Harping On - Alison Vardy's Solo Harp CD

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Harping On
The Release

"a CD of solo harp music
that resonates in the heart"

Harping On has 13 tracks including 5 of Canadian professional harpist Alison Vardy's own rhythmic compositions, South American melodies, Celtic medleys, spirituals and much more. This CD provides a wide variety of tempo and rhythms which are refreshing in their diversity and highlight Alison's superb musical arrangements. The music speaks for itself.

Close your eyes and you are sitting alongside the harp enjoying your own private concert. Open your eyes and you are happily in this world!

Harping On - Alison Vardy's Celtic & Paraguayan Harp CD

I've selected my
favourite pieces of
music and ones which
demonstrate the diverse
repertoire of the harp.
Hence, there is a very
wide range of styles
and tempos to enjoy
for all occasions.

Alison Vardy

The majority of the tracks on Harping On were recorded using a 36 string all nylon strung Paraguayan harp designed by Australian luthier, Andy Rigby, to Alison's specification and which she later built at his workshop in Newstead, Victoria. The remaining tracks are on a Celtic lever harp crafted by Kim Webby of Whangarai, New Zealand.

This CD was recorded live by Fish Street Studio, Dunedin, New Zealand in the natural reverberation of an acoustically "live" room in a 100 year old heritage villa. Recording quality is excellent as all tracks were recorded directly to digital using some of the best vintage Neumann tube and condenser microphones currently available.

(13 tracks - 58 minutes of playing time - released in October 1997).

About the music….
Harping On
Celtic and Latin Harp

1) Sunday Syncopations Alison Vardy (3:30) Stitched together one rainy winter Sunday when a little off-beat rhythm was essential.	Real Audio Small 1.5 Minute Modem/Cable	MP3 Large 2.5 Minute Cable	MP3 Largest Complete File Cable Only
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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.	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
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".	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
4) Autumn / Wind-up Toy Alison Vardy (5:49) My first composition and one I still enjoy playing on the Celtic harp.	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
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).	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
6) Diddanwhch Gruffudd 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".	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
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.	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
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.	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
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.	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
10) Variations on a Mode Alison Vardy (3:09) Dorian and mixolydian themes taking turns in a range of dynamics. .	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
11) El Rio Alfredo Rolando Ortiz (4:20) A Tonada (musical genre from Venezuela) with my own arrangements weaving the melody.	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
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.	Real Audio	MP3	MP3
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.	Real Audio Small 1.5 Minute Modem/Cable	MP3 Large 2.5 Minute Cable	MP3 Largest Complete File Cable Only

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Monday Magazine Review
Alison Vardy
Harping On

Celtic harpist Alison Vardy came to Victoria by way of New Zealand. Her album Harping On portrays the delicate side of Celtic music and explores other types of folk material as interpreted on the Celtic and Paraguayan harp. These tunes are simple and haunting, and the unaccompanied harp has a melodic purity and a sweet resonance that evoke an aura all of its own. The Paraguayan harp has more modal minor capabilities than the Celtic, giving it a little more melodic flexibility as well. It's a highly romantic instrument, full of sonic tenderness.

Vardy exploits both harps capabilities well, moving from contemporary tonality to medieval modes and back. Her original arrangements even cross over into the black spiritual and pop genres.

Overall, Harping On is a rhapsodic journey …….sound in continuous motion

Melaney Black
Monday Magazine

For an Online Review of Harping On visit
Rambles Online

Release Notes

Artist: Alison Vardy
Album: Harping On
Release: 1 October, 1997

In Stock: Ships within 72 hours
Label: Harpsound
Distributor: Independent
Suggested Retail: Cdn$14.99 / US$11.99
Catalogue: AV01
Bar Code: 6 20106 91242 9
File Under: World / Celtic / Classical Instrumentalist / Folk Harp

Description: Resonant, heartening, sensitive, refreshingly arranged solo harp

Producer: Alison Vardy
Recording: Steve Kilroy, Fish Street Studios, Dunedin, New Zealand
Mastering: Rudy Hueting, Video Factory, Dunedin, New Zealand

Future:
- Planned Tours in Vancouver/ Lower Mainland, Whistler and Vancouver Island
- Showcase at Pacific Contact

Present:
- National promotion through CBC Radio
- 5th release of Harping On (1997) - 3500+ sales in New Zealand, Canada & Internationally
- 2nd release of Island Suite (2003) - 1000+ independent sales in Canada & Internationally
- 3rd release of Apasionada (2000) - 2500+ independent sales in Canada & Internationally
- Extensive promotion via official website - www.alisonvardy.com

Past:
- Numerous concerts and tours throughout Victoria, Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast,
Gulf Islands, American Pacific Northwest and the South Island, New Zealand
- TV New Zealand Nature Productions
- First Australian Harp Festival - selected performer in Canberra, ACT, Australia
- The International Folk Harp Conference - performer in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
- The International Folk Harp Conference - workshop presenter in Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.A.

Island Suite

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Harping On

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