Sunita and Simcha

Last Tuesday night was real special. Sunita had a concert near hear with 3 pedal harps. Wish I could have gone. Afterward she stopped by.

I met Simcha the Thursday before, although I knew of him. He has been studying with Sunita and he has the same harp as me. He was walking on Ben Yehuda when he heard a harp and he said he had to check it out.

Israel was also there.We ate falafel, Simcha, Israel, and Sunita played. I videoed Sunita. Now she has joined the club of harpists who have played my harp on Ben Yehuda. It was just a great evening. I had told Sunita about Israel and I was glad that Sunita got a chance to hear him.

Guest harpist from Delaware

Last night a group of young girls with Birthright stopped by to hear me and one said she had studied harp in middle school for 3 and a half years and had a Lyon and Healey folk harp. Of course I invited her to play and she did quite nicely. She hadn't studied for a while but hoped to get back in to it. I hope last night will have encouraged her.

I didn't get her name because another lady came up to her and was talking to her and before I knew it the harpist had left. I didn't realize who this other lady was at first but she had been there the week before. She was trying to get me to stop playing, saying it was indecent of me as a woman to be out playing on the street like that.
I just got her email , The lady from Delaware is Mara Finestrauss.

Guest Harpist from California

Two nights ago I had the pleasure of a guest harpist from California. Steven builds his own harps, with kits from Musicmakers. I have a link to their sight. My big harp is also one of their kits, the Regency. He plays on the Voyager model. He played some very beautiful music on my harp. He said it was from the Psalms.

Guest Harpist Betty Klein

I was delighted to have betty Klein come by last night and honor my harp with her playing. She is a well known folk musician in Israel with a beautiful voice. A specialty of hers is ladino and you can hear a sample in the following links on youtube.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKmRihIrwgQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRVjMK4YGZ4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjqRs9LNgOQ

Thank you Yulia

I strained my arm a few weeks ago and it has been very difficult to play the harp, or for that matter, any of my instruments. It is getting better, but not so much that I should take a night off from playing on the street. So why don't I ? Money is one factor, but more than that, I never know who is going to come by. Last night, when part of me was asking "why am I here?" Yulia, harpist with the IPO (Israel Philharmonic Orchestra), came by. This is the second time she has honored my harp with the touch of her fingers. This time, however, I am armed with a video camera, and she so very graciously allowed me to video her and to put her on my you tube channel. So stay tuned.

guest harpist, fire on Ben Yehuda ?

Last I night was a beautiful night on Ben Yehuda. It wasn't cold at all when I went out and got just a bit chilly later. I play much better when my hands are not cold, or freezing, which happens sometimes.

I had a guest harpist last night, Inge from South Africa, where she plays professionally on a concert pedal harp. She played very beautifully on my harp, I like to let other harpo\ists play on my harp. It adds a ittle variety to rom my repertoir and it gives me a chnce to hear how my harp sounds. Thankyou Inge for your nice music.

I was sitting there last night and all of a sudden I saw smoke billowing from the front of Bank Discount. It seemed to be comming from one of the money machines. I watched people walking by for quite a few minutes(at least 5) and nobod seemed aware that anything was happening. I don't dare go even a few feet from my harp because many people would not hesitate to come over and start messing with it. They actually try it when I'm sitting there playing.
I started thinking of calling it a night when I started smelling a very bad odor . It reminded me of the night in Tel Aviv(I used to live there). I was plating in my regular spot on the corner of Dizengoff and King George violin or recorder(pre harp days). I saw a stream of smoke coming from a window in the bank. I think I'll leave that story for another day. Anyway, back on Ben Yehuda, I was distracted, and then when I looked again the smoke had stopped. A friend went to check it out and it seems it had something to do with the lighting decoration put up for Independance Day celebration. A whole section of the lights were out.


Afterwards, sittingout there I started thinking about my blog and making notes and I think I have some good ideas which is good because this writing thing does not come easy to me. I'm a music person, not a word person.

well one idea I had was to have a baby count. My favorite audiences are the children. I love playing for them, and especially the babies. I'm going to report on the babies I play for, the ones that stop and lister, not the ones who just stroll on by.
there were about 3 earlier in the evening but not since I had hte idea. Music is so important and it is VERY important for babies to listen to music. More on that subject later.