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Promotion
Kit
Island Suite
The Release
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"vibrant,
evocative solo harp music
celebrating Canada’s West Coast" |
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Alison Vardy became
“harp-struck” in 1984 with the acquisition of
her first Celtic harp while living in the South Island of
New Zealand. She now performs, teaches and records as a full-time
professional harpist from her home on Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, Canada. Alison is inspired by the rhythmic and melodic
diversity of music from many cultures to create original compositions
and arrangements that showcase her beloved instruments. Her
concerts and her recordings are a colourful tapestry of sound
and mood that is both exciting and relaxing. Enjoy!
Island Suite is unusual in that
the audible sound seems to come from within! Sit in a natural
triangle with your two stereo speakers, close your eyes and
the harp sounds like it is inside your head. Amazing! It is
almost a meditation. Wander around your home with Alison's
lively natural sounding music floating in the background or
come back and sit down to your very own personal concert,
literally.
This solo CD features
two harps - Alison's Sandpiper Celtic
harp and her Paraguayan
harp. The tunes include a mixture of Canadian, Quebecois,
Celtic, Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), and World Ethnic music plus
eight of Alison's own original compositions.
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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 |
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Island Suite was recorded in the natural reverberation
of an acoustically "live" space with Hugh
McMillan Studios in Victoria, BC, Canada. The recording
quality of Island Suite is exceptional as all the tracks were
recorded live using top quality professional microphones directly
to 24/96 digital with tube preamps for additional "warmth".
(18 tracks - 74 minutes playing
time - Released July 2003 )
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Introducing...
Island Suite
A Solo Harp Odyssey
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1)
E & N Boogie
ALISON
VARDY (3:27) P
All
aboard! The E&N Railway was once the
transportation
and freight lifeline of Vancouver
Island, BC,
and had almost gone the way of the
dodo at the
time I wrote this tribute. Supported
by avid communities
up and down its length, it
now has
a bright future for scenic recreational
and commuter
travel.
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MP3
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MP3
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2)
Island Suite
ALISON VARDY (4:04) C
The
four musical themes in this composition visit
the four southern
Gulf Islands of Mayne, Pender,
Saturna and
Galiano off Canada’s West Coast.
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3)
Avre tu Puerta Serada / Adio Querida
TRAD.
LADINO (4:15) C
Open
your closed door and Farewell Beloved, two
beautiful love
songs written in Ladino, the language
of the Sephardic
Jews (Judeo-Spanish).
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4)
Pula
ALISON
VARDY (3:29) P
Means
Money or Rain in Setswana, one of the
official
languages of
Botswana. Thanks to one of my Vancouver
Island audience
members for naming this piece for me.
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5)
Cape Breton Set
TRAD.
CAPE BRETON (4:56) C
I learned this set of lively tunes
from the recordings
of Nova Scotia born
traditional flute player, Chris
Norman. Transcribed
for harp with addition of
soundboard percussion!
I Won’t
Do the Work / 100 Pipers / Road to Skye
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6)
From the Shadows
ALISON
VARDY (6:47) C
The four themes
of this composition move through the
emotions of
sombre to celebratory, as the key moves
from C minor
to C major.
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7)
Peter’s Peerie Boat / Willafjord
TOM
ANDERSON / TRAD. SHETLAND ISLANDS (4:01) P
Tom Anderson is a renowned fiddler
from the Shetland
Islands
but I learned these tunes from a couple of New
Zealanders,
both of them avid members of the Gaelic
Society
in Dunedin.
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8)
Bonnie at Morn / The Trees They do Grow High
TRAD.
ENGLAND (3:17) C
Two
contemplative broadside ballads from early England.
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9)
Sto mi e Milo / Kalimera
TRAD.
MACEDONIA / GREECE (4:55) C
A
traditional village song followed by Good Morning!
in
Greece. Both
of these pieces are in 7/8 rhythm.
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10)
Hornby Hornpipe / Off to California
ALISON
VARDY / TRAD. IRELAND (3:05) P
I
love alliteration and Hornby Island in the Georgia Strait
between
Vancouver Island and the British Columbia
Mainland
is a favourite place of mine. Off to California is
an Irish
hornpipe and a popular choice at Celtic sessions
and gatherings.
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11)
Si La Mar
TRAD.
LADINO (3:59) C
All
about fishermen, young love and betrayal and delivered
to you
in 5/8 rhythm with lots of modulations! Arranged for
solo
harp from an adaptation by Moshe Denburg. |
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12)
. O’Carolan Set
TRAD.
IRELAND (3:30) P
A
medley of three tunes from 17th Century Ireland’s
greatest
bard, Turlough O’Carolan:
George
Brabazon / Bridget Cruise (#2) / Carolan’s
Cap
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13)
Mildred’s Habanera
M.
PLANT , ARR. ALISON VARDY (4:09) C
Mildred
is a student of mine with a passion for Latin
rhythms and a good ear for a melody.
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14)
Quebecois Set
TRAD.
QUEBEC (5:16) C
The
Isles de Madeleine lie in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and
are part
of the province of Quebec. The two marches
that
follow are originally associated with the playing
of legendary
Quebecois accordionist, Alfred Montmarquette
(1871
– 1944).
Isle
de Madeleine / Marche des Ouvriers / Marche
Cecilia
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15)
Kay’s Waltz / Malaika
ALISON
VARDY / TRAD. W. AFRICA (4:06) P
A
waltz for my mother followed by a Swahili love song
about
a young man who yearns for his bride, Malaika.
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16)
Mazurka Limousin / Bouree
TRAD.
FRANCE (3:05) C
These
two pieces come from the central Auvergne and
Bourbonnais
regions of France where there is a rich
tradition
of bagpipe and hurdy-gurdy music. |
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17)
Changing Tides
ALISON
VARDY (4:32) C
Using
the full range of the harp this piece ebbs and flows
with
mood and intensity.
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18)
Breezy Day
ALISON
VARDY (2:46) C
We
get a lot of breezy days on this coast …. hold onto
your
hat!
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Real
Audio
Small
1.5 Minute
Modem/Cable
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Cable Only
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A
Review from
Rambles
Online
With deft and magical
fingers, Vancouver Island, Canada, native
Alison Vardy conjures the sounds of Canada's
Western Shores and more in Island Suite.
This well-paced compilation of 18 well-positioned
harp songs features original compositions
by Vardy, as well as arrangements of traditional
pieces and rhythmic adaptations.
During this
whimsical musical journey, Vardy visits
and pays tribute to Vancouver's resurrected
E&N Railway; the four southern gulf
islands of Mayne, Pender, Saturna and Galiano;
Horby Island; and Cape Breton with light,
tender melodies. Then it's onward and eastward
where Vardy captures multi-cultural essences
from Africa, England, France, Greece, Ireland,
New Zealand, Scotland and other exotic locales
in flavorful listening feasts.
Alison Vardy's
masterful strokes on Celtic and Paraguayan
harps provide the listener with more than
70 minutes of spirited relaxation and refreshment
-- music by which you can rejuvenate, soak
in the tub or lull yourself to sleep. It's
a wonderful alternative (or accompaniment)
to massage therapy! Vardy performs live
at concerts and conducts workshops in British
Columbia, but for those who are not Canadian
nationals, you don't have to go that far
to hear these soothing sounds -- just pick
them up on any of her three therapeutic
disks, also including Harping On and Apasionada.
Rambles
Online
written by Lynne Remick
published 6 December 2003
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Release Notes
Artist:
Alison Vardy
Album: Island Suite
Release: 1 July, 2003
In Stock: Ships within
72 hours
Label: Harpsound
Distributor: Independent
Suggested Retail: Cdn$14.99
/ US$11.99
Catalogue: AV11322
Bar Code: 6 24481 11322
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File Under: World / Celtic
/ Classical Instrumentalist / Folk Harp
Description:
Vibrant, rhythmic, Canadian, multicultural, solo harp
music
Producers:
Alison Vardy
Recording: Hugh
McMillan, Victoria, BC
Mastering: Hugh
McMillan, Victoria, BC
Future:
- Planned Tours in Vancouver/ Lower Mainland, Whistler
and Vancouver Island
- Showcase at Pacific Contact
Present:
- National promotion through CBC Radio
- 2nd release of Island
Suite (2003) - 1000+ independent sales in Canada
& Internationally
- 3rd release of Apasionada
(2000) - 2500+ independent sales in Canada & Internationally
- 5th release of Harping
On (1997) - 3500+ sales in New Zealand, 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.
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