Coming Home

The email arrived last 4th of July weekend, sent by a long-time friend who deals in fine musical instruments. “I’ve purchased 2 Lyon & Healy harps at an estate sale,” he wrote. “They’ve been taken to the factory for cleaning and restoration, and now they’re in excellent condition, but I want to sell them and I need some help. Some strings need replacing and they need tuning. Is this something you would like to do?” Pinch me. In a heartbeat.       I arrived at his showroom 2 days later, and was ushered in to a locked office deep in the basement, away from the prying eyes of customers. My eyes landed on those two harps, and my jaw hit the ground. The Lyon & Healy Salzedo was striking with its rich ebony palette, and the shimmering Lyon & Healy Style 26, with its gilded column and hand-painted decals, stunned me with its beauty. They hadn’t been played in ages, they were badly out of tune, and they needed some new strings, but there was no question that these were high-quality instruments. I swore right then and there that I would get them back to playable condition and find them good homes.     Over the next month, as I came to know both more intimately, their story nagged at me – who had owned these magnificent instruments? My friend couldn’t remember, it had been years. The Salzedo, with its bold angularity, seemed destined for a young, strong player with an orchestral future. The Style 26 was gorgeous, but she spoke ever so gently to me. I surely was taken by her beauty, but I barely acknowledged her lovely tone. My loyalty had always been entrusted to my beloved harp of 35 years, “Henry,” who had travelled with me through so many musical adventures with his bright, crisp and clear voice. No, I couldn’t imagine owning any other harp but Henry.       And then, in early August, I had a revelation. The answer to my curiosity hit me like a bolt of lightning – these were my first harp teacher’s harps! She had passed away years ago, and I had assumed that her instruments were forever lost, nomads until finally landing someday on eBay. How joyful I felt, knowing that her instruments were entrusted to my friend’s care, someone who treated these beauties with the respect they richly deserved! And in that same visit, I had another revelation. The Style 26 had a sound that I had grown to love. No, not Henry’s bright sound – but a deeper, more resonant, profound timbre. But bringing this harp home meant finding a new home for Henry. The prospect was both exciting and gut-wrenching.        On a Monday afternoon in mid-August, I found myself back at the showroom with three harps – the Salzedo, the Style 26 and my very own Henry, awaiting the first round of potential buyers. Right away the Salzedo sold. Its contemporary angularity found a perfect match with a strapping young male harpist who has a bright future. But there was no buyer for the Style 26. Henry returned home with me, and the Style 26 went back to its lonely office deep in the basement. After hearing both Henry and the Style 26 side-by-side, however, I became more at ease with transitioning to a new harp. I just needed to find the right home for Henry.       Two months passed. I sent more emails to trusted harp friends, but now it was Henry that I advertised for sale. It was still heart-rending to even think about separating, but I was convinced that a suitable partner, one who would enjoy presenting Henry’s timbre on the concert stage, would be found.       In October, a young Master’s candidate from the University of Michigan School of Music wrote to me. She would be taking orchestra auditions soon, and ultimately hoped to be a professor of harp. Her student model harp was no longer up to the task and she was in need of a good harp. Would I consider bringing Henry to the U of M so that she and her harp professor could hear it? I was more than happy to do so!       I left Henry with her for 24 hours, and they fell in love. I’ll never forget hearing her play on Henry in a studio recital when I returned the next day. Their sound was magical…crystal clear, carrying to the last row of the auditorium. It was a match made in heaven…or at least I thought so. The harp student was still unsure. This was a huge financial leap, and taking it was daunting. Henry returned home with me once again, part of me relieved that I didn’t have to part with him, and the rest of me becoming resigned to the fact that the Style 26 was perhaps not meant for me.     But 2 weeks later, she wrote again. She had secured the financing and could she still purchase Henry? And so, at 10 am on Friday, November 6, Henry pulled out of my driveway on his way to his new home, and 4 hours later, at 2 pm, I pulled into my driveway with my new harp, whom I’ve named Rose. Rose was home, at last.       I’d love for you to hear and see Rose on Sunday, November 29 at 5:00 pm, with a rebroadcast on Sunday, December 6, at this link. This is a virtual worship service hosted by Christ Church Cranbrook in its glorious sanctuary. I can’t even begin to express the emotions I felt at the opportunity to share music with this stunning harp, in this gorgeous sanctuary, with these fine musicians, after nearly a year of quarantine. I was overwhelmed by the gravitas of the moment. I, too, had found “home.”          As a little gift to you during this Advent season, Rose and I recorded Veni, Veni Emmanuel (O Come, O Come Emmanuel) in preparation for the Christ Church Cranbrook recording. You can hear it below, and if you’d like the .mp3 file, just send me an email. I’d be happy to share it with you. In a time when so few can return home for the holidays, I hope this recording gives you, my dear friends, the comfort of home. Stay safe, and be well, Christa

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