Harp in the Hills takes a break in 2014

Maeve and I conferred recently and decided to let Harp in the Hills take a break in 2014.
The decision was very difficult considering how much we all love to stay at Angels Rest and how much we enjoy making music together. Thanks to all attendees who lent their camaraderie and
talent for 8 wonderful years. Thanks to Jen Paris and the staff at Angels Rest for outstanding hospitality. Thanks to Maeve for sharing her genius.  We will refocus and reconsider in 2015.

Class of 2013

Concert on August 21, 2013

The evening prior to our workshop Maeve will be giving a concert in nearby Whately, MA as part of the "Watermelon Wednesday" series. The concert will include her guest, dancer Nic Gareiss. (See Maeve's web site for an example of their collaboration.) Workshop attendees who would like to
stay at Angels' Rest on Wednesday night may do so for an additional fee of $59, (plus $3.57 tax), which includes breakfast and lunch on Thursday. Wednesday night dinner is on your own (Whately Inn is nice!) Let me know when you register if you wish to do this. Concert time is 7:30PM.  Tickets are available online at www.watermelonwednesdays.com.

Register for 2013 workshop

It's time to sign up for Maeve's  2013 workshop in Leyden MA.
August 22 - August 25
To make a reservation please contact Jane Winchester, Greenfield MA via email: wincj@aol.com.
A $200 deposit is due by July 1 (non refundable after August 1), the balance by August 15.
In August I will be posting a daily teaching schedule for group lessons. If you have any requests for
material for Maeve to cover, let me know and I will pass it on to her.  If you are interested in private lessons please let me know when you register so we can schedule you.

I have copied here a blog post from 2010 in which Maeve explains her teaching method:

Maeve's teaching style

I thought it worthwhile to copy Maeve's comments on her teaching approach from a 2010 blog post:

I base my teachings within the Scottish tradition and develop musical ideas incorporating rhythmic accompaniment and improvisation. 

The morning session begins with an extended warmup. Using different exercises I focus on hand and thumb position, placement, and sound quality. Further exercises develop rhythmic stability, syncopation, and sense of time.

New tunes are introduced at the beginning of each session. I teach by the traditional aural method, offering sheet music at the end of the session. After introducing the basic melody, I explore ornamentation and stylistic techniques. Arrangement ideas follow. We will talk about harmony and how to arrange traditional material in a tasteful way that will breathe new life into each piece. We will also explore some improvisational ideas for intros, outros, accompaniment and variation.

I try to suit the the desires of the participants and am open to suggestions for material or techniques to include. In the past we have worked on harmony singing, harp ensemble arrangements, and song accompaniment. 

My goal is to help harpists develop playing that is more fluid, light, and stylistically accurate.

And, Maeve says, 

Harp in the Hills is a unique and inspiring musical experience in a beautiful and relaxed setting.

The open and warm atmosphere is hard to beat. Harpists of all levels will take something away from this gem of a week.

PS - A limited number of private lessons with Maeve can be arranged during the workshop, at additional cost.

Maeve's Concert

Maeve was back in Greenfield for a concert last Saturday night.
She shared billing with cellist Eugene Friesen.
They played individually and together, in masterful performances
  - on the cutting edge of innovation, with beauty.

Maeve included a few numbers from her latest album,
         The Ostinato Project.
Ostinato is a concept she presented at last year's workshop.
How great to get insight into her working ideas and then confront them fully realized in concert.  In addition, she included variations on Peerie Joel's Waltz and Moon River, both tunes taught in past workshops. Need I say, she made exciting new interpretations - probably not her last take on these, but for me, definitive.

I hope you're looking forward to another great workshop in Leyden.
There will be no public concert by Maeve at Angels' Rest this year.
She is appearing with dancer Nic Gareiss in nearby Whately (Watermelon Wednesdays) on August 21,
the night before the start of the workshop.

2013 Workshop Dates

Dates for Maeve Gilchrist's 2013 harp workshop are

Thursday, August 22 to Sunday, August 25.

Angels' Rest, a beautiful country inn located in rural Leyden MA, will host the workshop.
The cost for 6 group lessons with Maeve, plus full meals and lodging is $525.
Contact Jane Winchester, wincj@aol.com, with any questions.
Additional details, including registration, will be announced later this spring.

Maeve Gilchrist Trio, Dec. 8, Greenfield

Great news:  Maeve is back in the area with her trio (Aidan O'Donnell, bass; Duncan Wicket, fiddle) for a concert at The Pushkin in Greenfield. The concert is at 8:00 PM. Admission $10 at the door.

Floating sounds

Don't try this unless you have a carbon fiber harp. One of the unique events at this year's workshop was a demonstration of the Heartland harp. In addition to having pleasing qualities of sound and weight, it floats and is playable in water. (See video below). 

Next year: synchronized harping??

Water Harping

Class of 2012

Presenting Maeve Gilchrist in Concert

For the past few years Maeve has given a public concert during her harp workshop at Angels Rest in Leyden MA

This year the concert will be on Saturday evening, August 25,
at 7:30 PM. 

Admission is $15 at the door and includes a reception with dessert following the concert.

Registration still open

Space is still available for Maeve's 2012 workshop.
Contact wincj@aol.com.

2012 Workshop Class Schedule

Our format this year is a bit different:   arrival between 3:00 and 4:00PM Thursday, set up and tune up; we will plunge right in with our first class at 4:00PM. There will be two classes on each day, Friday and Saturday.  Friday evening we will hold an informal session - including voluntary attendee performances. Saturday evening Maeve will give a performance open to the public, followed by a reception. The final workshop class will be Sunday after breakfast, plus a chance for review following class.  Lunch will be available before departure.

I will forward to Maeve any requests for workshop material.
Anyone wishing private instruction with Maeve should let me know when registering so we can schedule time.

Maeve's teaching style

I thought it worthwhile to copy Maeve's comments on her teaching approach from a 2010 blog post:

I base my teachings within the Scottish tradition and develop musical ideas incorporating rhythmic accompaniment and improvisation. 

The morning session begins with an extended warmup. Using different exercises I focus on hand and thumb position, placement, and sound quality. Further exercises develop rhythmic stability, syncopation, and sense of time.

New tunes are introduced at the beginning of each session. I teach by the traditional aural method, offering sheet music at the end of the session. After introducing the basic melody, I explore ornamentation and stylistic techniques. Arrangement ideas follow. We will talk about harmony and how to arrange traditional material in a tasteful way that will breathe new life into each piece. We will also explore some improvisational ideas for intros, outros, accompaniment and variation.

I try to suit the the desires of the participants and am open to suggestions for material or techniques to include. In the past we have worked on harmony singing, harp ensemble arrangements, and song accompaniment. 

My goal is to help harpists develop playing that is more fluid, light, and stylistically accurate.

And, Maeve says, 

Harp in the Hills is a unique and inspiring musical experience in a beautiful and relaxed setting.

The open and warm atmosphere is hard to beat. Harpists of all levels will take something away from this gem of a week.

PS - A limited number of private lessons with Maeve can be arranged during the workshop, at additional cost.

Lever Moments

We all have them!
What to do?
Deborah Henson-Conant asked Maeve:

"I met with Maeve Gilchrist
who I consider to be one of the world's
most talented harp 'leverers,' along with being
a wonderful composer, singer, and harpist."


DHC made a video of her  "Moment with Maeve". 

You can learn more about Deborah's performances
and musical journeys here.

Spring notes

Spring has sprung in Leyden and we're looking forward to Maeve's workshop in August. Between now and then Maeve will be at a bluegrass festival in MD with Darrol Anger. Later she will be touring with him on the west coast. Maybe we'll be doing bluegrass in Leyden? Anyone planning to attend can forward requests/suggestions for workshop material and I will pass them on. (wincj@aol.com) In the meantime you can catch up with Maeve at her web site, www.maevegilchristmusic.com

2012 Harp Retreat with Maeve Gilchrist

Once again we will be delighting in the lovely hills of Leyden, MA,  hosted by Jennifer Paris and her staff at Angels' Rest.

The dates for Harp in the Hills 2012 are 
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23 to SUNDAY, AUGUST 26.
This will include 6 group lessons and a public concert by Maeve on Saturday, August 25.
The cost for 3 days full room and board, lessons, and concert is $475.

Details of the daily schedule will be posted at a later date.
There is a minimum requirement of 10 full participants.

Register by July 1, 2012.
Contact Jane Winchester, wincj@aol.com
A deposit of $200 is due with registration,
non-refundable after July 1, 2012. Balance due August 1, 2012.

Happy MOO Year

This past fall I met artist Chaldea Emerson at the Greenfield MA farmer's market. I was enchanted with her drawings, which include many of animals playing musical instruments. I asked her to create an animal playing the harp. Since our retreat site is bordered by cow pastures, and since cows seem interested in the harp (see photo below), a cow seemed most appropriate. Chaldea has made me several packages of note cards, as well as frame-able prints, using this cartoon. The image is reproduced here with her explicit permission. Anyone wishing to order this or other cards or prints may visit her web site (linked here)  www.chaldea.etsy.com

Maeve Gilchrist in concert

Maeve Gilchrist will be giving a public concert on June 22 as the concluding event of our harp workshop. She'll be featuring songs/tunes from her new album, 'Song of Delight.'
Sure to be a great evening.

7:30PM, Wednesday, June 22,
Angels' Rest, Leyden MA
(directions at www.angelsrestretreat.com)
Admission $15 at the door. (includes refreshments)

2011 workshop space available

Looking forward to our June workshop. Space is still available, but please contact me before May 1. Jane Winchester, email address wincj@aol.com.