Well the race building harps continues. Thought I had got nothing done yesterday as it took so long to saw the top of the soundbox into exactly the right shape and get some massive bolts in to hold it to the head. My arm was aching badly by the end of it all! This is why I don't want to make any more harps after the next 3 (all re-builds so not as bad). None of my friends believe me but honestly it is hard work. I will still have to repair harps, string them and would love to decorate them still but no more jigsaws and clamps!
I am googling away trying to find an image of an owl to use on Mystic-Al. My last harp (Celesti-Al) I found a poem on a 15th lute. It reads 'I was silent in the woods, cut down by the cruel axe but in death I sweetly sing'. I copied the poem in latin on one side and english on the other and painted 2 trees at the bottom. Mystic-Al has a reinforced forepillar, made out of an old bed frame, and I came across an oak leaf carving in the wood pile which I think had come off an old piano I was stripping. The oak leaf just covers the join perfectly and above it will be the owl.
The Yorkshire Symphony preview is on Wednesday this week and I am trying to find a time for another interview on Radio Leeds.
Showing posts with label Limetree Festival - 28th August - 4 pm ish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Limetree Festival - 28th August - 4 pm ish. Show all posts
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Hilditz
The nuns at my old school are in trouble again. They want to sell land to build a Tescos. The townsfolk (according to national news) want a Sainsburys built on industrial land. The last time I recollect the nuns being in trouble was when the school shut. The Mother Superior made a statement to the press that in hindsight the school had been far too repressive and she regretted this. We were not allowed access to TV, radio or allowed to play music - we were allowed one phone call home on our mother's birthday although if you were lucky you could blag one a term. We were allowed to receive and send one letter a week and they read through our letters and if one didn't suit them they read it out to class to humiliate us.
From starting the school the nuns had me playing the piano in chapel and soon I was having to get up earlier than everyone else to play for mass at 7 and evensong later on. I was also the musical entertainment - any pop songs were sung to me and I could easily come up with an arrangment on one of the many old pianos scattered around the old school. I cannot remember why but for some reason as a punishment the nuns locked all the pianos and to retaliate I unpicked the locks with a hairgrip and played them a death march at midnight. The funny thing was they were not allowed to speak after 9 pm so they would signal their displeasure and I was locked in the laundry cupboard for the rest of the night!
From starting the school the nuns had me playing the piano in chapel and soon I was having to get up earlier than everyone else to play for mass at 7 and evensong later on. I was also the musical entertainment - any pop songs were sung to me and I could easily come up with an arrangment on one of the many old pianos scattered around the old school. I cannot remember why but for some reason as a punishment the nuns locked all the pianos and to retaliate I unpicked the locks with a hairgrip and played them a death march at midnight. The funny thing was they were not allowed to speak after 9 pm so they would signal their displeasure and I was locked in the laundry cupboard for the rest of the night!
Friday, 23 July 2010
you can't rush a good wine - er I mean - harp
Yes - lots of time waiting for paint to dry. I am enjoying this part of making Mystic-Al. Loads of intricate patterns with gold and black paint. I have studied the decoration on antique harps - postcards, graves, church windows, Christmas cards, museums of course and once got to see the most amazing original 15th Century book on instruments. I was asked if I wanted to look at it - in a private collection at Micklethwaite. The most amazingly wierd collection of instruments ever - they literally tried everything! Most of my willow experiment died in the drought earlier this year but I shall just plant some more next year - this is to try and grow it into the right shape before it is cut...a long term project to make some wierd and wacky instruments especially for people like me.
Anyway back to the point... the decoration is looking fabulous and then comes the difficult part of staining the wood and polishing over without losing the decoration. I have just finished one side and am waiting for it to dry. It is laid out on top of the dining table as I type. This decoration was inspired by the walls of Mitton Hall. The oldest Great Hall in England I think - a huge dragon stretching half way across the main beam high up overlooking the minstral's gallery. Not very easy to see nowadays as the new owners have hung a huge modern chandeliar and you cannot see past the glare. No comment.
Anyway back to the point... the decoration is looking fabulous and then comes the difficult part of staining the wood and polishing over without losing the decoration. I have just finished one side and am waiting for it to dry. It is laid out on top of the dining table as I type. This decoration was inspired by the walls of Mitton Hall. The oldest Great Hall in England I think - a huge dragon stretching half way across the main beam high up overlooking the minstral's gallery. Not very easy to see nowadays as the new owners have hung a huge modern chandeliar and you cannot see past the glare. No comment.
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