical bowed instruments - vielle, rebec baroque violin. The reconstructions of historical instruments heard in Cantefable’s concerts were all built in Thilo Viehrig’s workshop. The two met while working on an international project to examine, conserve and reconstruct the collection of over 30 original Renaissance musical instruments discovered in the Freiberg Cathedral near Dresden. Thilo Viehrig built copies of the violin and harp and Nancy Thym experimented with stringing and playing techniques for the harp. Together they are restoring a Gothic House from 1493 near Naumburg in East Germany. The Gothic House has been converted into a center for early music, which hosts an international festival for early music every September (www.gotisches-haus.com). Cantefable offers a varied repertoire, with music from throughout Europe ranging from the spherical sounds of plainsong to the fiery rhythms of vielle and hammer dulcimer. Even the harps of the Middle Ages, with their bray pins, which cause the strings to buzz, do not necessarily correspond with our modern ideas of typical harp tones! The gusli is a little known lyre-like instrument from medieval Novgorod in Russia. Their use of medieval instruments to accompany early Scottish and Irish ballads lends these songs a new/old sound. Their stories include medieval romances and stories from Boccaccio’s Decamerone, Celtic tales of the realm of Faerie and Viking sagas, all interspersed with music from the appropriate period and region. Let yourself be enchanted by Cantefable’s spellbinding web of stories, music and song! Websites: www.harptree.de or www.gotisches-haus.com DRÅM With their fresh and unique take on Nordic music, the Swedish musicians Erik Ask-Upmark and Anna Rynefors - known as "Dråm" - have taken the roots music community by storm. With much charm and a big sense of humour, they perform traditional Nordic music in a captivating way that speaks to audiences everywhere. They are both "riksspelmän" (a distinction awarded to the best players of traditional music in Sweden) and have toured extensively in Europe as well as in America. The quietness of Sweden’s wide open spaces shows through in the fragile melodies of this talented duo. A wonderful flow of ear-caressing musical sounds, performed with great skill on instruments such as the harp, Nyckelharpa (Swedish keyed fiddle) and Swedish bagpipes. Dråm approaches Swedish music with respect and love, imparting a contemporary and passionate character to tradition, while maintaining the very soul of it! Vist their website at www.draam.com On Sunday, October 18th, from 1:00 - 4:30 pm, we are hosting an Alexander Technique Workshop with Dana Ben-Yehuda. This is limited to 10 participants, first come, first serve, with priority given to current Harpers Hall members. The cost of the workshop is $45. More information on how to sign up will be sent through the Yahoo Group to members, so join now if you want to participate! Here's the workshop description: Experiencing New Freedom in Your Music – a hands-on workshop for the harpists of Harpers Hall! Play more easily and effortlessly. Have better mental focus when you play. Practice and perform longer. Try the Alexander Technique and let the music flow! Come discover ways to 1 - LET THE MUSIC FLOW Learn how you can play with fluid movement, lightness and ease. Experience a new way of moving and thinking. 2 - LET THE CREATIVITY LEAD THE SONG Using the Alexander Technique to discover how it can free the creative spirit. Discover how the Alexander Technique gives one freedom to be creative in a performance situation. 3 - The workshop will also include information about the background of the Alexander Technique and its basic principles. There will be handout materials at the end of the workshop. Participants will: · Become more aware of body patterns and how they impact your practice · Be empowered with tools that you can use to restore ease and efficiency. · Be curious to learn more · Have fun! Bring your harps to this workshop. Format will be an introduction to the Alexander Technique followed by practical application: playing the harp and using what we’ve learned. Dana will work hands-on with people throughout the day. Class size is limited to ten participants. Sign up today! -------------------------------------- |
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