SHE | Seven Harp Ensemble

Alice and Gen on the air

Genevieve Lang — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:58:34 +0000

Listen to Alice and Gen on ABC Riverina.

We found time today (actually, we just got up earlier than normal) to pop in on Chris Coleman of the Morning Show on ABC Riverina in Wagga Wagga. Had a lovely chat. Check it out with the link above.

The competition…

Genevieve Lang — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 11:00:21 +0000

When in Melbourne, at a certain time of year, it’s almost impossible to avoid the crowds, the traffic, and the high spirits induced by the footy. Last night there was the small matter of a match between magpies and eagles, or some such. To us uninitiated chicks, the eagles – being a mightier bird and swifter hunter – would have been the obvious pick to come out on top. Against all instinct, and anything Darwin might have assumed about survival of the fittest, the magpies proved the stronger bird.

In any case, it did nothing to interfere with the concert-attendance plans of our very enthusiastic Melbourne audience for the first performance of our 2011 tour.

It was the ‘M’ of Melba Hall and not the ‘G’ that played host to SHE. Nerves and excitement combined backstage. It’s been a while since we’ve all played together, and of course new member Lucy was giving her first performance of all our repertoire. We premiered both of our new works – Mary Doumany’s Oshun Beneath the Veil with the composer present, and Damian Barbeler’s Seven Shades of Sorrow. Ingrid’s arrangement of two movements from Handel Water Music which opens our program also rang out in concert for the first time.

Ahh…. It’s good to be back!

(Needless to say, the winner on the night was music. And full credit to the other team.)

A fortunate thing

Genevieve Lang — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:50:29 +0000

Person(s) unknown managed to gain access to the cabin of the truck last night. But apparently harp strings, tuning keys, and electronic chromatic tuners hold no interest for ‘grab-and-run’ thieves. I, for one, am grateful that they weren’t particularly interested in my music either. Or we would have been touring as the Six Harp Ensemble! *Phew* What is it they say? One man’s trash is another man’s treasure?

Introducing Lucy

Genevieve Lang — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:00:13 +0000

For this tour, we’ve been joined by lovely harpist Lucy O’Shea, who has replaced an intrepid Liena Lacey.

Lucy has bravely taken on the learning of our whole program – 13 new works in all – which any harpist will tell you is no mean feat. SHE thinks she’s doing a tremendous job.

A little bit about Lucy: she started playing the harp at age six, and graduated from the School of Music in Canberra just a couple of years ago. She’s got several ‘strings’ to her harp, including being a Churchill Fellow after travelling to Italy to study the intricate and complex art of harp maintenance and regulation at the Salvi Harp factory. Lucy was the first woman ever to graduate from the course! She also has a Grad Dip in Music and Italian Education, which she’s put to good use in London and now in Melbourne, her home town, where she teaches Italian at Cantebury Primary School.

She’s a great addition to the team, and has even taken on the role of official photographer for the tour. Welcome Lucy!

Ever wondered?

Genevieve Lang — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:16:07 +0000

Have you ever wondered how the harp works? What are the pedals for? How do we move our harps around on our own? What about seven at once? Post your questions on our ‘Ask SHE’ page. And in the meantime, have a listen to Genevieve shed some light on this magical instrument as she chats with 2MBS host Simon Moore… SHE on 2MBS

Announcing our 2011 tour

Genevieve Lang — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:45:29 +0000

Hi there folks! Excitingly, and somewhat dauntingly, we’re about to hit the road again for the 2011 SHE tour. We’ll be visiting seven regional and metropolitan centres in Vic, NSW and ACT. We’ve got a couple of brand new works by Mary Doumany and Damian Barbeler to premier, as well as a delightful arrangement by our very own Ingrid Bauer of a couple of movements from Handel’s Water Music.

Really hope to see you at one of our concerts. For more information about dates, venues, and tickets, please check out the ’2011 tour’ tab at the top of this page.

SHE’s on the ABC

Genevieve Lang — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:11:18 +0000

Rather excitingly, a fan reported this evening that the ABC was playing one of the tracks on our CD – Ross Edwards’ Arafura Arioso. You can order a copy of our debut recording Bolmimerie by visiting www.tallpoppies.net The catalogue number is TP204. Happy listening!

Photos!

Genevieve Lang — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:32:27 +0000

I have promised a few key people that photos will soon appear on the blog… and they will! Just watch this space!… (or more correctly, watch out for them on the Gallery page…)

SHE’s home!

Genevieve Lang — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:51:26 +0000

Well folks, it’s been quite a trip! Eight concerts, four workshops, over 2,300 kms travelled, eight new strings replaced (not bad, given the distances and climates traversed!), seven weary harpists, and one bushed roadie are all now home again.

Our final concert in Armidale was greeted by a sophisticated 190-strong audience at the Town Hall, who demostrated a distinct preference for the Australian repertoire in our program. Displaying the same curiousity about the harp as we have encountered elsewhere along the way, we were all kept busy for a good half-an-hour after the concert giving demonstrations to inquiring folk about the function of the pedals, how certain effects were achieved, and so on.

There was time for one final photo shoot, with all the instruments and harpists in their concert finery, and then it was off to the home of a local music lover for a delicious supper, and a chance to finally unwind…

… sort of! As this morning, we were all up eye-wateringly early to get back to the hall to pack up and hit the road. For those of us going all the way back to Canberra, it was over 10 hours to get home, so an early start was necessary. it was an easy drive, even in the truck. By now we feel confident that even some of the bigger bumps along the road aren’t able to unshake the harps from their wonderful nestling places in their cradles. Three final cheers for the men of Kangaroo Valley!

One of my favourite things…

Genevieve Lang — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:51:54 +0000

It’s just occured to me that at no point on this tour has anyone said ‘Don’t you wish you’d taken up the flute?’The answer to that question had never been ‘yes’.

What a delight that through this ensemble our audiences are now seeing the beauty, capability and magic of the harp; viewing it not as an instrument of exotic inconvenience, but as an instrument of valid, multi-faceted expression. I’m also intensely proud of the way in which we are able to give Australian composers multiple opportunities to have their music performed, and enjoyed by our audiences. Pats on backs all round ladies!