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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MP3
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2.5 Minute
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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)
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".
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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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MP3
Large
2.5 Minute
Cable |
