Harp Column Blogs: Brandee Youngerarchive

I’ve been receiving quite a number of emails from harpists, asking all sorts of questions about the JVC Festival last month, so I’m hoping to address most of those here.

The concert was absolutely beautiful…every little detail, from the rehearsal, to the red Steinway.  It was a musical tribute honoring the life and music of pianist & harpist, Alice Coltrane with Ravi Coltrane, Geri Allen, Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette, Ed Feldman and myself.  We performed music from her earlier albums(Ptah el Daoud, Eternity, Journey in Satchidananda) and her latest album(Translinear Light), as well as some unreleased music. There were charts, or leadsheets for most of the music, not written out parts.

In addition to the music, a short film was presented highlighting the musical and personal life of Alice Coltrane. The same film was presented last May, 2007 during her musical memorial with many of the same musicians, yet it was viewed again with the same focus, intensity and adoration as the first time.  It was truly a moment to treasure.

It was certainly an honor to be able to perform with such masters---a privilege.  No schooling could have taught me what I've learned in 2-day increments, from these musicians.

Oh--and to address sound, I performed on my L&H 17, with 3 brand new custom pickups.  I know I have a blog posted on here about not finding great amplification, and wanting to keep the sound as natural as possible.  I’m so happy that I finally found what works!  I went to David Gage String Instruments, and after exchanging some emails and photos, they were able to install the David Gage Realist pickup into my harp.  Actually, 3 of them, to get the full range of the harp.  So, the harp projected very well at the concert and was audible, even next to Jack DeJohnette ;)


Photo Credit: G. Paul Burnett

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Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms in the harp world! Whether you are a Harpist - Mom or a mother of a harpist, I hope you "Take 5" and celebrate your day. However, having only ONE DAY to celebrate motherhood seems outrageously insufficient to me. After all, we feed, clothe, clean, nurture, save the world, and create miracles on a daily basis, and yet we only get one day? I know, I know, nag, nag, nag, yes we are good at that too. How else would we get you to go out and make something of yourself?

I will be working this Mother's Day, but I don't mind as it was my choice. In fact, I am one of those Moms who loves her work AND her children. How lucky I am that my Mom's generation fought so hard for me to have that choice; never mind that I have to work to support my family.
As I look forward to Mother's Day I remember my own mother and all the wonderful women who have supported me in my life. Even though my Mom is no longer living, she still influences me in my decisions
on a daily basis. I am grateful to my women friends who have supported me especially when I gave up my career for several years to raise my children. Although it was hard and exhausting, I would not have traded those years for anything. Now that my kids are older they see me working and are proud of my accomplishments. They have seen me overcome so many obstacles and still succeed in spite of some individuals who would rather I didn't. As a working mother, I have had to fight the back-handed prejudice against women with children who have successful careers. Having recently been accused of being "too blessed", I can only imagine the tortured minds that could rationalize someone else's success in such a distorted view. As one friend recently reminded me, you know you are really succeeding when the "eyes of jealousy" appear out of nowhere. And yet, I don't see myself as successful as so many people I admire. In fact, I see so many amazing people doing fantastic things that I feel like a tortoise in this "race for success". I guess I look at things differently now that I am older and have seen "the good, the bad, and the ugly". The prize is not always "winning" but "giving your personal best" and "how you play the game" that is most important.

As I look around at my working women friends I appreciate the wisdom of their experience and they appreciate mine. I also appreciate the wisdom of my non-working women friends who sacrificed their careers for their children. We know all too well the pain and sacrifice that mingles with the joys of our success and that of our children. But what is success? I know I feel it when I play well, and my students play well. I also know it when my children throw their arms around me and say good job Mom! This is usually followed by what's for dinner and can we make cookies tonight? As I consider the endless grind of the "schedule", the shopping, the dishes, and the laundry, I remind myself how lucky I am. After all,
I get to play the most beautiful instrument in the universe and make gorgeous music too-in fact, I'm half way to heaven already!

I’m on a quest to find perfect amplification.  Sure, I’ve been on a quest for quite some time, but lately, some gigs have been pushing me to action.  Mainly, the drummers!  

I became super spoiled at the Alice Coltrane memorial.  The high ceilings of St. John, the Divine Cathedral, combined with the oh-so-amazing mics, had me in a trance.  I have not sounded like that since ☹

After playing a few gigs where I put the harp down at points where I was just wasting energy, I started experimenting with the mics.  I’m sticking them underneath me through the sound holes, on both sides of the harp—you name it.  I called a couple of companies that are supposed to be the best in micing and pick-ups.  They weren’t too thrilled with me wanting something right away, so the next gig, I used a silly pickup that every harpist I know has.  I forgot what it’s called.  But, I used the pickup and a mic.  The sound was louder, but not better.  It wasn’t the warmth I wanted.  A few nights later, while playing at Birdland, I was miced Oh-So-Great.  It took one mic, clamped on to that handle thingy on the back of the harp (what’s that called?) and it was amazing!  But, it’s not mine.

So the verdict: I can’t carry that sound man in my pocket, but a well-known company is looking into designing a pickup for me, and in terms of mics, I’m still on the search.  

I’m wondering what everyone else does for great amplification, on stages with loud drums, pianos, saxes, etc.  I don’t like the sound of electric harps…


St. John the Divine--The Harp Sounds Great in Here!