“Knitting the Strings” an Interview with Scottish Harpist Rachel Hair

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“Knitting the Strings” is how Rachel Hair described seeing her tutors play the harp when she started learning and she became fascinated with the instrument ever since. This past Friday I had a chance to sit down and have a chat with harpist Rachel Hair about traditional Scottish and Manx music, teaching, performing, and looking for the rainbows through the dirty windows that we are all experiencing during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Rachel has a joy and passion for music and life that is inspiring. Rachel Hair is a world renowned Harpist/composer and tutor and you’d be hard pressed to find someone more enthusiastic about sharing traditional music from Scotland and the Isle of Man with the world. A fantastic performer and teacher Rachel is constantly exploring the tradition and adding her own unique style. Whether through her collaborations with Ron Jappy on guitar or The Rachel Hair Trio or her solo performances, you’ll find a joy in all that Rachel does.

Please do yourselves a favor and support Rachel’s and the other musicians and festivals mentioned in the podcast. You’ll find links to their websites in the show notes below.

Rachel’s Website

https://www.rachelhair.com/

Harp at Home

https://www.rachelhair.com/harpathome/

Edinburgh International Harp Festival

https://www.harpfestival.co.uk/

The Somerset Folk Harp Festival (Parsippany, NJ)

http://www.somersetharpfest.com/

NHS and Rainbow Drawings

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-52050089

Rachel and Ron performing, “Looking at a Rainbow through a Dirty Window”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyp3p3gRQcQ