Kathy Pepers - Celtic Harper
Celtic harper in the Calgary area. ��
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/user/Malory42
Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/Kathy_Pepers
23/12/2023
If you're looking to have a 'harpy' Christmas, here are some good playlists I can recommend on YouTube (the first one I really like as it is very CALMING and not full of ads...I appreciate that the others have ads to compensate for the album being free, but it doesn’t make it very CALMING). I will also add my own Christmas playlist, even though I never managed to add any new ones this year!
Hope you all have a very CALM and beautiful holiday! 🎶🎄🎄🎶
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"A Very Therapeutic Christmas" (CALMING harp! 😅)
https://youtu.be/m2XbNj2njIo?si=92XRzHKdWNm1DwYx
Kim Robertson's Christmas Lullaby Vol 1!:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_miQS47esDubOwsgS0A5zRhnWdTaJTWvWs&si=V_WTWMDglWBZ2tXF
Kim Robertson's Christmas Lullaby Vol 2!:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kFFw6Im1I1-6JlEyYztrN-h2i-eI2s-I4&si=-kf9mYFR2A6LJowW
Sunita Staneslow's 'Christmas Eve':
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nWdoqipR5KFz0KX9YUedzaldHQDFrrsfo&si=Cn2LeY0_ep6mi0W_
Sunita Staneslow's 'Christmas Day':
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nONstj_FlQNEfjIKBocredB3uEQ8z9GZY&si=AGzPzWsi_T8snq9u
My own humble Christmas playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIfHdZnxhD2sLxH6KZODNtzYnDUdB-sJS&si=UjWjy8bpVyVq6D8y
I found this old recording while looking for something else. It isn't the greatest quality (recording or playing, ha!), but the tunes are sweet (and one of them I had forgotten about!) - so I thought I'd share it for Christmas, especially as I haven't posted anything in so long. But it's not going up on YouTube - it's just for fun. Here is a medley of some pretty German Christmas tunes. 🎄🎶
14/12/2023
Just realized it was St Lucia’s Day. Had to go find and listen to this performance (once again…and again every year). The first song, which means “Peace on Earth” is just so lovely and made me cry this year, what with everything. 😢 But the second song is definitely my favourite Christmas song of all time. Too bad it is too complicated for any congregation or etc to learn, though I think that is partly why I love it…its complexity. Not too sad but definitely bittersweet. So beautiful.
Sofia Karlsson - Frid på jord / Gläns över sjö och strand (Luciamorgon, 2011) 1: Traditional lyrics from Olivia Blyberg, adapted by Sofia Karlsson; music by Sofia Karlsson. 2 (starting at 3:20): Lyrics by Viktor Rydberg; music by Alice...
This is a really great video that answers so many questions I hear about harps (plus includes a whole bunch of pedal harp info - they are such cool (and expensive and complicated!) instruments!
17/11/2023
I’ve always loved this carol. Beautiful- performance and arrangement! 😍
https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=CgnfY0hzPISEEbpX&fbclid=IwAR3uR4Gh7sn8U9xvYo_EGavcJ8yyAdq671BvGK2QM7YUnswNmwN0wkk1CzI_aem_AdooiWMcNPDZP1n6kg041l2CWWuOT6mHEhr4eZYyxOtDc9VlaVDiMRfqLZ-nBA8dTy8&v=-kVmCsrb9Ec&feature=youtu.be
Noël Nouvelet - French Christmas Carol (Thormahlen Lever Harp) Arranged by Nadia Pessoa. This is a short solo harp version of the traditional French carol from the late 15th century, "Noël Nouvelet." Also known as "Sing ...
15/09/2023
Gorgeous harp, if you’re thinking about one!
Featured Harp: FH34S in walnut with black lacquer, Camac levers, abalone inlay, and the Dusty Harp Pickup installed
- Our lightest-weight 34-string harp
- Solid wood tone and resonance
- Comfortably narrow at the top of the soundbox
This decked-out beauty has seen the world! Or, at least, it's been all the way to New Jersey to be played and admired and performed on at the Somerset Folk Harp Festival. It is now back in its birthplace of Seattle, Washington, awaiting its forever home. With lots of playing time on it already, the sound has really opened up, with the rich warm tone of the walnut wood underlying the shimmery sparkle that's characteristic of Dusty Strings harps.
The black lacquer allows the natural texture and grain of the walnut to be seen and admired. The colorful abalone around the edges of the curly maple soundboard sparkles when it catches the light. And the installed pickup means this harp is ready for anything!
Included: full set of Camac sharping levers, detachable stand with four legs, Dusty Harp Pickup, deluxe zippered case, and tuning wrench.
Price: $8505
More details: https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/harps
06/07/2023
So many beautiful harps! Heaven! 😍
28/05/2023
Brook Boddie was a wonderful harper and probably my favourite arranger, and he left us much much too soon. He published a few of his arrangements but mostly he performed and improvised. Some wonderful soul has been working away at making arrangements based on his performances and I was just so delighted to discover these published just recently. This absolutely gorgeous version, the first piece I tried, is just an example of his huge talent for letting the harp and the melody and the silence all have beautiful unhurried space. So beautiful!
Heading off to church to share this now, but I made a video as I had to share it in a wider circle. Harpers - the link to the sheet music is in the YouTube description.
All Creatures of our God and King (Celtic harp) (arr by Brook Boddie/perf by Kathy Pepers)
All Creatures of our God and King (Celtic harp) (arr by Brook Boddie/perf by Kathy Pepers) An absolutely beautiful arrangement of the well-known hymn, 'All Creatures of our God and King' - by the late and sorely missed Brook Boddie. I have been so ...
27/04/2023
Another beautiful peaceful performance to share with you. Thank you to Dusty Strings for sharing these. I’m loving them! 🥰
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=691216769678770&id=100063713584408
"Recontre avec un ange" by Gwenael Kerleo - celtic Harp cover by Jouni Kenttämies "Recontre avec un ange "(Meeting with an angel) is a lovely tune composed by Gwenaël Kerléo, a Breton harpist, singer and songwriter. You can listen the orig...
I got a spot for the Water Valley celtic festival this year - very happy to say it’s back indoors this year! 😅 In the church at 4:45. Also looking forward to playing with Gan Ainm again and we are at 2:30 in the upper schoolhouse. Hope it will be a nice day for everyone. 🎻🎶
05/03/2023
Another one for . No recorder playing by me in this one, I promise. Just some tranquil harp. (Though I do very much recommend a listen to the link in my YouTube description for this, which is a terrific version and starts with beautiful recorder playing!)
Reis Glorios (Bornelh) - Harp version Guiraut de Bornelh (c. 1138 - 1215) - French troubadour.Arrangement by Deborah Friou (from her book "Early Music for the Harp"). Amazing and beautiful (with ...
Did you know that March is not only but also ? Did you know that I love early music and that was why I started the harp and not because of Celtic music? Did you also know that I taught myself to play the recorder fairly well but about a billion years ago?
I had some fun tonight (if struggling with technology is ‘fun’) and eventually managed to make a short duet with myself. My recorder skills are pretty rusty (my breath control SUCKS 😅) but it got better as I went along and it is pretty good for not playing for many many years. I will try to improve. It is fun to play it again.
Now that I have the complicated technical process worked out, maybe I will do another one or two during this Early Music Month, and maybe some just for harp alone (you’ll be glad to hear, I bet!).
14/02/2023
I played this pretty piece for a postlude at church yesterday and thought I’d record it (before I forgot it!).
This is an arrangement by Rhett Barnwell. Check the YouTube description for where to find a copy.
Blessed Assurance (Celtic harp version)
Blessed Assurance (Celtic harp version) This is a peaceful and 'frilly' arrangement by Rhett Barnwell from his book "A Serenade for the Soul" - available from his website:https://www.seraphimmusic....
12/02/2023
Here's something light and pretty to get me back into the habit of recording, I hope.
This is a lovely and playable version of the well-known song and it's available online at www.learningtheharp.com from Christy-Lyn Marais. Great for late beginner level harpers.
(I learned this from a cover by a classical guitar player that I really love and not from a certain film it was written for.) His cover is wonderful - the link is in the YouTube description should you wish to hear him. :)
https://youtu.be/lBITRzCSVqc
A Thousand Years (by Christina Perry, arr. by Christy-Lyn Marais) - Celtic harp version Here's something light and pretty to get me back into the habit of recording. This is a lovely and playable version of the well-known song and it's available...
10/12/2022
I got a new recording done and no doubt it will be my last before Christmas, but this was a new one learned this season for me and I love it very much so I hope you might enjoy it also. ❄️🕊❄️
See Amid the Winter's Snow (Celtic harp) - arr by Kim Robertson A wonderfully peaceful and reflective arrangement of the English carol. Kim's sheet music available in her "Christmas Lullaby Vol. II" available here: https:...
11/10/2022
Just discovered a lovely (Swedish) band and I thought someone else might enjoy this warm soft tune. The repeated word - främmande - means (I think) 'stranger'. There's a snippet of text quoted in the YouTube description, and I translated it, and it was this:
Divide and rule is the motto of the powerful, today as yesterday.
For them, it is best if we distrust each other
and no one understands that we become strangers,
strangers to each other and alien to ourselves.
Främmande - Hazelius Hedin (Official Video) Lyrics & Music: Peps Persson Främmande - Music & Lyrics: Peps Persson. arr: Hazelius Hedin." Söndra och härska är maktmännens motto, idag som igår.För dom är det bäst om vi misstror var...
I got this lovely arrangement (by Rhett Barnwell) back under my fingers for last Sunday's church, so I finally made a recording (before it gets rusty again!). Had some more fun with making something nice to look at (for a change...) while you listen. Hope you enjoy.
20/09/2022
A gentle lullaby for anyone who could use one tonight. ❤️
All the Pretty Little Horses (Celtic harp version, arr by Kim Robertson) https://youtu.be/siz1Laku95Q
All the Pretty Little Horses (Celtic harp version, arr by Kim Robertson) This is Kim Robertson's (all too brief!) arrangement of the haunting folk lullaby "All the Pretty Little Horses", also known as "Hush-a-bye". It is generally...
24/08/2022
I learned this lovely piece for church last Sunday. Another beautiful arrangement by the late Brook Boddie. I thought I’d share it. Very peaceful. 🕊
His Eye is on the Sparrow - (harp version). Arranged by Brook Boddie. https://youtu.be/Ik8UqLpmOT4
His Eye is on the Sparrow - (harp version). Arranged by Brook Boddie. This is a heavenly arrangement of the traditional hymn by the dearly missed Brook Boddie. Brook's harp arrangements are so full of "space" and peace. I hope ...
13/06/2022
Here is a very soft gentle tune for you on this grey rainy day. The rain is a gift. A panacea against fire and smoke. Unless my house is flooding, I'm always grateful for rain (literally a fount of blessing! Hadn't seen that connection til this moment!).
https://youtu.be/IIC0s64VQpg
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Harp version - arranged by Kim Robertson) This is such a beautiful and reflective version of the hymn - I love it a lot. This is from Kim Robertson's book "Beauty Tunes". https://www.gourd.com/beauty...
A sunny tune by O'Carolan - Planxty Lord Inchiquin.
A gentle tune by O’Carolan for you today. O’Carolan’s Welcome.
Here's a cheerful tune you probably recognise - Give me your Hand.
This tune was collected by Edward Bunting (the same scholar/musician who collected so many of O'Carolan's tunes) and published in his "The Ancient Music of Ireland" in 1840. But this comes to us from a different ancient harper - a fellow called Rory Dall.
Rory led so colourful a life that in reading five sources/pages about him, I have read five different accounts, one of which suggests maybe he never existed at all. The generally accepted/popular (aka not academic/researched) version is basically that Rory was born an Irish harper and of noble family. He travelled, in high style, to Scotland once and made such an impression there that there are many stories about him - so many that there are several sources that say he was actually Scottish. Or perhaps there was another harper called Rory Dall, this one Scottish, living and composing vaguely around the same time.
But sticking with the romantic version, and regarding this tune in particular, this story was published by Arthur O'Neill (c. 1810):
"Rory Dall took a fancy to visit Scotland where there were great harpers. He took his retinue (or suit) with him. Amongst other visits in the style of an Irish chieftain he paid one to a Lady Eglinton, and she not knowing his rank in a peremptory manner demanded a tune which he declined, as he only came to play to amuse her, and in an irritable manner left the house. However, when she was informed of his consequence, she eagerly contrived a reconciliation and made an apology, and the result was that he composed a tune for her ladyship, the handsome tune of "Da Mihi Manum" (Give Me Your Hand) on which his fame spread thro' Scotland."
https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Give_Me_Your_Hand
So...when I play this tune for a concert, I just tell the audience that it seems to be a tune written by an Irish harper while he was in Scotland - so it's both Scottish and Irish, so let's not fight about it!
One thing that is definitely true is it very quickly became a hugely popular tune and was in many songbooks down through the ages.
Another fact is that in "modern times", the band 'Planxty' used this tune in a great medley with "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" and brought this tune back into great popularity once again.
This version is arranged by Kim Robertson - from her book: "Celtic Harp Solos".
A simple, sweet, and calming tune for you this Monday - "Angel's Hymn" - composed by harpist Rhett Barnwell (https://www.seraphimmusic.com)
Some quiet tunes for a quiet Sunday evening. "I lost my love" and "The orange rogue".
16/04/2022
I made this recording as part of a concert to benefit .
A beautiful traditional Ukrainian lullaby.
I heard the tune and couldn’t find the music anywhere, so I arranged it myself. Hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to share. 💙💛🇨🇦🇺🇦
https://youtu.be/bF4Y6k-C1vY
Ukrainian Lullaby/Kolyskova/Колискова (inspired by Nina Matvienko/Ніна Матвієнко) I was asked to contribute a tune to a multi-artist concert to benefit Ukraine, and I wanted to do a Ukrainian folk song. I listened to quite a few but fell i...
06/04/2022
I made a new video of the very lovely traditional tune from the Isle of Man called “Song of the Water Kelpie”. Water kelpies are dangerous and terrifying, but I promise the tune is very beautiful and serene. Oddly named!
Song of the Water Kelpie - A traditional tune from the Isle of Man https://youtu.be/eYCSSv_-S5Y
Song of the Water Kelpie - A traditional tune from the Isle of Man "The tune was said to have been sung by an old man with long white hair who rowed off Niarbyl Point on summer evenings but never came close to land. The peop...
28/02/2022
So I’m happy to say I did get around to making a “proper” (whatever that means) recording of Lark on the Strand. I decided to go with the quick-tempo version, but I don't think it's frantically fast. You could actually jig to it, though you'd have to jig slowly. ^_~
Here’s the link. I hope you like it. There’s a link in the description of where to get the arrangement (by Kim Robertson).
Lark on the Strand (Arrangement by Kim Robertson) https://youtu.be/5Vaxj2pqi20
Lark on the Strand (Arrangement by Kim Robertson) A traditional Irish jig and (another) great arrangement by Kim Robertson from her book/album 'Windshadows II' - sheet music available here: https://gourd-mu...
Sneak peek. I am enjoying this piece so much, I just wanted to share an early version with you. I’m in a bit of a quandary about the tempo. I like it even slower than this, because it is so pretty and the details, like hearing the counter melody or the echo of the dissonance, are lost a little when it’s faster. But the “posted” speed is a bit faster yet than this version. I like both!
But anyway, this version is in between. I will record it properly this weekend, I hope, and decide one way or another. 🤔
20/02/2022
Okay, I am very happy to say that I FINALLY got around to recording this tune! 🥳 I played it in my last Water Valley Celtic Festival set (years ago now, thanks to Covid) and never got around to recording it before it got ‘un-learned’. 😅 I have re-learned it, and I’m very happy to share it with you as it’s a lovely one.
This is another wonderful arrangement by Aryeh Frankfurter - “Captain O’Kane” by O’Carolan (well…a little research told me it is PROBABLY by O’Carolan, so that’s good enough for me. 😉). I play it a tad slower than Aryeh does, but I know that’s not a surprise to anyone! But it’s such a pretty arrangement…what’s the rush? I think it is worth savouring.
Anyway, I do hope you enjoy. Another tune is in the works and if life cooperates, maybe I’ll get it recorded next weekend. 🤞🏻 And some great news - also if life cooperates, the Water Valley festival is back on this year! 🎉🎉🎉 Time to get a set together! ❤️
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Captain O'Kane https://youtu.be/yZUe7Gb-Fko
Captain O'Kane This is another absolutely gorgeous arrangement by Aryeh Frankfurter - "Captain O'Kane" by O'Carolan. I adore it, and I hope you like it too. (The arrangeme...
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