CynthiaHarp

Set to the hymn-tune New Britain, Amazing Grace is possibly the best known and best loved of all hymns. It was written by John Newton, who had a conversion experience during a dangerous moment at sea while engaging in the slave trade. Contrary to some beliefs, though, this did not prompt him to give up the slave trade. It was several years later, after he became an ordained clergyman that he became an abolitionist and worked with Wilbur Wilberforce and others to have the slave trade abolished.

Too much effort to play, and too much effort to move!

Quiescence is the quality or state of being at rest, calm, peaceful. With all the noise we are experiencing in our world now, a little quiet may be a very good thing. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/quiescence-digital-sheet-music/21800825

Sweet composition. ". . . . and my heart was filled with tender thoughts of you . . . " Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/tender-thoughts-digital-sheet-music/22088963

Original composition for harp. For the terrible situation in Ukraine. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/the-willow-weeps-digital-sheet-music/21681598

Morning Song, from the shape-note tradition, is frequently used for the lovely hymn, "The King Shall Come when Morning Dawns" . The hymn-tune may have been composed by Elkanah Kelsay Dare, a Methodist minister. Since the text speaks of the Nativity and the Second Coming, it is often sung during the Season of Advent. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/morning-song-digital-sheet-music/21859337 "The King shall come when morning dawns, And light triumphant breaks; When beauty gilds the eastern hills, And life to joy awakes. Not as of old, a little child To bear, and fight, and die, But crowned with glory like the sun, That gilds that morning sky O, brighter than the rising morn, When He, victorious rose, And left the lonesome place of death, Despite the rage of foes;— O brighter than that glorious morn Shall this fair morning be, When Christ, our King, in beauty comes, And we his face shall see."

Reflection - a throwing back, a sending back, of sound or light - the return of light or sound waves from a surface - a thought process; meditation So many definitions to try and capture - - - Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/reflections-digital-sheet-music/21843960

Not a traditional tune, but composed and recorded by John Jacob Niles. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/the-lass-from-the-low-countree-digital-sheet-music/22071081 "Oh, he was a lord of high degree And she was a lass from the low countree But she loved his lordship so tenderly. Oh sorrow, sing sorrow Now she sleeps in the valley where the wild flowers nod And no one knows she loved him but herself and God One morn when the sun was on the mead He passed by her door on a milk white steed She smiled and she spoke, but he paid no heed Oh sorrow, sing sorrow Now she sleeps in the valley where the wild flowers nod And no one knows she loved him but herself and God"

The beautiful hymn "The King of Love my Shepherd Is", a paraphrase of Psalm 23, is often sung to this lovely hymn-tune. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/st-columba-the-king-of-love-my-shepherd-is-digital-sheet-music/21766750

William Butler Yeats penned the words that are often associated with this traditional tune. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/down-by-the-sally-gardens-digital-sheet-music/20710331 "Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet; She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet. She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree; But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree. In a field by the river my love and I did stand, And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand. She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs; But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears."

Two hymn-tunes, Maitland and Hamburg. Maitland, often associated with the hymn "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone", is the tune that inspired Thomas Dorsey (the minister, not the big band leader) to compose "Precious Lord, Take my Hand" and Hamburg is often associated with "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross". This is just a simple merging of these two lovely hymn tunes.

Lovely composition that captures both the hopefulness and wistfulness of our wishes. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/wishing-digital-sheet-music/21812522

A lovely, traditional Welsh tune . . . . The melody has been used for many different texts - perhaps the most common were penned by Thomas Oliphant. This melody can also be found in many hymnals as "Sent Forth by God's Blessing" and "Let all Things now Living". Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/the-ash-grove-digital-sheet-music/22205134 "Down yonder green valley where streamlets meander, When twilight is fading, I pensively rove, Or at the bright noontide in solitude wander Amid the dark shades of the lonely Ash grove. 'Twas there while the blackbird was joyfully singing, I first met my dear one, the joy of my heart; Around us for gladness the bluebells were ringing, Ah! then little thought I how soon we should part. Still grows the bright sunshine o'er valley and mountain, Still warbles the blackbird his note from the tree; Still trembles the moonbeam on streamlet and fountain, But what are the beauties of nature to me. With sorrow, deep sorrow, my bosom is laden, All day I go mourning in search of my love. Ye echoes, O tell me, where is the sweet maiden? She sleeps 'neath the green turf down by the Ash grove."

This lovely tune was most likely composed by Turlough O'Carolan, the famous blind harper of Ireland. I chose to play the tune in a non-traditional key (E-flat major) and in a slower tempo because I think it works well for a bridesmaid procession. The original Gaelic may refer to either a big hill and a little hill, or a big and little fairy hill. Whatever the meaning, it is a sweet tune and I hope that you enjoy my arrangement. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/s-bheag-s-mhr-digital-sheet-music/22157516

Charming lullaby by Stephen Foster. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/slumber-my-darling-digital-sheet-music/22201558 "Slumber, my darling, thy mother is near, Guarding thy dreams from all terror and fear, Sunlight has pass'd and the twilight has gone, Slumber, my darling, the night's coming on. Sweet visions attend thy sleep, Fondest, dearest to me, While others their revels keep, I will watch over thee. Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest, The wandering dews by the flow'rs are caressed, Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap thee up warm, And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm."

Sweet tune by the "singing" governor, Jimmie Davis. This has been covered by a wide range of artists, including Merle Haggard and Emmylou Harris.

Harp arrangement of my favourite piece from "Mary Poppins". What a beautiful message . . .

Stella Grace the cat video-bombs my harp live-stream

We all know someone who has a gentle heart. They make our world a brighter place. Sheet music available at https://youtu.be/kcp1idIOh5g

This traditional tune is included in O'Neill's collection as #470. It appeared on early broadsides as a dialogue between a sinner and death. As I was working on my arrangement, I found myself playing the tune New Britain (Amazing Grace) at times, so I included hints of that in this arrangement. Sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/dialogues-digital-sheet-music/22035367

Manx tune often called Song of the Water Kelpie, but really more of a place tune (Arrane Ghelby). The story of the kelpie is that spirit horses emerge from the sea, entice you to ride, then return to the sea with you astride - leading to a watery grave.

My harp cover of the beautiful hymn "Mansions of the Lord" from the movie "We Were Soldiers", honoring the fallen, especially my grand-daddy who fell during the battle of Hürtgen Forest in WWII.

Stella Grace "helping" to install a showroom display!

Have you ever seen a moonlit night and just been in awe of the beauty? That happened to me this past week, so I wrote a piece to try and capture the loveliness and serenity of that night.

Used frequently at weddings. (I'm actually playing this in E-flat)