Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Belfast Harper's Circle

St. Patrick Day's Harper's Circle
Present by Mia Theodoratus
Pete's Candy Store
709 Lorimer Street
Brooklyn, NY
March 15th, at 8pm
www.petescandystore.com

In Honor of the Belfast, Ireland Harpers Gathering in 1792

In 1792 the last remaining harpists from the Bardic tradition assembled in Belfast to play and preserve the remaining music. Ten Harpers gathered and were transcribed by Edward Bunting.

What better way to honor the tradition of Irish Music and the harp then to gather together and play on St. Patrick’s Day! Bring a small Celtic harp and a few tunes (Chanter, Sally Gardens or anything by Carolan) or just come and listen.

Dr. James MacDonnell sponsored the original event to "revive and perpetuate the Ancient Music and Poetry of Ireland. They are solicitous to preserve from oblivion the few fragments which have been permitted to remain as monuments of the refined taste and genius of their ancestors. To assemble the Harpers, those descendants of our ancient bards, who are at present [1791] almost exclusively possessed of all that remains of the music, poetry, and oral traditions of Ireland."

Mia Theodoratus organizes the Celtic harp circle and teaches at the Irish Art Center. She has a CD Irish Harp - Celtic Songs, and has played her CAMAC harp for fashion shows in Shanghai, China with Shanghai Tang, Vienna with LifeBall.org and in bars all over NYC. Mia's primary music groups are Adam & Mia and Dueling Harps. She has worked with Ann Magnuson, TV on the Radio, Leona Naess, Ray Chew, and made music for the television shows Flight of the Conchords and Rubicon.

Please contact Mia Theodoratus at harpgrrl@gmail.com or 917-696-2314 for more information.

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www.miatheodoratus.com

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Harps and Nymphs-New Year's Eve at the QT

Usually I stay home NY's Eve in New York because one of my phobias is vomit-especially the alcoholic kind from obnoxious tunnel traffic folk. I was lured to Times Square this year by La JohnJoseph and Vanessa Walters to do a dance/performance art piece hosted by Earl Dax. All three of these people are lovely! So I spent my vacation composing a piece that would be open enough to give the nymphs/dancers the space to perform.

Damn New York City is a harsh performance mistress! Getting to the hotel was hell even to make my 3:30 run through. I had to sweet talk the nice police man to even let me go down the street where the hotel was...hauling harp, amp, electronics and costume...

Got about 40 minutes of wonderful creativity with the company, then wait wait wait.

then wait wait wait wait-have to remember to bring a loaded bento box next time.

The hellish part of playing in New York is that even with someone as art minded as Earl, every little thing is like molasses. I had major problems with the DJ and his friends. I was told I could go through the board and he was so resistant that I decided to use my crappy Crate amp. Then he said that he didn't want me to set up my harp before I performed because he needed to have people go behind the DJ booth with him. So not wanting to cock block him I waited to set up until about 15 minutes until the show....still had problems with his drunk friends who decided that my harp was some kind of railing to use to hoist themselves up to the DJ booth. Sign. I need a thicker skin about this sort of thing or develop better bitch skills.

At the end of the day the show was magical. The music blended perfectly with the decadent Powdered wigs and gold rouged nipples of the nymphs and for about 20 minutes I went out a bit into the universe and visit harmonically with Debussy and Satie.

Of course, then I had to brave the street, vomit, obnoxious Jersey dudes and the general drunks of the city.

I gave an audience member my camera-the video is horrible and they lost the image half way through...but at least the music came out.