“Things that we’re doing now are going to be the tradition of tomorrow.”

William Jackson is one of Scotland's most well respected and sought after performers and teachers of the Scottish harp. Billy’s humor and graciousness are a constant as his fans from around the world will agree.

Billy’s musical journey started with classical piano at the age of 11 and when he became interested in traditional music he took up the mandolin. At 15 he started playing the double bass and bass guitar and joined the band Contraband in Glasgow.

wjharp.com

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Breton harper, Tristan Le Govic, is an accomplished musician who is considered one of the leading Celtic harpers in the world. He loves mixing traditional music with jazz and is constantly learning. At the moment he is writing his doctoral thesis on the Breton harpist Kristen Noguès, whose playing influenced his own. He is also a sought out teacher of the harp and has published The Breton Harp Anthology, which is a unique collection of three music books featuring the best harpists in Brittany. My interview with Tristan was recorded on June 4th of 2020 via Zoom from his home in Brittany. Since then Tristan has welcomed his daughter Lena into the world. Tristan also has a new album, Dañs, Historical and modern dances from here and there. You can purchase it from Tristan’s website. I’d love to hear from you so drop me a line at info@moonoverthetrees.com or find me on instagram @moonoverthetrees. I’m also launching a beginner harp program in October that I’m super excited about. Enjoy this fun interview with Tristan.

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On July 17th 2020 I had the pleasure of moderating a panel discussion at The Somerset Folk Harp Festival on Covid 19’s Impact on Therapeutic Music.

My guests were: Edie Elkan, Dr. Laurence Furr, Sister Margaret Mary McBride, Jocelyn Obermeyer, Karen Peterson, and Mary Stevens. The panelists were generous enough to allow me to share their discussion with you on my podcast and I was thrilled that Edie Elkan led us in a Mindfulness Meditation at the end of our discussion.

A big topic that we kept returning to was how important it is to take care of yourself and to take the time to recharge, especially in these times where we are all navigating stressful waters.

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Music is one of those magical things that can bring people together. It brings people from different backgrounds together to create. Nicolas Carter is a performer, teacher, and storyteller who combines his love of the Paraguayan harp with storytelling to give back to the world.

This whole episode is about sharing. This episode was inspired by my friend, and amazing Scottish harper, Rachel Hair, whom I interviewed in an earlier podcast episode. She started putting together a list of festivals and workshops going on this summer and this fall that are pivoting and going online. I want to share that information with you.

I had a chat today with Kathy DeAngelo about the harp, teaching, and The Somerset Folk Harp Festival’s 20th anniversary this July. The deadline to register is June 30, 2020. http://www.somersetharpfest.com/registration.html

Somerset Folk Harp Festival

-40 Live Workshops

-10 other live events: concerts, Somerset’s Got Talent, a Carolan Marathon, Irish Sessions, Scottish Sessions, and more.

-Recorded Workshops

-Virtual Vendor Booths where you get to meet the luthiers and other vendors

-Two access levels to the festival

-$100 discount if you sign up before June 30th!!

Interview with harpist/composer Deborah Henson-Conant. We discuss her performances, what inspires her, music education, composing, her TEDx talk regarding her collaboration with the French harp maker, Camac, and the development of the DHC harp that she and Camac designed. Show Website: www.moonoverthetrees.com/podcast Deborah’s website: http://www.HipHarp.com

In addition to being an Episcopal Priest, Debbie has a great interest in folk music and folk traditions, especially the music of Robert Burns. She has written arrangements of his work for harp in addition to other Scottish tunes that are taught at The Escape. These arrangements are available in the Harper’s Escape’s three books of tunes , which are a wonderful way to build up a repertoire of Irish and Scottish traditional music. “There’s so much wonderful music out there and that is in the folk traditions that’s going to be lost if people aren’t playing it.”

Debbie’s Website www.harpagency.com/artist3.htm

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In this special extended episode I speak with harpist and educator Robbin Gordon-Cartier. Robbin She sees her students, she listens, and she transforms her pain into something that builds her and those around her up. Her vulnerability is one of her biggest strengths as is her talent, huge heart, welcoming smile, and laugh.

Robbin’s Website: www.robbingordoncartier.com

Moon Over the Trees Music and Theatre Productions website: moonoverthetrees.com

Sunita’s joy and love of life is infectious. She puts her heart into everything she does and she reminds us to enjoy the journey. Sunita was raised in Minnesota, but has made Israel her home since 2000. Her love of the world is reflected in her versatility and exploration as a musician and her travels around the globe. She was trained classically, but also finds joy in playing and arranging Jewish music and Celtic music for the harp. Her arrangements are beloved of harpists around the world and she is a sought after performer and instructor. Sunita’s Website: www.sunitaharp.com

Moon Over the Trees Music and Theatre Productions® www.moonoverthetrees.com Join us on Instagram @moonoverthetrees.

Maeve Gilchrist is a harpist, composer, and teacher who thrives on innovation and improvisation. A chat with Maeve is as inspiring as seeing her perform and can’t but help make you want to contribute to what Maeve discusses as the, “idea of creating a pool of beauty that we can draw on when times are bleak. Musical, encouraging, masterful, literary, and a player who has the unique balance of technique and vision. 

Maeve’s Website: http://www.maevegilchristmusic.com/

Harp Talk: https://www.facebook.com/harptalk/

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Ever since I first saw Gráinne Hambly perform at The Somerset Folk Harp Festival I’ve been inspired.

No other performer on the harp influenced me as much as Grainne did early on in my harp journey. I first heard her perform at The Somerset Folk Harp Festival and was wowed at what the harp could sound like. The jigs and reels just fly from her fingers. She makes it look and sound so effortless. It’s gorgeous to hear.

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

“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.

Kim Robertson is a world renowned Harpist/composer and is known for her wit, versatility, and virtuosity.

I have had the great fortune of working with Kim for the past ten years at The Somerset Folk Harp Festival as concert manager. I’ve always admired Kim’s ability to move from classical to folk music, to contemporary music so effortlessly.

Pilot episode for The Moon Over the Trees Music and Theatre Productions® Podcast! HarpSong Interviews with Harpists from around the world