Two Harps (Some Music For Friday)

You may have seen the man on the left on this blog a few months ago. His name is Seckou Keita and he was part of the group of musicians presenting the song-cycle "The Lost Words" at Folk By The Oak at Hatfield House. That instrument he's playing is the West African kora, a kind of harp with a cowhide stretched over a gourd to act as a soundbox. Seckou's instrument has been modified by having a neck with western-style tuning pegs.

Since then I've seen him again, collaborating with the Irish accordion player, Sharon Shannon. And that's fairly typical of this tall, smiling man. After studying traditional kora-playing with his uncle, Solo Cissoko, Seckou has made a speciality of getting together with musicians from all over the world.

It's a mark of his undoubted musical skill and charm that all these cross-cultural fusions have produced excellent and worthwhile music. But how about if he got together with someone from a very different harping background?

(a screenshot from YouTube video)

You may have heard of Catrin Finch before too. In the year 2000 she became the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales and was in all the English (and presumably Welsh) newspapers. There was also a TV documentary about her entitled Charlie's Angel ! Even before that she had become the youngest person ever to appear at the Proms, playing the harp as a member of the National Youth Orchestra, aged just 10.

She plays both the traditional harp music of Wales and the classical repertoire. And of course she collaborates wonderfully with Seckou Keita, with whom she's released two CDs. At a time when the world is obsessed with controlling the movement of people, it seems more important than ever that we celebrate the beauty that arises when differing cultures collide.

I'm hoping to catch a live performance by the duo when they tour next year, but until then I'll have to make do with their recorded music and some sublime performances on YouTube. Do yourself a favour and set aside ten minutes of your life to listen to the two harps that beat as one.

(With thanks to Robin Andrea and Roger over at The New Dharma Bums for the inspiration to share some music every Friday).

Take care,