1) Sunday Syncopations
Alison
Vardy (3:30)
Stitched
together one rainy winter Sunday
when
a little off-beat rhythm was essential. |
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2)
Carolan's Welcome / Drummond Castle
Traditional: Ireland / Scotland (4:11)
The
first tune, composed by Ireland's best known
harper
Turlough O'Carolan (1670 - 1738), is one of
about
200 melodies recovered from near obscurity.
The
second is a Scottish tune I learned from friends
in
Dunedin, New Zealand.
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3)
Yet Another Medley
Traditional:
Ireland / Wales / England (4:23)
She
Walked Through the Fair, followed by Hoffed
Meistres
Wishart (Beloved Master Richard), The
Great
Silkie and ending with a "Trad: Vardy".
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4)
Autumn / Wind-up Toy
Alison
Vardy (5:49)
My
first composition and one I still enjoy playing
on
the Celtic harp.
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5)
10 de Octubre / Che Valle mi Yaguaron
Traditional:
Paraguay (5:23)
Two traditional Galopas from Paraguay. The
Galaopa
is a syncopated waltz with the right
hand
playing a 6/8 time signature while the
left
hand plays 3/4 time (like patting your head
and
rubbing your belly at the same time).
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6)
Diddanwch Gruffydd ap Cynan
Traditional:
Wales (2:47)
Griffith's Entertainment for Cynan's
Son. A
hauntingly
beautiful tune I stole from the tape
of
a Welsh group, "Aberjaber".
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7)
Princess Royale / Roxburgh Castle
Traditional:
Ireland / Scotland (4:07)
The
first tune was sent to me by Dorothea Franchii,
once
the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra harpist
and
a kind assistant to me getting started on the
Celtic
harp. The second is arranged by Anne
McDearmid
of Scotland.
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8)
Dunedin Habanera / Cumbia Deliciosa
Alison
Vardy / Alfredo Rolando Ortiz (6:19)
A
Caribbean rhythm for less-than-tropical Dunedin
NZ,
followed by a Cumbia, a musical genre from
Columbia.
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9)
Swing Low Sweet Chariot / Rich Man
Arthur
Warrell / Unknown, U.S.A. (3:28)
Two
spirituals from the days of slavery in the US.
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10)
Variations on a Mode
Alison
Vardy (3:09)
Dorian
and mixolydian themes taking turns in
a
range of dynamics.
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11)
El Rio
Alfredo
Rolando Ortiz (4:20)
A
Tonada (musical genre from Venezuela) with
my
own arrangements weaving the melody.
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12)
Dalby Aire / Grandfather Clock
Trad:
Isle of Man / Unknown U.S.A. (3:44)
A
favourite of mine for the transitions from minor
to
major
and back again. Followed by a piece I used to
play
on the piano as a child, my father accompanying
on
the violin.
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13)
Ecuador / Beneath Wings
Alfredo
Rolando Ortiz / Bette Midler (7:10)
Alfredo
is one of the most recorded Paraguayan
harpists and he's not even Paraguayan! Born
Cuban, raised in Columbia and Venezuela and
now living in Los Angelos, he is a renowned
performer, composer and teacher on the
Paraguayan harp. Ecuador is a Pasillo, a
traditional musical genre from Columbia.
Beneath Wings provides a quiet contrast
in this duo.
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