St. George's Music and Readings for Christmas

This year, since St. George's couldn't do their usual Christmas programming, they put together a lovely video of readings and music. I contributed some prelude music (Tàladh Chriosda and The Sussex Carol at 3:57) and accompanied Elyse Delaney for the Cherry Tree carol, at 32:28. 

Video with Catherine Little

This week I participated in a little video collaboration with cellist Catherine Little. The video was sent out as part of a holiday series of musical surprises for her mailing list subscribers. Learn about Catherine here!

Wexford Carol

Although we were prevented from touring this year, Síle has created a little Christmas release of the beautiful Wexford Carol. Originally collected in County Wexford, Ireland, the lyrics of this traditional song date back to the 12th century. Many thanks to Jude Pelley for mixing and Alex Hewitt for mastering this track.

Conundrum Virtual Concert

Last night, Musique Royale released a concert that Jack and I recorded at St. John's Church in Lunenburg. The concert featured two short pieces by Elgar and Mendelssohn, as well as a four-movement suite by Jean Cras, and a brand new work written for us by Bob Bauer, "Tears in the Fragile Web of Memory". The concert will remain online for a few weeks following the release day, and is free to watch! Thanks to Musique Royale for presenting us, to Bob for writing this powerful new piece, to Arts Nova Scotia for funding that, to Jack for being always such a wonderful duo partner, and to Dario for the audio/visual wizardry.

Tunes at New Scotland Brewing

Over the past couple of months, I've had the pleasure of playing at New Scotland Brewing on three occasions, with three different local fiddlers - Tatsu Oki, Jeremy Finney, and Orla McCague. I don't expect to have that chance again for a while, but am so happy we all got a few tunes in before the lockdown! Here's a photo from the final session with Orla and a drawing from Vincent McMackin.

New Hermitage Halloween Show

This is a very late post, but New Hermitage had a fantastic time on Halloween night in Wolfville this year! We improvised a score to excerpts from the 1922 Swedish film Haxan, about the history of witchcraft - part lecture, and part mesmerizing dramatization. The show was put on by Music in Communities, and presented at the Al Whittle Theatre.

Emerge: Word Up! Poetry Jam

New Hermitage was lucky enough yesterday to be the house band for a powerful afternoon of poetry on Neptune Theatre's studio stage. The event was part of Emerge Fest, a multi-day festival and conference featuring Halifax artists, songwriters, and performers. The impressive lineup of poets included General Khan, Killa Atencio, Niambi Tree, Mateo Ferguson, Allysa Flint, and Martha Mutale.

Cello + Harp Concert

Last night, India Gailey and I played a fun program of cello/harp duo music - Harrison, Morlock, Pärt, MacKelvie, and some improvisation. The concert took place at Government House downtown and we were there as representatives of the Nova Scotia Talent Trust, a fabulous organization that has supported both India and I in our musical studies. The whole thing was livestreamed and a video of the entire performance is below (music starts at 13:35).

Canning Kitchen Party

 This weekend Canning Kitchen Party presented a beautiful little outdoor concert at Ross Creek Centre for the Arts. I really enjoyed the chance to play some tunes with Tatsu in the first half, and to hear an amazing collection of harp solos by Màiri Chaimbeul in the second. We were able to have a bit of a socially distanced session afterwards which was lovely. Thanks to Orla for the photos, and to Kim for organizing this!

Unearth Release + Show

New Hermitage's album Unearth was officially released this week, on September 17th. Last night was the release show, which was a beautiful evening, and an encouraging return to the possibility of live performance! 

It's been exciting to read some reviews of the album from All About Jazz, New Feeling, FreeForm FreeJazz, Pan M 360, Musicworks, Esoteros, Neomemoire, The Whole Note, The Quietus, Salt Peanuts, Vital Weekly Full Circle Music Blog, Densidad, and The Coast.

photo by Jason Levangie

photo by Nick Wilkinson

Conservatory Harp Studio

Today marks the first day of the Conservatory teaching term! I'm very happy to be back in the building and to be part of the mini harp department with my wonderful fellow teacher Alys Howe. I'm offering both private lessons in person (with covid-19 precautions) and online lessons. There are still some spots left for harp students this fall - click here for more info!

Harpaflöjt YouTube Channel

Using some footage from our first performance in March, Harpaflöjt has created a YouTube channel! Two sets from that concert went up today. Visit the channel or see below to check them out!

Online CISHI

This year, the Canadian International Summer Harp Institute was moved online and changed into a 3-day event. It was wonderful to see everyone on Zoom, hear some beautiful performances, share some tunes and ideas, and hear from fellow faculty Gianetta Baril, Judy Loman, Phoebe Powell, and Julia Kay Jamieson!

Trad Ensemble Workshop

Last month, I did my first zoom workshop with the Trad Ensemble. I always love working with this cheerful and committed group of players! Thanks to Jennifer Publicover for making it happen!

Unearth Pre-order

New Hermitage will soon be releasing Unearth, an album that we're very excited to share. The release date is in September, but pre-orders opened this week, on bandcamp, here. Two preview tracks from are available to listen to there. The album features film photography by Nick Wilkinson.

Tune Learning Packages

A month ago I began sending out emails to harpists containing a different tune to learn each week during this covid isolation period. This week, having worked out most of the kinks, I started advertising more widely! I'm really enjoying putting these together, and it's definitely helping me to have some focus while cooped up at home. You can read more about the email packages here: http://ellengibling.ca/tunes.html

Ragged Robin at St. John's, Lunenburg

On March 4th, Erin and I played our first Ragged Robin concert of 2020. We travelled down to Lunenburg for the lunchtime concert series "Music and Meditation" which happens every Wednesday during Lent at St. John's Anglican Church. Playing in that space and for the lovely audience of Lunenburg is always a treat.

photo by Amanda White

Scandinavian tunes at St. George's

On Sunday, Kirsty Money, Jennifer Publicover, and I had our first performance in our new ensemble, Harpaflöjt! The trio performed as an interlude between two beautiful works with choir and orchestra: the Bach Magnificat and Handel's Coronation Anthem, 'My heart is inditing'.

Art Zone Winter Fantasy

I was back at Art Zone Gallery on Valentine's Day to play for the latest member exhibition, Winter Fantasy. Lots of beautiful work in this exhibit - head on down to Art Zone Gallery, just above Humani-T cafe on Agricola, and check it out!

New Hermitage + Jeff Reilly at St. Paul's Church

In a reprise of our 2019 concert with Jeff Reilly, New Hermitage performed at St. Paul's church on February 13th. It was a beautiful, intimate, fern-heavy show with the audience sitting in close at the front of the church!

Angel Bat Dawid w/ NAT Chantel + New Hermitage

Saturday's concert with Angel Bat Dawid and NAT Chantel was a deeply beautiful and unforgettable experience. So delighted to have been part of it with New Hermitage! Thanks to Everyseeker for putting this together.

 

Blue Monday Cabaret

Monday night I had the pleasure of joining Kyle Gillis for his rendition of Joni Mitchell's River as part of this fundraiser for the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. Click here for a review of the concert from The Way I See It Theatre Blog: https://www.twisitheatreblog.com/music-the-best-cure-for-the-blues/#more-3442

Steven Page + the PEI Symphony Orchestra

I had the pleasure of playing with the PEI Symphony for the first time last weekend, as part of a pops concert with Steven Page (formerly of the Barenaked Ladies). It was a very fun packed show at Charlottetown's Confederation Centre!

2020 Visions: Symphony Nova Scotia at Open Waters Festival

The incredible Open Waters Festival has been taking place over the last few days, with some shows left to go today and tomorrow. Last night's concert was called 2020 Visions and featured Symphony Nova Scotia with Upstream Ensemble. I was delighted to join the orchestra for Gunther Schuller's Lament for M, the world premiere of Fiona Ryan's "Cloudforming", and Terry Riley's "In C".

Epiphany at St. George's Round Church

Last night was St. George's beautiful Epiphany service, with performances from the junior and senior choirs, readings, candlelight, harp prelude, and organ postlude - one of my very favourite events of the year.