Harp Column Blogs: Carl Swansonarchive

Happy New Year to harpists around the world!
I am so happy to welcome a new year with hopes for peace, happiness, and prosperity for everyone.
As I reflect on the year 2011, I am so grateful for the fine music I was asked to play, the fine musicians I played with, and the wonderful students I had the pleasure to teach.
It is always a joy to watch students advance, achieving their goals, and continuing their love of music on the harp. I had one student graduate from UNC and go on to graduate school to pursue a career in music, and Duke students graduate to pursue other career goals, but all continuing with advanced harp studies.
I am so proud of all of them and my private students too, who continue to progress in their harp journey.

I have so many excellent colleagues I had the pleasure of working with and I enjoyed some outstanding performances. It was a joy to play "Faust" and "Carmen" with the NC Opera as well as the "Nutcracker" with the NC Ballet. In addition to some choral and chamber orchestra concerts, I had a rare opportunity at Duke to premier a new composition for harp and voice. The piece was written for soprano Leda Scearce by her husband composer Mark Scearce. It was a pleasure to work with such a brilliant singer and composer bringing "Bright Star" out for its' debut. There were other special performances this year and I enjoyed every one of them, but it was the people who made them wonderful. Music isn't always easy, we all have bad days, hard times, and gigs that are anything but fulfilling; in spite of that, I truly savored the music this year and felt great joy in my harp playing.

This year was difficult for me but made better because of some very fine people and very dear friends. Life is not just about how great you play, how many CD's you sell, or whether you hit your career goal, but it is about other more important things. The past year had many challenges that I fought and found solutions for, and met some extraordinary people along the way. They say when you make it through a hardship you really appreciate your blessings. And I am very thankful for my family, their health, for great work, and precious old and special new friends. I hope 2012 brings you health, happiness, and joyful harp experiences!
Happy New Year!

It is not unusual for harpists to be asked to play at funerals and memorials, I play them frequently.
I am always affected by them and hope to provide solace and beautiful music for the service.
But today is different, today is the ten year anniversary of 9/11 and I feel the grief coming over me again in waves of painful memories.
As I loaded up my harp and gear I started getting my mind into "performance mode". To stay in "performance mode" and perform with deep emotion and stay composed is not always easy when there is such enormous pain and grief being expressed. This is going to be a hard performance for me personally. As I start preparing myself emotionally, I drive to Duke Chapel making a few wrong turns along the way.
Sensitive to the importance of this day, I wanted to play well for myself and for everyone else. More importantly, I wanted my music to be soothing, healing, and a symbol of gentleness, grace, and strength.
I chose a baroque prelude finishing with a special duet with a soprano
"Ave Maria" by Bach-Gounod.
The service began with the "Lacrymosa" from the Mozart Requiem,
I played again accompanying the choir to Rutter's "The King of Love My Shepherd Is". The majesty of the music in the enormous cathedral was powerful. I must admit, it was hard not to be affected by the music, I was very moved.
For the rest of the service I did not play again and was able to experience the Memorial with everyone in attendance. I looked out to the sea of faces, Duke Chapel was packed. The sermon took us back to the brutal violence of the terrorists' attack against America.
The memory of that terrible day seared into our very souls, the images engraved in our minds and hearts. The agony of the violent deaths of 2,977 innocent lives lost is profoundly painful. The anger and the outrage at such brutality was felt deeply by Americans and still burns in our national psyche. How could someone do such a thing?
And yet in response to such brutal violence,a fervent desire to protect our country and our freedom bore powerful patriotism. There was also an outpouring of compassion for the families of the dead, the wounded, and those who will forever live with the physical and emotional scars of that day. Our common humanity bound us together as a people and a country, despite our differences.

Remembering 9/11 is a sorrowful experience, and yet serves as an opportunity to grieve and honor our loved ones and our heroes.
The courage and sacrifice of our first responders, our policemen, our firefighters, is heroism beyond measure and will never be forgotten. The sacrifices of our military who have served and continue to protect our country will also never be forgotten.

The rest of the service was rich with meaning, beautiful music selections sung by the choir and beautiful prayers for healing and peace. It was one of the most dignified and eloquent memorial services I have ever played. As musicians, we know that music has the power to move people to experience deep emotion. It is especially powerful when that emotion is so deep and so strong that there are no words to express it. I was so pleased and honored to be able to play my part in this Memorial as a harpist, as an American, and give from my heart to those who came to remember 9/11.

What a busy summer! No complaints, except, I have not had much time to blog :) This spring & summer has been full of great happenings.  I recorded my debut EP entitled "Prelude" with my amazing colleagues!  It's pretty incredible how music gets shared from blog to blog, site to site & to radio stations...it even landed over in Germany.  Who knew Mercedes Benz had a music blog? Not me.

I was fortunate to work as the performing artist in residence at the Cicily Tyson School of Performing Arts this spring.  Working with Robbin Gordon Cartier and her children, really brightened up my spirits.  Graduation day was a beautiful lead into the summer...that is almost over already.I taught at 2 really amazing harp camps:  The Elyrica Flute & Harp Camp in Ridgefield, Ct and CVHI in Simsbury, Ct.   At Elyrica, we had a chat about the many career options as a harpist.  Flutist Nicole Camacho & I also switched instruments and played a duet during the talent show.  I played flute and she played harp. We sounded awful, but it's the spirit that counts! At CVHI, we had a wonderful workshop with Ray Pool!  I learned so much and am playing out of his books now.  CVHI was also my very first time attending a sleep away camp. In fact, they made fun of me and called me their "city mouse".  I' am not a country girl!  It was so good for me!  Both camps had the most incredible students.  I look forward to summers, where I get the chance to work with different students of all levels and ages.

In June, I was honored to play a concert at Bethany Baptist Church as part of their Jazz Vespers series. My quartet played concert of Alice Coltrane's music and it featured Marcus Strickland on tenor sax, McClenty Hunter on drums, Eric Wheeler on bass -- and yours truly.  My uncle even came from Atlanta, and sat in on a couple of songs with us!  Before the concert, I was on a panel led by pianist and scholar Courtney Bryan.  We talked about the role of spirit in music performance and composition.  It was a great night had by all.In July, I was thrilled to play with the Miguel Atwood Ferguson Ensemble at Harlem Stage -- if you don't know about Miguel, definitely check him out on youtube or bandcamp! He writes the most ridiculous compositions and arrangements.  I am happy Los Angeles let NYC borrow him for a day :)  Here are a few photos & video from that concert, that featured Jose James, Pharoahe Monch & Zap Momma.  It also received a wonderful write-up in the NY Times.
Daily Merger Photos
Revivalist Photos
New York Times

There were so many great concerts right here in NYC this month!  I played an educational concert for the most wonderful, well behaved students at the Harbor Conservatory in Harlem, and played for Make Music New York!  That's the one day where there is music ALL DAY, EVERYWHERE in New York City.  So much fun!  My jazz trio played in quite a few places and I played a few solo concerts as well.

I got to play a concert of French music with the Harlem Chamber Players.   We performed Ravel's Introduction & Allegro, Ibert's Deux Interludes and En'tracte, and also, Faure's Impromptu for solo harp.  It was so much fun that we got to play an abbreviated program at the Dance Theater of Harlem.

In the midst of playing concerts and harp camping and teaching, I did manage to have a harp social. Yup!  The kids and I got together in the back yard, grilled food, ate fruit and played games.   They even volunteered to play...completely ON THEIR OWN. No force, no pressure - I simply had a harp out in the back yard :)

I know that this post has no photos, and that makes it BORING, but I was happy to be stuck here getting my hair braided, to be able to blog for a moment!  I am currently preparing for a trip to LA, where I'll be playing in a 3 harp concert of the spiritual music of Alice Coltrane.  I'll be there for the week and have been transcribing and notating music (I am finally forced to use Finale!) for the past few weeks.  Upon my return, I'll be getting right back into the swing of things with the school year in session!

Enough rambling.  I'm looking forward to writing from Cali, and hearing about your summer!

 XOXO