Nikki and James
I haven’t had time to blog for quite a while. I attended a family funeral in Wales a fortnight ago and I’m still catching up with all the backlog after that visit. I’m nearly there and today will be spent replying to emails and sorting out some social media content. Sometimes I wish I had a PA! My laptop contracted some sort of nasty virus and it got slower and slower throughout June. Despite my attempts to cure it with help from the big G, my increasing frustration got the better of me and I took it to the MacDoctor last Friday. I must admit those hours without it were bliss. On Thursday evening I wanted to throw it out of the window and join the circus. I do try but tech definitely isn’t my forté.
I’ve taken on some extra shifts at the shop which means time has been even more scarce this week, but it’s good to be busy and out and about meeting some lovely local people. With this fine weather, I’ve been out run-walking a lot more and enjoying the scenery right on my doorstep - isn’t West Yorkshire just amazing?
Idyllic setting
with dappled shade
I played for an extra special wedding at the end of June. If you follow me on social media, you may have seen a few photos and I’ve included a few more with this blog post.
Atmospheric
The pond
I met Nikki and James at a wedding fayre last year at Wortley Hall. They were absolutely lovely and a bit quirky - my kind of people. They had quite an unusual request as exit music at the end of their civil ceremony - the main theme from the iconic 80’s movie, Back to the Future (BTTF).
Beautiful Bows
The ceremony room at Wortley Hall
You know me. I love a challenge and I’m particularly keen on 80’s music too. I think it’s brilliantly written. It’s interesting both harmonically and melodically and a lot of it works really well on the harp. I couldn’t remember how the BTTF theme went, so I listened to it when I got home. My initial thoughts were that it was fast but where there’s a will there’s a way and I’m not one to relinquish a challenge. James sent me links to some recordings as well as the piano sheet music, which I downloaded and printed off. I chipped away at the dots on the page for a few weeks, eventually slimming it down to a unique three page REH version I felt worked for the harp while retaining the features of the original music. I wanted the excitement of a whooshing DeLorean and Michael J Fox in a baseball jacket. Without his deafening guitar of course.
Labour of Love
It makes sense to me
Ten days before their wedding, Nikki, James and I set up a WhatsApp video call. They were in Cheshire while I was sat in my harp room and I was able to play them what was almost the finished version of BTTF. To my relief, it was met with approval, and I knew I still had time to make some last minute adjustments.
A long break
meant I could walk around and take in the stunning scenery. I’m no photographer but is it any surprise Wortley Hall is one of my preferred venues?
On the wedding day, I warmed up using BTTF to get me in the zone. Nikki wanted the traditional bridal march to accompany her entrance. I know that like the back of my hand, so I could focus on getting BTTF to sound good in the ceremony room. Nikki walked in with stunning simplicity and it was a very touching ceremony. Her father’s readings of two Shakespeare works made me blub a bit and I had to pull myself together! After all, I still had BTTF to play after I’d performed some classical favourites for the signing of the register and while they were having their photos taken.
Harp and chandelier
in the stunning Foundry Dining Room
I had another opportunity to play BTTF as Nikki and James had asked me to play it again as they walked into the Foundry Dining Hall at Wortley Hall where they were having their wedding breakfast. Now I know this piece works for the harp.
Do any of you lovely couples out there want me to play it, or any similar music, at your wedding? Feel free to get in touch! Click on the contact page if you have any special music requests for your ceremony.
EVERY wedding should have ice cream!
I managed to retain myself
Natural beauty everywhere you look - Wortley Hall Gardens
