Proof that the Celtic Harp is not a Boring, Sleepy Instrument

I've come to the sad conclusion that many people have the mistaken impression that the Celtic harp, or perhaps any type of harp, is a boring instrument that puts people to sleep. So, one day, in a bit of frustration, I set out to prove that this assumption is waaaaay off. And I'm still working at proving this...

Some of my all-time favorite performers include Liberace, Victor Borge, and yes, Harpo Marx. Were they considered virtuosos on their instruments? Not particularly. But what they did was fantastic--They introduced their instruments and fine music to the masses. They played songs that everyone would know and love. They did a great service to music, because they demonstrated that a classical piano wasn't boring and that a concert harp wasn't just for the orchestra.

When I began performing in restaurants many years ago, i discovered that people wanted to hear their favorite songs, and if they did, it translated to money in my tip jar. It also caused them to return with their friends to hear me perform again. Yes, I love Celtic music, the music from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales that sounds native to the Celtic harp. However, only a small percentage of my dining audiences request to hear those beloved tunes. 

What do they really want to hear on the harp? Here is an example of how a typical conversation for a music request would go:

I would ask, "What would you like me to play for you?"

"Uh, I don't know any harp songs," the dining guest would answer.

"Well, what kind of music do you listen to on the radio?"

"You can't play any of that, can you? Okay. Then play 'Stairway to Heaven'. Ha ha. Never mind, I'm only joking. I know you can't play that on the harp."

So, one day, I decided to prove them wrong. I worked up an arrangement for this Led Zeppelin classic, and I blow my audience away with it. Turns out that now, when I play restaurant gigs, I end up playing this tune several times in an evening, just because diners now say, "I hear you play 'Stairway to Heaven'. Prove it."

And it's not just "Stairway to Heaven" anymore: Music by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica, Guns 'n' Roses, you name it. People hear that I'll take requests, and they want me to play their favorite songs. Who cares that I'm playing a Celtic harp? Just because a guitar is a Spanish instrument doesn't mean that a guitarist can only play Spanish music on it. Just because I play a Celtic harp doesn't mean that I can only play Celtic music on it.

But tell this to most restaurant owners, or to mainstream musicians, and they look at me in disbelief. Rock bands will have nothing of me--A harp in a rock band? They look at me as if I'm from another planet. I contact restaurants, and their typical response is, "A harp? What can you play on a harp? We prefer jazz bands." What they really think is that I will be putting their guests to sleep with  dull music.

A while ago, I was listening to a new radio show on NPR (National Public Radio) called "How to do Everything". Actually, when I first heard this show, it was only sort of NPR--Produced by NPR producers but just a podcast and not broadcast on radios. It's a kitchy show where the hosts, Mike and Ian, answer listener's questions about how to do things (sometimes, the producers answer their own questions). 

Out of frustration, or just because I wanted audiences to understand that the Celtic harp was something out-of-the-ordinary, I wrote to the producers of the show. I wrote, "I'm stumped. How do I get my music played on NPR? I've tried, sent it to all the links I can find on NPR sites, and to no avail. Do you know anyone else who can play 'Stairway to Heaven' on the Celtic harp?" Geez, someone needed to know that the instrument was more than just a tool for getting people to nod off for some z's. 

I sent them an mp3 of my version of "Stairway to Heaven," and Mike and Ian listened. They played it on Episode 7, a classic episode containing indispensable information about how to justify your use of the acronym "OMG", how to use Pandora effectively, and how to undo an awkward first impression. Useful stuff with a humorous twist.  

The show "How to Do Everything" is now a true NPR show, broadcast on a bunch of channels across the nation, and even on Sirius XM Channel 123, Public Radio Remix. And producers, Ian and Mike, have kindly played my rock tunes again on Episode 121 ("Stairway to Heaven"), Episode 122 ("The Unforgiven"), and Episode 125 ("Free Bird"), the latter, where they actually mention me by name, at the end of a fabulous episode about stink fights, corn chips, and sour toes.

Stink Fights, Corn Chips, & Sour Toes--Episode 125 of How to Do Everything, and "Free Bird" on the Celtic Harp

I love this show, and I'm proud that my eclectic music is being heard across a phenomenally wide audience. Has it gotten me more bookings? Has it landed me more concert dates? Has it caused my downloads to go viral and sell like crazy? Not yet. It's an uphill battle to convince the general public that the harp isn't boring.

You can help me get the word out about the coolness of the Celtic harp--I'm looking for an agent/manager who can book me into the venues--concert, restaurant, and more. Or contact me if you are a bandleader interested in adding the harp for some needed color. Or contact me if you are a restaurant owner or concert promoter. Or contact me if you are a music supervisor for commercials, TV, or movie projects to help introduce more people to this music.


Don't believe that the Celtic harp can handle "Stairway to Heaven"? This rock classic, and more, are on my album Blue Jeans. Find it on amazon.com, iTunes, and of course, at my website at celticharpmusic.com. Go listen to it. Wake up and smell the roses. The harp is a cool instrument.

Blue Jeans album contains "Stairway to Heaven" and more.

The Tempestuous History of the Celtic Harp

The beautiful, bell-like tones of the Celtic Harp belie its turbulent history. When you read the following excerpt from Eliseo Mauas Pinto's e-book, "The Celtic Harp", you'll understand why:

"The English warlike power [by the late 15th century] were not only looking for Irish submission. The English insisted on the idea that the Irish were "barbarians"... [they wanted to] eliminate the custom of which kings and gentlemen shared the table with jugglers, harpists and crew members... 

[The above picture] depicts an Irish bard praising the harper (who plays a not very well drawn harp in the lower right hand corner) while the host and chieftain of the Mac Sweynes is seated at dinner. With the gradual weakness of the kings in their sovereign power, the fall of the leadership of the bards and the harpists began by the end of the 15th century. Thus, the harp found refuge in Scotland, where many noble were dedicated to it’s performance, even kings like James IV.

Between 1494 and 1503, extensive companies of harpists settled in the Highlands. Thus the Harp became the national instrument of Scotland. Each clan had its own harpist, but after several years of feudal expansion and fights for the power, the importance of the harp decayed by the end of the 17th century, and gradually it was replaced by the Scottish bagpipes (Highland Bagpipes). Ironically, while the Irish bards and harpists were persecuted and executed and their harps destroyed, Isabel I delighted with harpists at her court, who used to play jigs, strathspeys and hornpipes for her. Times passed by turning even harder.

Between 1650 and 1660, Oliver Cromwell ordered the destruction of harps and organs in both Catholic and Protestant circles. Five hundred harps were confiscated and burned in the city of Dublin alone, and some 2,000 in all Eire. Like the Highland bagpipes, the harp began to gain the status of a “forbidden instrument” and was the origin of revolt against the Crown. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the poetry and music of the bards decayed as a result of innumerable exiles and fears. This deliberate destruction and persecution finished with Oliver Cromwell; soon the Enclosure Laws in Scotland and the extreme hunger in Ireland, would again force these gaelic people to emigrate.

Since the 9th century through the Baroque era, the Irish harp represented the instrument of the upper classes in the Celtic countries. Perhaps this is why some survived to modern times."

--From “The Celtic Harp”, Smashwords Edition, ©2012 Eliseo Mauas Pinto, used with permission (including artwork). 

Interestingly, the harp is recognized as the national instrument of Ireland, appearing on its flag and coins. The harp stands for the struggles Ireland has endured throughout the centuries. 

Special thanks to my friend and wonderful harper, Eliseo Mauas Pinto, for his guest blog post. Share your love of Celtic culture, Celtic music, and Celtic harps, too! Contact me if you'd like to be featured as a guest blogger, contact me through the email address on my website at CelticHarpMusic.com.

About our guest blogger: Eliseo Mauas Pinto was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He took knowledge of the Celtic world at the age of twenty, motivated by his love for literary and musical subjects. He was the first to introduce the Celtic Harp and Celtic Festivals in Argentina. As a writer, poet, musician and reviewer, he has published printed books in Spanish, Galician and Asturian languages, enlisting some new works on eBook formats. Visit his Celtic Sprite blog.

The Secret to a Relaxing Road Trip--Turn the Harp Music On

Anne Roos Playing in County Galway, Ireland

As a Celtic harpist performing for decades (feels like a gazillion years), I completely agree with guest blogger, David Drasnin--Here, he shares his love of harp music and a wee bit of harp history, too. Go to my website to sample the sound of this wonderful instrument, and if you still aren't convinced, read David's travel thoughts:



"People throughout the ages have always been fascinated by the idea of a trip, a journey. Perhaps it was centuries ago, when the first ships sailed off to conquer unknown lands, often taking musicians on board. Or maybe it was that nice weekend road trip you've planned, taking along your favorite CDs. Music is always part of the human experience.

If you are looking for relaxing music for the road, I think Irish harp music is an excellent choice.

Even if we take a closer look at history, it is obvious that harp players were always bound to the road, ever since Medieval times, when many bards played harps. Originally, the bards were poets, usually hired by a nobleman, in order to commemorate a special event while also providing a form of entertainment for himself and his guests. Later, for political and social reasons, the role of the bard was to travel about the land. One of the most notable of was Turlough O'Carolan, a blind harpist bard of the 17th century who traveled throughout Ireland to share his music. He is considered a prominent national Irish composer.

Today, you can take the bard along with you, just as travelers have done throughout the centuries. No wonder music works so well on a road trip.

For me, there is nothing more pleasant than listening to the magical, soothing sounds of an Irish harp while on the road. It almost seems incongruous to link the mechanical power of a car with traditional Irish harp music, which comes as if from the depths of time itself, almost out of place with the modern world. But I think that this is precisely the beauty of it--Celtic harp music evokes images of the world from centuries ago, and when I listen to such music, I imagine the atmosphere, the sights, and the colors of that world, as described in books I have read. This very mixture of the past and the present is what fascinates me. It's as if listening to the sounds of an ancient instrument heard many years ago makes everything fall into place. It's as if in a single moment, on the road, you know you are going exactly where you are supposted to go, as if you are travelling on the right track.

If this hasn't convinced you to listen to harp music in your car on your next road trip, just go online and search performers of this exquisite instrument. You'll see how music by harpers like Alan Stivell, William Jackson, Loreena McKennitt, Patrick Ball, and Anne Roos can enhance your travels."

--Special thanks to David Drasnin, a frelance writer and a sworn music fan from London. He loves talking about cars and his favorite tunes. Fortunately, while he is drafting vehicle towing articles, he also dedicates his free to creating entertaining articles about his true passions--cars and music.



Would you like to share your love of Celtic culture, Celtic music, and Celtic harps? I'm always happy to feature guest bloggers. Contact me through the email address on my website at CelticHarpMusic.com to submit your article.

Ireland's Cherished Emblem

A contemporary “lever”, or “Neo-Celtic,” harp at The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare.
Photo 2008, by Audrey Nickel

Have you ever wanted to know more about the Irish harp? The folks at Bitesize Irish Gaelic just posted a wonderful little article that explains it all, complete with videos, too. What kind of harp is the true traditional harp of Ireland? How far does it date back in history? Find out about the true harp of Tara in their fabulous article. 

My Celtic Harps Need New Homes

I am living in the land of too may harps and need to downsize. I have three beautiful, fully-levered Triplett harps that need to go to new loving homes. They are in excellent condition. One has beautiful maple inlay, one has abalone inlay, and one is just perfect for a first harp or for someone who needs a smaller harp that they can transport about. I'll be happy to forward photos to interested parties. 

You can find all three of these harps listed for sale on my website. I can take VISA and MC payments, along with check or money orders. I am located at Lake Tahoe, so you can come for a vacation, pick up your harp of choice, and avoid shipping charges. Or, I'll be happy to ship your new friend to you. Reach me through the contact info at my website.

Go, look, see....Then contact me ASAP before they are gone...

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Celtic Harp

My good friend, Eliseo Mauas Pinto, has just published a wonderful free e-book, simply entitled The Celtic Harp. Eliseo describes it as, More than a compilation of useful information for all those interested in the magical world of the Celtic harp, this book is almost a labour of love..."

Download your free edition of The Celtic Harp here. Eiseo Mauas Pinto is also a gifted Celtic harper in his own right. Visit his wonderful blog for more information.

How Music Can Help You to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

Yes, it has been a while since I've posted, and one of my New Year's Resolutions is to keep my blogs fresher! Many of us have resolutions to exercise more, take the pounds off, and be healthier in 2012. Here's how to keep these health resolutions using music!

To start, I found these wonderful tips from Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen. In an article posted at RealAge.com, they say that research proves that "listening to music bestows mind-body benefits":

1. Music improves your brain. It actually helps to boost memory and mental powers by firing up neurons in the brain!

2. Slow tunes lower blood pressure. Just 30 minutes per day breathing along to the beat of slow, soothing numbers can do the trick (think Celtic harp music, especially music from my Through the Mist CD!)

3. Music keeps your ears young. Did you know that older musicians don't usually experience the typical aging in the part of the brain (the auditory cortex) that often leads to hearing problems? This means that it's never too late to take up an instrument (like the Celtic harp!)

4. Music relieves stress. I'm sure we've all experienced this effect when we've listened to our favorite music. But there's scientific proof of this: Listening to music lowered heart rates by as much as 5 beats per minute in critically ill hospital patients hooked up to breathing machines. This helped them to heal by relieving their anxiety.

5. A good beat keeps you moving. Pick songs with a good beat to motivate you to exercise harder and longer.

Read more of this article at RealAge.com. And read and listen to NPR stories with more proof of the health benefits of music:

• In The Power of Music, Elena Mannes describes how music affects people and how it can take part in the role of health care. 
• In Treating Stress and Speech Disorders of the Brain, hear how one musician uses music to help people heal.
• And Neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks Observes the Mind through Music: how musicians play from memory, music's healing role for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients, and the relationship between music and math.

Here's hoping that one of your resolutions for 2012 is to immerse yourself in the health benefits of music!

Do you have your own stories about how music benefited your health and well-being? Please share them here.

8 Simple Ways to Take Back Control of Your Life

Having a tough time getting things done these days? Juggling tasks as a musician, balancing the day between work and play as an entrepreneur, getting through your "to-do" list for your upcoming wedding--These things all require willpower and stick-to-it-ness.

Here is an abbreviated version of some great tips supplied to me from my friend and guest blogger Eliseo Mauas Pinto from a fantastic article by Tony Schwartz. Any one of these tips might help you to reflect happily at the end of the day that you accomplished what you needed to accomplished.

Tony says:

"Here's the problem we face, every day of our lives. Nearly everything that generates enduring value requires effort, focus, and even some discomfort along the way.  At the same time, we're deeply wired to avoid pain, which the body reads as mortally dangerous, and to move toward pleasure, the more immediate the better. We're also exposed to more temptation than ever....The sirens sing to us, too: Have the dessert. Skip the workout. Put off the hard work. Surf the web. Check your email. Indulge your whims. Settle for the easy way out."


My own suggestions for owning willpower:


1. Make your behaviors automatic--Willpower is hard. But if you make something that's hard to do a habit, it won't be so hard to do anymore. Take exercise. If you go to the gym the same time everyday, it will simply get easier to exercise.


2. Take yourself out of harms way--Would you eat that entire box of cookies at one time if they were in your kitchen pantry? Avoid the problem altogether and don't buy the cookies in the first place. Have problems dealing with certain people? Simply limit your contact with them.


3. Reflect before you react--Do you need to buy that box of cookies? Do you need tell someone how angry you are with their behaviors? Stop and think. "Do I want to do that, or do I need to do that?" If you need to buy a new tie for an interview, do it, but if you have 15 other ties that would serve the same purpose, do you really need to buy another one?


4. Sleep enough to feel fully rested--This is a tough one for me, as I'm always a light sleeper. But it's true that when you are rested, you can tackle the day and make the right decisions for yourself.


5. Do the most important thing in the morning--Get the hard-to-do stuff out of the way. And also keep in mind that what you do in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day.


6. Eat well--Obviously, if you haven't eaten, your mind is on satiating your hunger, not tackling the day ahead. And if you are trying to have willpower to stay on a particular diet, it is much more difficult to watch your portions when you are hungry. On the other hand, if you are too full or eat foods that do not give you the fuel to tackle the day, you'll tucker out. Eating small meals every three hours that always contain a lean protein balanced with fresh, unprocessed foods will keep you powered up.


7. Focus on one thing at a time--Multitasking means that you are dividing your time between each thing that must be done. Wouldn't tasks be better completed when you aren't interrupted with other things? Willpower is the will to get things done, and it happens when we concentrate on the task at hand.


8. Take a break--Have you heard that saying, "Can't see the forest through the trees." When we take frequent breaks, especially during difficult tasks, we can get a birds-eye view of whether we are on the right track an what needs to be done to complete the task. Taking a break helps to reduce mistakes, because you can see where you are going and can review as you progress.


So, go and finish up what you are doing and get things done today!!!


Please post more suggestions as they come to you...


Anne :-)


(For Musicians: You'll find more suggestions for taking care of what needs to be taken care of in my book, The Musician's Guide to Brides. Purchase a discounted copy at my website and visit the facebook page for updated articles. For Brides: You'll find great suggestions for your wedding day to-do list in my book, The Bride's Guide to Musicians, also discounted at my website and located on facebook.)

My Magical House Concert Experience

Last Saturday, I performed at a private house concert with 8th generation bagpiper Seán Cummings, and it was an amazing experience. Sure, it was my first house concert performance, but we had a full house, guests were treated to luscious home-baked chocolate cheesecake, and they watched the snow fall in the windows behind us as we performed. Magical!

What's a house concert? You can find out all about house concerts and how to host them. They are really no difficult to host than a well-planned party. And it costs you very little money...Check out concertsinyourhome.com. And you only have a very small space you can host a mini-house concert--visit dinnerandsong.com for more about that. I actually performed at a "Dessert and Song". And there will be many more...Can't wait to play at my next house concert!

Here is just one video clip from my latest house concert:

Feel free to contact me if you'd like me to play the harp for your own concert! If you've had any personal experiences attending or hosting a concert, please share them below....

Visiting Thin Places with a Video of Ireland's Mystical Sites

Mindie Burgoyne writes about travel and places that have a mystical quality. They may be haunted places or places that seem to touch the eternal world in some way--"thin places". She hosts tours to Ireland and other haunted, mystical places. You can read more at her wonderful Thin Places blog.

In this beautiful video Mindie posted on Easter Sunday, you get to do some armchair traveling to Ireland's mystical sacred sites, while listening to my version of "Craigieburn Wood", a Scottish Air by Robert Burns, from my A Light in the Forest CD.

Visit Mindie's Blog to see the list of these lovely locations.

And for more about Celtic traditions and Celtic traditional music, check out the newest post by my talented harpist friend, Eliseo Mauas Pinto. Find out about the "Queen Mary" harp in the latest post of his Celtic Sprite blog.

The Queen Mary Harp

How to Get Your Music Played on NPR

I'll start this post by stating that I have absolutely no idea how to get your music played on NPR, or for that matter, on any national or syndicated radio services. It's a mystery to me.

So a few weeks ago, I was listening to the new podcast, "How to Do Everything", where they answer questions from listeners on their very entertaining show. They've answered everything from "How do you keep your macaroons from sticking to the pan?" to "How do you cure the hiccups?" (the latter involving a method I'm sure you haven't heard about). The hosts ask folks to email them with questions so that they have fodder for their future episodes.

Since this show is hosted by the producers of the fabulously funny NPR radio show and podcast, "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!", out of a bit of desperation, I wrote the following email to them:

"I'm stumped. How do I get my music played on NPR? I've tried, sent it to all the links on NPR sites, and to no avail. Do you know anyone else who can play 'Stairway to Heaven' on the Celtic harp? 

Amazingly, I heard back from Ian Chillag, one of the hosts, who asked me to send along an mp3 of my song. He liked it enough to include it in Episode 7: OMG, Cobra, Pandora. Ian was kind enough to send this glowing testimonial along to me:

"Anne plays what is without a doubt the finest Celtic harp version of 'Stairway to Heaven' ever made." 

Not that he's heard any other versions on the Celtic harp, but then I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially from a host from a "sort-of-NPR" podcast, which is what he called his show.

But the hosts never did answer my question, "How do I get my music on NPR?"


So, here are my theories:

1. You have to be newsworthy. Really really newsworthy. If Willie Nelson released a CD collaboration with Justin Bieber, that would be really really newsworthy, even if it might not be something you want to listen to. And I'd bet that NPR would want to interview either or both artists, just because they are already famous and doing something newfangled.

2. You have to be selling a bazillion CDs, have a bazillion downloads on YouTube, have a bazillion ratings from the latest TV reality show you've been on, have a bazillion fantastic reviews in popular magazines like "The Rolling Stone", suddenly made a bazillian dollars selling your song on iTunes. In other words, somehow, you are rich in fame by some quantitive factor.

3. The host fell in love with you and your music. Some the musicians receive very in-depth interviews and are featured performing live on NPR. They tend to be touring musicians, but other than that, I can discern no other common denominator. So, maybe the host of the show, or the producers, simply fell in love with them. Okay. I can buy that. Maybe this is how I got lucky with the hosts of "How to Do Everything" (or perhaps Ian is just a kind person and wanted to help me out. Thank you again, Ian!)

4. Maybe some hosts don't take unsolicited music. In other words, they don't want to hear from the artist, just their representative (publicist, manager, etc.). I often wonder about this.

5. Some shows only consider playing certain genres of music. Usually, you can tell that this is what they do...Like Marc Gunn's great Irish and Celtic Music Podcast--It's pretty obvious what kinds of music he'll be interested in playing. But for the general NPR shows, do they really consider all types of music all the time?

There is such a thing as payola, an illegal practice. Of course, NPR sticks by the letter of the law. However, there are many Internet radio stations that call it "paid advertising" to play music that people pay to have played. But do the announcers reveal to the listeners that the musicians have paid to have their music played? Where is the line? What is the rule for podcasts?

I'm just curious and really don't want to open up a can of worms about all of this. I'd just like to know if NPR, or other radio shows for that matter, publish how they go about deciding which musicians to interview and what music to play (yes, some do this, but many many do not). Then, I'd know how and where to submit my music.

What I learned is that you just need to ask. And don't stop asking! Some host or producer may just say, "Yes," for reasons totally unbeknownst to you :-)

I'm interested in your feedback and thoughts....

A Bit of Irish Harp History

From Guest Blogger and wonderful Celtic harpist, Eliseo Mauas Pinto, here is a brief history of the Celtic harp. This is an excerpt from his article, "Why the "Trinity Harp" is also known as the "Brian Boru's Harp?":



The "Brian Boru" harp, now at Trinity College, Dublin, bears the coat of arms of the O'Neills but although there are many theories about its ownership through the centuries, none can be substantiated, with no verifiable evidence remaining to indicate the harp's original owner, or subsequent owners over the next two to three hundred years until it passed to Henry McMahon, of Co. Clare, and finally to The Rt. Hon. William Conyngham, who presented it to Trinity College in Dublin in 1760.

Throughout its history the harp was in the possession of of many people some of which were kings.

Related Harps

The Trinity College harp is currently displayed in the long room at Trinity College Dublin. It is an early Irish harp or wire strung cláirseach. It is dated to the 14th or 15th century and along with the Queen Mary Harp and the Lamont Harp, is one of the only three surviving medieval Gaelic harps.

Related to the Trinity College Harp, there are two greatest medieval harps of Scotland, the "Queen Mary" and the "Lamont" harps. Both kept in the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh.

Both “low headed” Celtic harps date from the 15th Century, and each is from a single piece of wood, possibly hornbeam, hollowed out from the back. The Lamont harp, which is unadorned, is the larger harp at 37 ½ “, with 32 wire strings.The Queen Mary is ornately carved with intricate designs, including griffins, a lion, a dragon and a unicorn, almost 31” high, with 30 wire strings. 

The Trinity College harp is the national symbol of Ireland, being depicted on national heraldry, Euro coins and Irish currency. A left-facing image of this instrument was used as the national symbol of Ireland from 1922, and was specifically granted to the State by the Chief Herald of Ireland in 1945.

A right-facing image was registered as a trade mark for Guinness in 1862, and was first used on their labels in 1876.

All three surviving Gaelic harps (the others are the Lamont Harp and the Queen Mary Harp) are considered to have been made in Argyll in South-West Scotland sometime in the 14th-15th century.

Have You Sent Your Sweetie a Valentine's Day Greeting?

It's less than a week away, and thoughts of love are in the air. Can you feel it? Valentine's Day is approaching!

If you just can't think of what to say to your sweetheart, send an e-card. It's quick and easy and you can say "I Love You" and whisper sweet nothings in your loved one's ears from the comfort of your computer. And you can even send an e-card that contains my harp music!

Hop on over to Banjo Bunny E-Cards and find something unique to say--in a beautifully unique way--to your honey bunny. Make sure to visit the "Love More" e-card that contains my version of "The Manx Courting Song" from my Haste to the Wedding CD.

May your heart be warmed on Valentine's Day,
Anne :-)

Name That Tune with Anne Roos

I challenged the crew of Good Day Sacramento TV Show  to a game of "Name That Tune" on February 7, 2011 as I plucked out a few notes on my Celtic harp. Watch and play along and learn a bit about the Celtic Harp, too!

Several of my clients have invited me to test their party guests in a game of "Name That Tune", giving away valuable prizes. It's a great interactive way to use live music, instead of just having canned music play in the background. Invite me to perform for your party, wedding, or other shindig--Check out my website for more details.

Cheers and have a wonderful Valentine's Day,
Anne :-)

The Best Celtic Music for 2010

Marc Gunn of Irish and Celtic Music Podcast has listed his Best Celtic Music of 2010.  The list includes my music with and the following great Celtic artists. You've just got to listen to this show, with some of the best Celtic music you'll ever hear:

Music from Round the House, Albannach, Marc Gunn, Bow Triplets, Merry Wives Of Windsor, The Blarney Rebel Band, Poitin, Locklin Road, Holly Kirby, Battlelegs, Heidi Talbot, Anton Emery, Deep Green Light, Sligo Rags, Ennis, Daphne Quigley-Freund & Tom Bradfish, Tania Opland & Mike Freeman, Oona McOuat & Dream Deep, Gaelic Storm, The Rogues and of course, Anne Roos.

Remember:
Cast your vote for "Craigieburn Wood" from my album from A Light in the Forest. It would be way cool to win the best of the Best Celtic Music of 2010, but can only be done with your votes. Thank you!!!

Anne Roos and Stairway to Heaven on the Celtic Harp

Leave it to Anne Roos to bring us something completely unexpected on the Celtic harp. Both of her two new CDs break from traditional harp tunes and take us to the world of modern popular music.

In “Blue Jeans: Modern Pop on the Celtic Harp,” Anne plays her most requested songs from the 1950s to present. These are the tunes we seem to inherently know and can’t resist singing and humming along with.

The CD is packed with 22 songs originally performed by greats such as Sting, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton and James Taylor to name a few.

“Unchained Melody” and “Killing Me Softly” are particularly well-suited for the Celtic harp. For a real treat though, her version of Metalica’s “The Unforgiven” and “I’ll be There,” the song made famous by a young Michael Jackson, may turn up as surprise favorites.

For “Velvet: Timeless Standards on the Solo Harp,” Anne turns her strings to modern classic tunes from Broadway and Hollywood. Hearing how effortlessly they seem to transfer to the Celtic harp serves as a testament to the skill of some of the finest songwriters of this Century… including Gershwin, Porter, Rodgers and Mancini, combined with the skill of Anne Roos herself.

With 25 classics, Anne is on her way to translating the American Songbook to the Celtic harp. And who doesn’t stop in their tracks upon hearing the first chords of “Strangers in the Night,” “When I Fall in Love,” “As Time Goes By” and “That’s Amoré!”

Get a new perspective of Celtic harp music with a listen to “You Belong to Me,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Love is Here to Stay.” Or give yourself a real challenge… try not singing along when you hear Anne play “Moon River.”

Both CDs are available at Anne’s website www.CelticHarpMusic.com.

This is originally posted on Irish Fireside Blog and Podcast

Put on your Blue Jeans & wear some Velvet for the Holidays

Just in time for the holidays, I'm releasing albums that are loaded with your requests. All tracks are solo Celtic harp music, modern popular music you know and love, the songs that my audiences have requested over the past decades (plus a few tracks that may be new to you):

• Blue Jeans: Modern Pop on the Solo Harp
New Recording!

When you hear these songs, you'll think, "I didn't know anyone could  play that on a Celtic harp!" This recording includes classic rock, heavy metal, R&B, country, and even a bit of new age music-Ballads that may bring back memories of school days, long-lost friends and teenage crushes. The lovely packaging features a 16-page booklet that contains fun facts about the 22 tracks on the disc.

• Velvet: Timeless Standards on the Solo Harp
New Recording!

These are the melodies that will bring you back to the days of old movies, Broadway musicals, and television shows, dating from the early 20th Century all the way to the early 1970s. The gorgeous packaging features a 16-page booklet that contains interesting historical background information about the 25 tracks on the disc.

Like all my recordings, these new albums are available for purchase on amazon.com, CDBaby.com, and at your favorite retail store. These albums, and their individual tracks, are also available for download at iTunes. Visit my website at celticharpmusic.com to receive autographed merchandise sent via speedy delivery for the holidays. In coming days, you'll also find discount specials on my CDs in my website store...

And if you are looking for traditional Celtic harp music, I recommend my popular album A Light in the Forest. It's a recording filled with tunes about the woods and the fascinating creatures that dwell within them--fairies, trolls, nymphs, leprechauns, witches, bears, and more. It's packaged inside a 31-page hardcover book describing the folk history and legends of these creatures and the tunes, filled with vintage artwork and whimsical illustrations.

Holiday Concert with Anne Roos

Enjoy a special free performance of winter holiday music and a live sampling of music from my newest CDs, while you take a break from holiday shopping. Email me with your song request, and I may just include it in the program. All of my recordings are featured in the store, and I'll be happy to autograph them for you. They make great gifts!


December 11, 2010 from 6-7:30pm
Borders
911 Topsy Lane
Carson City,  Nevada
(775)267-0755

Holiday Concert & Fundraiser

Here's your chance to experience a free concert--I will play music from my brand new CDs plus your holiday favorites. 


Email me with your song request, and I may just include it in the program. All of my recordings are featured in the store, and I'll be happy to autograph them for you. This event is also a fundraiser for a low-income Sacramento area elementary school.



December 4, 2010    at    3-4:30pm
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1725 Arden Way at Arden Fair Mall
Sacramento,  California
(916)565-0166

Party Time!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, because I’ve been getting ready with brand new CDs available over the holidays!

I’m hosting a CD Release Cocktail Party and Fundraiser and you’re invited! My two new CDs make great gifts for the holidays, and by attending, you’ll have bragging rights to be the first to own them. I hope to see you there on the evening of November 20th here at South Shore Tahoe.

Want to know more about these recordings? Well, you’ll just have to attend to find out...

Entertainment will be provided by Screenbooth Lake Tahoe and JJ Entertainment, who will be playing tracks from these new recordings for your listening enjoyment.

And I’m teaming up with Bread and Broth, a non-profit organization whose mission is to feed the hungry locally, here at South Lake Tahoe. Gift baskets will be raffled off at the party, and the proceeds will help Bread & Broth provide Thanksgiving meals to those in need.

No worries if you can’t make it—I’ll let you know when these CDs are available online for sale. And if you are planning to attend, please RSVP so that I don’t run out of food :-)

Cheers,
Anne :-)