Harp Column Blogs: Brandee YoungerArchive

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!

 This morning, as I was practicing, the plumber knocked on the door and was very surprised to see and hear a harp.  He complimented my playing and we began talking about music.  At some point in our conversation, he put his head down, almost as if embarrassed, and said, “I actually like classical music, but I know, it’s hard to believe…I mean, because of my age, generation and background.”  He was relatively young—about mid to late 20’s— and told me that he comes from the South Bronx.  My reply to him was, “So?” because I didn’t think there was anything embarrassing about that at all.

We talked for quite some time and he started asking me questions about myself.  When I told him I was from Long Island, he said, “Well see, you can get away with it”(referring to listening to classical music).  Then I told him what town I was from and his reply was, “Oh, nevermind!”  Luckily, I’m very used to people reacting a certain way when I tell them where I’m from.  Those that don’t know any better equate Long Island with the Hamptons, however, those that do, understand that there are many different parts of the island, just like any other place.  Nobody listened to classical music where I grew up—but so what!

Who is to say that it’s only ‘cool’ to listen to Top 40?  What’s the big deal?  At the same time, so many musicians I know won’t listen to Top 40 at all, but I think they do when nobody’s around.   Can’t we just be ourselves?