Dan blend of mic and pickup.mp3

My version of this piece, recorded on my Ravenna 34 harp using a DIY pair of ribbon mics I've just finished making. A few more tweaks still to do before I'm really happy with the sound. The photo shows all the bits on the table, ready to assemble. A lot of the components were reclaimed or scrap, apart from the ribbon elements themselves. It's so long since I messed around with building my own audio gear!

Song of the Water Kelpie - DIY microphone

First go at a Swedish piece I heard. No idea what it is but enjoyed playing it this morning!

Swedish piece

O'Carlolan concert: Kelly arranged Mark Harmer

Test of coincident stereo pair of RE-154 ribbons recorded in MS and noise-reduced but otherwise not touched. Recorded on my Ravenna 34 harp in my small study on Zoom H4n.


STE - 027 - Barcarolle

This is inspired by the track of the same name by Boys of the Lough. I love their harmonies. The original has a wonderful bass drone using the smallpipes, which is an instrument I love but don't have and can't play - so this is the next best thing. 

The harp plays on its own in the second verse (I call this a "harp sandwich") with the whistle in verses 1 and 3. In the third verse, Alison (whistle) wanders slowly off to the far reaches of the church so the sound is more distant and echoey. 

Hills of Donegal - recorded 2003 in a 1000-year-old church in Wales, UK

Recorded in a living-room improv session - it's just an improvisation but there are couple of places where the harp works well with it with certain figures / ways of playing. Just a question of how the balance might work?

Hang and harp improvisation

Baby tune 2 for baby F - Gloucester neonatal unit

I have lots of video recordings but not many places to put audio-only things. So hopefully this will make things easier!

For lots of lovely video recordings please do visit my YouTube channel.

MarkHarmer

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