The other evening I was driving home by myself and listening to the local classical music station. Handel’s Harp Concerto kept me company for 10 miles and my thoughts turned to the harpists I know, including my sister-in-law, my cousin, and my friend. About 5 years ago this friend, Lillian, invited me (and a few dozen others) to a harp recital at her house–her harp recital. Initially I found it strange that a person would throw themselves a musical recital since recitals were some of the most dreaded events of my childhood. Lillian was a seasoned pianist and comfortable in front of a crowd. This, however, would be her first harp recital. Before she sat down at the harp, she gave her audience a little background about the purpose of the event. When she was a young child she caught a glimpse of the harpist in an orchestra pit while attending a ballet. She fell in love with it then and there. She begged her parents for lessons. They told her they didn’t have money for a harp, but they had a piano and so, she could learn to play that. She spend years playing and then teaching the piano but never forgot her dream of playing the harp. Some two decades later she was able to buy a harp and begin learning. It was a privilege to watch, and listen to, her play with enthusiasm, even as she made an occasional mistake (she had only been playing for a very short while). I admire Lillian in many ways, one of them being her determination and resolve to achieve a childhood goal.
As I sifted through videos of Handel’s Concerto, this one caught my attention. The fact that it was significantly shorter than the rest gave me hope that you might actually watch it, and I am always drawn to children with talent (having exhibited none myself!). So here’s a little treat from a musician that didn’t have to wait nearly as long as Lillian to begin running her fingers over the heavenly harp.
hear~read~see~speak 