Harp Escape is a series of videos and recordings dedicated to relaxing and calming music. What started out in 2019 as a YouTube video series, has turned into a pandemic weekly live concert series (on Facebook) and a new hour of instrumental harp every month (on Patreon).

Recorded in 2019, volume 3 features Erik Satie’s iconic First Gymnopedie.

A contemporary of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, Satie was also a part of the French Impressionist movement. He was older that the others at that time and somewhat reclusive. He was a bit of a mentor to some of the younger musicians at the time, though his use of whole tone scales was considered unusual. Whole tone scales are based upon the Pythagorean theorum, also known as The Golden Ratio. I think one of the reasons why Satie’s music is so timeless sounding is because they are based upon ancient sounds. These old intervals in the scales are striking because they sound at once soothing, unusual and yet familiar.

Volume 4 features heart-themed songs: Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana and Love Song by The Cure.
Both of these songs were written in the 1990’s. I hold them in my heart as sentimental to my youth. Even if you aren’t familiar with these songs, or if you know the lyrics, may not think of them as being heart-centered, I present them instrumentally in a calming manner.

One of my biggest goals of Harp Escape is to bring a breath of relaxation into your environment. Because we are living in such an unusual time, stress levels can be high. It is difficult to plan, and life can be downright hopeless feeling some days. Therefore, it is essential for us to take breaks throughout the day and, as I like to say, floss your ears.

For other Harp Escapes, visit my YouTube channel.