More Experience with my Harp

Last weekend a small town not far away had it's first medieval market. I knew the band playing there and asked, if I could add to the atmosphere with my harp. They agreed, so I took Biddy for a drive. 

At first she looked a bit shy, but then could be heard all over the place without amplifier! We played at different places, but enjoyed it most at the coffee tent, as I got free coffee there.

Many visitors - and participants - enjoyed the sounds of my harp and some confessed that they have dreamed of playing a harp. So I let them "play" on Biddy and made them happy.

When the band or the bards were playing on stage, I had time to walk in the grounds and enjoy the peaceful summer day. Those were two wonderful days.

Harp Busker at a wonderful Castle

It has been a long time since I visited my favorite place in my home town. Beside the famous park is a castle on an island. After years of negelect it was finally restored. The castle itself became a museum and the other buildings are used for many things - I should write a seperate blog to list them all. 

There are two yards used for many events - and the large yard was used for a craft market last weekend. When I read the advertising in our local paper, I thought that the castle surroundings are a wonderful place to play a harp. So I called the organizer of the market and asked, if I was allowed to play there. Luckily they agreed, although we both didn't know exactly if and how it would work.

Well, we found out that it was a brilliant idea! On Saturday I played only in the passage from the first to the second yard and was told, my little harp could be heard in the yard as well. Not bright but soothing and although I felt shy to do so, the organizer told me to put out a hat for the visitors to give money. Well, I had no hat, but a little basket and I couldn't believe it how many people were happy to give a coin.

On Sunday there was a cafeteria on the side stage in the yard, so the organizer asked me to play at different places inside the yard as I had planned anyway. So I played at the cafeteria as well as on the large stage where the Shakespear Company playes A midsummer nights dream.

Concentrating on my playing I didn't notice many people and only recognized 2 or 3 faces from my past - beside my cousin with her family who went to see the market - not me. But strangers came to me to ask about the harp or say thanks for playing, especially the salesmen were delighted about such pleasant music which gave the market a special ambience. It feels unbelievable good to give joy with my harp, beside practising all songs I can play on my small harp for hours. It's high time to learn new songs now - and I'm very motivated.

My husband used the summer day yesterday for a cycle trip and visited me. Together we found many placed on the island, where my harp and I fit in:

My husband also took a little video, click here