Fields of Gold

wheat field under gray sky
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Fields of Gold was written (words and music) by Sting, and this arrangement for harp is by Christy-Lyn Marais at learningtheharp. An AI overview labels this as a reflective song about the uncertainties and eventual parting of a romantic relationship.In the book Lyrics by Sting, the “fields of gold” imagery was inspired by watching the wind moving over the barley fields near his summer home in England.

According to Wikipedia the song first appeared on Sting’s fourth studio album, Ten Summoner’s Tales (1993) and was co-produced with Hugh Padgham and released as a single the same year. It has been covered by many different artitsts since then.

The song starts like this:

You’ll remember me when the west wind moves upon the fields of barley.

You’ll forget the sun in his jealous sky as we walk in fields of gold.

So she took her love, for to gaze a while upon the fields of barley,

In his arms she fell as her hair came down among the fields of gold.

Will you stay with me? Will you be my love? Upon the fields of barley.

Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth among the fields of gold.

And ends like this:

Many years have passed since those summer days among the fields of barley.

See the children run as the sun goes down among the fields of gold.

You’ll remember me when the west wind movves upon the fields of barley

You can tell the sun in his jealous sky when we walked in fields of gold.

I’ve always liked this song and was pleased to see a beginner harp version. In the video I am playing a Jolie hybrid harp from musicmakers. Even without lyrics, it is just so lovely and fun to play.

I hope you enjoy it.

Grone Lunden

house surrounded with trees
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Grone Lunden is a traditional Swedish folk song and this arrangement is by Fabio Rizza @fabuiruzza.it. I’m playing this “easy” arrangement on a 33-string Jolie from musicmakers @harpkit.com.

I happened to notice a video by Fabio Rizza on youtube and followed the link to his online store. I browsed the different selections and ordered a few. One was Grone Lunden. I then was reminded of the tune from a friend at learningtheharp.com. He mentioned a band that he really likes that was playing it. That was all it took to convince me to start learning it.

woman playing harp in lush foliage
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Even the “easy” version was above my skill level when I first started learning it. Months later it is one of my favorite pieces to play. One of the nice things about this song from Fabio is that the easy and intermediate versions are in the same packet, so soon I plan to start learning that one. The only reason I’m waiting is that I will be playing this easy version in a performance early next month and I don’t want to confuse myself with two different versions at the same time.

It is my understanding that Grone Lunden means Green Field, but I have also found it translated as Green Forest and Green Meadow. For those of you that understand Swedish, I’ve included the Swedish words as well as the English translation I found HERE.

Green Meadows (Gröne Lunden)

And in the green meadows, a couple is dancing. (Och uti gröne lunden, där dansar ett par).
And in the green meadows, a couple is dancing. (Och uti gröne lunden, där dansar ett par).
One was the friend, the other was me. (Den ena var vännen, den andra var jag). One was the friend, the other was me (Den ena var vännen, den andra var jag)

O Sing to the Lord

O Sing to the Lord is song of praise for 3 part mixed voice choir, piano, and flute. The vocal parts are composed in a traditional round form and the flute adds contrasting rhythm and harmony. While the three voice parts could be similar voices, I had intended that each of the parts would include mixed voices so that no one part would dominate over another.

The words are not specific to any Biblical passage, but instead are a repeated theme throughout the Bible. Since praising God through song and instruments brings me incredible joy I decided to use words about singing praise for this project.

Originally I had not intended to compose for any instrument other than voice and piano. Prior to this composition I did use hand drum, but this is my first time adding flute. Since writing this I have also written for saxophone, handbells, organ, and harp. I’m enjoying learning more about what each instrument can do in combination with voices.

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It can be used at any point in a worship service but was initially intended for an introit. Think of it as an invitation to woshipers to be joyful during worship. I have observed that often people come to church believing that the appropriate mindset is serious and somber. The Bible tells us otherwise.

To access the complete score click HERE.

The Prayer

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The Prayer is a beautiful piece of music. I’ve heard it sung by many different artists, and now I get the chance to play it on my harp. Some of my favorite vocal performances are by Celine Dion, Andrea Bodeli, and Josh Groban. It was written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, Tony Renis, and Alberto Renis. While I’d like to say the lyrics are what initially attracted me, I love the Italian version by Bocelli, but I don’t speak or understand Italian so it obviously isn’t just the lyrics. However, the lyrics are quite inspirational, a prayer for faith, justice, hope, peace, and brotherhood.

Jolie hybrid harp

I was excited to find this Late-Beginner version arranged by Christy-Lyn Dose at Learning the Harp. I love how the melody flows and is supported by the left-hand chords. As my harp skills continue to grow I will certainly seek out other arrangements of this piece that are more difficult, and hopefully just as lovely. For the harpists out there, do you have a favorite arrangement? I’ve attached a video of one of my practice sessions with this song. I hope you enjoy it.

Choosing Lyrics

Choosing lyrics to begin a composition seemed like it should be the easiest part of the process. WRONG! I started out just looking at poetry or scripture that I liked. But sometimes the poem was too long to really work with. Other times it seemed too short. Then there is the issue of copyright and how to go about getting permission to set someone else’s words to music. So then I decided the simplest way was to just use anonymous texts or writing my own. At this point in my journey I’ve done all of the above with various levels of success.

I found that there were other things to consider as well.

music notes
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Who is going to sing this? usually my church choir

How long should it be? between 3-5 minutes is pretty good

Where will it be sung? probably at church

Will it be accompanied or sung a capella? accompanied

How will the accompaniment support the lyrics? always a mystery

What is the mood of the poetry or lyric? contemplative, inspirational, or praise suits best for the church setting

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These are the questions that actually wake me at night. I’m currently on what I consider a minimalist journey, using 8 lines or less of text. This offers the opportunity to play with the words using different sequences, extensions, and repetitions. I don’t know how many songs I will write with this basic concept but it is fun for now.

Winter Wind

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Winter Wind is a piano composition that captures the briskness, strong gusts, and periods of general ferosity that the winter weather can bring. I live high in the mountains and the wind is often more fierce than the temperatures or snow. In some passages I feel the plodding of a traveler trying to make forward progress in a strong headwind. And in others the wind is at your back.

Winter Wind

The key center is Gm, with a definite modal feel. I particularly like the contrast of the triplets that are interrupted by quarter notes and the bone rumbling tones of the lower bass notes. This might be a great filler piece, creating contrast for a longer set list. Or, perhaps it could have a place in your fall or winter repertoire.

You can access the full score here.

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You will note that this is an original composition, begun in 2023. I’ve worked at it on and off since then, alternating with other pieces of music, and changing a note or two here and there. Although I’ve played piano since I was about 5, I find piano composition much more difficult than I would have expected. Finally I am satisfied with this one. Is it perfect? No, but it does capture the essence of what I had wanted to put on the paper.

I hope you enjoy it.



December Happy Things

It has been a very full month. Lots of things to do. But also much to be happy about too. Here is my last happy things list for 2024. December Happy Things. Do we share any similar happy things this month?

Hot Chocolate

My new puppy Scooby

A successful harp performance

Learning a new song

Collaborating with other musicians

Finishing my Christmas shopping

Sending Christmas cards

Soup for lunch

A short work day

Resigning from a job

Rearranging furniture

Christmas carols

Wearing lots of red

Small bandaids

Recognizing options

Handwritten thank you notes

Oatmilk whipped cream

Durable dog toys

Bodhi’s amazing persistence

Animal rescue organizations

Finishing a composition

Listening to a bassoon

Christmas romance novels

Composition lessons

Gaelic practice

Voice lessons

Great Christmas music on youtube 

Honey mustard salad dressing

A freezer full of homemade soups

Finishing a composition

Candy canes

Daydreaming about retirement

Sturdy kitchen aprons

Sending flowers to people I love

Flickering candles

Phone calls from family

writings in a planner
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It has been a very interesting month. Lots of changes. Lots of music. New insights. Personal growth. And yes, lots of feeling overwhelmed and overextended. There were a few highlights though. At the top of the list would be Christmas caroling with people from my church. We visited shut-ins and folks in assisted living facilities. Watching their faces light up, sometimes singing along was priceless. Also near the top of the list was playing my harp for the first time at a Christmas eve service.I was nervous, but it went well and people appreciated and enjoyed it.

I would have liked a snowy December but that didn’t happen. Maybe next year.

rain of snow in town painting
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So on to 2025 we go. For me this anticipation of a new year is mostly a positive thing, even in this time of global unrest. I am thinking about how I want to use the time, both personally and professionally. Not really resolutions, but intentions.

I wish you a wonderful new year.

Welcome Scooby

Scooby shelter picture

I have a new fur baby. On November 8th, the day after a huge snow storm, I brought Scooby home from the animal shelter. I totally fell in love with him on the internet – it was his eyes. (See internet picture on the right. That was my first look at Scooby.) We had been looking for an animal that needed some extra love and Scooby was having problems adjusting to life in the shelter. Yes, he was a little bit younger than what I was looking for, but they said he needed a low energy and quiet home. Sounded perfect.

Scooby with earphones because of shelter noise.

Once we got to the shelter we met with another dog that looked interesting but there just wasn’t a connection. He was much more interested in what was going on in the hall instead of me sitting on the floor wanting to snuggle. So then we were taken to see Scooby. He was in a separate area where he could get more 1:1 attention. He did appear timid and didn’t really come to me until the handler gave me a can of whipped cream. That was Scooby’s kryptonite. He wormed his way into my heart one lick at a time. Welcome to my heart Scooby.

Scooby heading to his new home.

I did have some concerns about how he would fit with my other dogs, so we agreed to a one-week trial adoption. In all honesty I was totally smitten but felt I needed to do the responsible thing with this trial adoption. A week later I made it official. That was the day Scooby showed his true colors after I got home. Goofy. Rambunctious. Energetic. Curious. Not the dog I met in the shelter.

Scooby is the first of many dogs I’ve rescued that I didn’t change his name. He knows his name very well and, it fits him. And yes, we often call him Scooby Doo, or Scoobs, or even Scoobsters.

Scooby with first vet visit

Several weeks later he does intermittently show some timid characteristics and is easily frightened by things outside of the house. I’m hoping that he can learn to relax when we go places in the car or walk outside. For now, we are working on basic behaviors like sit, stop, down, and no. I think it will take a while. Did I mention that he also has a stubborn streak? Should fit in well in this house. Welcome to my pack Scooby.

Scooby making himself at home.

Saving Seamus

Sick dogs can be scary. In mid-October I woke in the morning to find that my black lab, Seamus, was very very sick. He was unable to stand up, lift his head, or anything. I was very scared. He had been fine when we went to bed the night before. I didn’t want to panic, and had a full day of clients scheduled so I just checked on him every hour. He kept getting worse. I was giving him water by syringe every hour just to keep him somewhat hydrated until I could get him to the vet the next day. The next week was entirely devoted to saving Seamus.

He had blood work, x-rays, and ultrasound. The ultrasound confirmed that he had a mass on his spleen that was bleeding. There was no way to know if it was malignant or not without surgery. So, I took him back home to continue intensive nursing care until Monday. I continued to provide fluids every hour during the day and every 2-3 hours at night. He was scheduled for surgery on Monday. Surviving the procedure was uncertain. Even then we would have to wait to find out whether or not he would have a normal lifespan or if cancer would take him.

My vet and her team are wonderful. He made it through surgery like a champ. That afternoon he went for an overnight stay at a local animal emergency clinic for constant monitoring. He made it through that as well and we got to bring him home the next morning.

A word about dog cones. He’s a big dog. The cone was huge. He couldn’t be left unsupervised with the cone on. He couldn’t turn around in small spaces. He also couldn’t get through the door to go outside to the bathroom. Fortunately he’s a really good boy and I put a t-shirt on him to keep him from licking during the day. We only used the cone at night when I was sleeping.

It took another week to get the pathology report back. NO CANCER! The surgery was considered curative. He has recovered well. I’m so happy to have my sweet boy back. It took a team to save Seamus.

Seamus is a relatively young dog. I got him from the shelter when he was about 2 (they say) and I’ve had him for 4 years. He’s so incredibly mellow that he seems much older than that. I know he won’t live forever, but every additional year I get to spend with him will be treasured. Saving Seamus was a stressful, expensive, and scary time, but was definitely worth it.

Harp Journey

Jolie hybrid harp

I love playing my harp and I wanted to share just a little more about my harp journey. I’ve been playing since March of this year. When I made the decision to play I didn’t realize how much I would really love playing. That doesn’t mean that my journey thus far has been effortless. I did come into it with the advantage of being able to read music and having experience playing and performing on other instruments. I’ve never really been aware that this was a gift and privilege to have learned music at such an early age and continued it throughout my adult life. I’ve come across many new harpists that didn’t have that background and are struggling.

The other advantage I’ve had is that I’m not particularly avoidant or fearful about playing in public. I’m more nervous playing the harp than I am the piano, or singing. It requires a lot more focus when playing harp just because it is new. Therefore, distractions during a performance have a bigger impact on me.

This Christmas season I have a lot of opportunities to play publicly, at church and at Eastern Star meetings. Whenever I play people are just thrilled to get to hear a harp, even if I’m not playing anything particularly stunning. I’m still working on beginner to advanced beginner music so hopefully by next year I’ll be able to play something more elaborate. But even these beginner pieces are fun to play and people seem to like them.

Here is a piece, not Christmas, that I recorded recently. Is it perfect? No. Did I love doing it? Yes.

If you have ever wanted to play the harp – Go For It. I’ve been using both a local teacher for hands-on corrections and online instruction at www.learningtheharp.com. The instructors there are wonderful and I very much enjoy the harp community they have created. I really value all of the encouragement they have given and the constructive feedback.