The Minstrel's Adieu to His Native Land by John Thomas

John Thomas (1826 - 1913) was a Welsh harpist who wrote several lovely pieces for solo harp, including this one. The Minstrel's Adieu to His Native Land is a theme with four variations, each one showcasing a different mood and technical aspect of harp playing.
Jacqueline Pollauf is a professional harpist based in Baltimore, Maryland. She regularly publishes videos in a variety of categories: solo works, instructional videos, harp repair and maintenance, and inspirational videos for young harpists.
Recordings are available through all major music outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon.
More information about Jacqueline is available at her website: www.jpharp.com/. Here you can sign up for her mailing list, find out about upcoming performances, and learn about online harp lessons and workshops.
Visit Jacqueline’s informational harp website, www.harpinside..., for a wealth of informative articles and videos about the harp. Sheet music of Jacqueline’s exercises and arrangements is available for purchase here as well.

[@robertyeager4623]

I’m quickly becoming a harp junkie. Such a pleasing range of tones. The finger plucks. Some muting with the palms. Different coloring based on where strings are plucked vertically. Fingernails for brightness. This is new to me, I am blown away by the aural sophistication possible by basically holding a Steinway in your lap.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

I'm glad you're enjoying the harp so much! Yes, there are many nuances and colors that are possible.

[@connieLo87365]

I love harmonics. Just beautiful thank You

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you! Harmonics are great, I agree!

[@stefanomassera3453]

I had the pleasure and the honor to be your Student for a semester... I always loved your way to play the harp. You’re a model for me. Thank you Miss Pollauf!!!!!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

So nice to hear from you Stefano, and I hope you're doing well! I'm so touched to hear that I'm a model for you. Best wishes!

[@malthus101]

Excellent playing and rendition.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you very much!

[@michaelgarcia2973]

Beautiful and delightful

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you so much!

[@paigegarrison6721]

Whoa! Just happened upon this tonight! Love the variations! The harmonic variation and the arpeggiated were my favorites! So we’ll played! 💕🎶 Thanks Jacqueline!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Aww, thanks Paige! I'm so glad you liked it!

[@carmenfreeman693]

Goodness, this is a beautiful and complex song. I am fan! Thank you for posting.😊🙏 🎶

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you - I love this one myself!

[@elenarast6742]

Meraviglioso 👏👏👏👏 Di una dolcezza che commuove nel profondo ❤️ Penso che lei ami questo pezzo in modo particolare perché si sente la sua anima volare sulle corde ! I miei complimenti più sinceri 🌹🌹🌹

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you very much. I do love this piece and it feels close to my heart. Grazie mille. Adoro questo pezzo e mi sento vicino al cuore.

[@trishaagrawal1949]

This is beautiful. Makes me want to pick up playing the harp again.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you! And of course I always think people should play the harp!

[@paigegarrison6721]

Please do, Trisha! It’s so cathartic through this 2020 nightmare!

[@trishaagrawal1949]

​@@paigegarrison6721​ ​ @Jacqueline Pollauf Y'all won't believe it. I couldn't really afford a pedal harp on a whim but I bought a 19-string Celtic harp to play for fun, and it really is as fun as I remember!!

[@paigegarrison6721]

@@trishaagrawal1949 That’s awesome Trisha! 💕💕💕🎶🎶🎶

[@dianeaishamonday9125]

This had to be one of the best renditions I've ever heard! wow! 😍

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you! What a great compliment!

[@johnbrock1602]

Very Beautiful thank you

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thanks so much!

[@dazaislefteyebrow]

This piece was given to me this week and, seeking inspiration, I found your video. Couldn't ask for more, I hope one day I can make it to your level, being currently a 14 yo :P

[@JacquelinePollauf]

How perfect! I'm so glad you found my video and hope it proves helpful as you learn this piece!

[@dr.fraukevonlucken7942]

Wonderful!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you!

[@turtlesoup672]

I can’t wait to get this good at the harp!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thanks so much!

[@AnneHarp]

Absolutely stunning! Perfectly done. Thank you for this video!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you very much, and thanks for watching!

[@luccaassis2148]

Excellent!! Thank you

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thanks so much!

[@plantbasedpower3237]

Absolutely Divine!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you!

[@nicibee2139]

Thats absolutely fantastic. You are such a talentated harpist. Thanks a lot!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you so much! Very kind of you.

[@schan263]

You must like this piece a lot since you had it memorized :) Thank you for the video.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

I do like it very much! It's a beautiful piece. Thanks for watching.

[@alexanderm6136]

Wow! This is so awesome!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you!

[@agathedesante8197]

Morceau magnifique pour le jouer en ce moment

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Merci beaucoup! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[@iwsntt]

I'm currently learning this piece and your video is really helping me. I feel so powerful playing such a beautiful song ! You play it very beautifully, I'm amazed 👏👏

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Aww, thank you so much! That's great that you're learning this beautiful piece. I hope it's going well!

[@xcesstv]

amazing!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you!

[@paigegarrison6721]

What a beautiful piece and performance. Since I'm a budding pedal harpist, I really try to watch different players' techniques. My teacher is of the Salzedo Method. If I'm not mistaken, it looks like you ascribe to that school as well. But then again, I may be way off base. Regardless, I love watching your hands up close. I'm learning so much! Thank you!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thanks so much, Paige. I really love this piece; there's a lot of room for expression. As far as my technique goes, actually it is not the Salzedo method. I play in the French style, having studied with teachers who were students of Marcel Grandjany.

[@paigegarrison6721]

Giggling! Well, there you go! My teacher’s not a strict Salzedoen leaving room for accommodations due to aging shoulders! She studied with Yolanda Kondonassis back in college. I was just curious😊It’s hard finding harpists on KZbin that play in the Salzedo method.

[@gelguitarist]

The passage you played from 1:51-2:33 was superb, and is exactly what harp harmonics are on the guitar (alternating harmonic and natural notes). It sounded great!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thanks so much! In this instance you're alternating between the two sounds using both hands, which makes it easier than doing it all in one hand.

[@elizabethdexter3779]

You make the harmonics look so easy

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Aww, thanks!

[@sugarfalls1]

Beautifully done, Jackie! I love how you play w/ such feeling! Really brings the music alive! (liked & subscribed!) Love the fresh cut flowers too, especially the hot pink Gerber daisy and the pretty baby's breath!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you enjoyed this one!

[@guillermogalindez5278]

Creo que debe haber una transcripción para piano de esta belleza.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you so much!

[@ashn3085]

Wow, so beautiful. How did you record the audio, I’ve been trying a few different ways for class?

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thanks so much! I recorded the audio as I usually do, with a small mic feeding into my video camera.

[@naukrath]

Great performance as always and what a lovely piece! Can someone play it on a celtic harp?

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you! You would have to make some adjustments to play it on a celtic harp, primarily to the range and the key (written in Ab minor). The last variation uses a few enharmonics that would need to be modified as well. Good luck!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

@sa sa Thank you!

[@yelassinacoulibaly819]

🌈❤️❤️❤️👌🌹💐🌈

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thanks very much!

[@yelassinacoulibaly819]

@@JacquelinePollauf je vous remercie infiniment

[@johnbrock1602]

Sometimes you play a harp with around column an other times it is square column. Do you have two pedal harp?

[@JacquelinePollauf]

The one in this video is my old harp, and the one with square column is my new harp. You are very observant!

[@andreabertone7186]

Hola sos mi tarea de mucica

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Hello, and thanks for watching!

[@benjamintafari7047]

I wish this could be played on a lever harp

[@JacquelinePollauf]

That would be great! It is all that chromatic actually, but it uses the lowest strings so much that I think it would be difficult to transcribe for lever harp and still have the same impact.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

@sa sa How exciting! I was unaware of this version, but that's great.

[@jojoen3194]

@@JacquelinePollauf If you see it as in C major (with a sol sharp in some sections ), you can easily play this piece on lever harp, at least that's how I play it.