Upon the Willows by Brook Boddie (Harp 432hz)

*7/16/20 Update: This morning I was in shock and disbelief upon hearing the news of the sudden passing of Brook Boddie, the wonderful composer of this beautiful melody. He was so generous with his kind words and always so affirming to me. He and I share the same passion for harps and we can talk harps all day. I am so very privileged to have known him as a musical ally and a beautiful soul, however brief that was. Brook, Rest In Peace. You are the angel who has gone home. You are a gift to us all, and you have touched our lives more profoundly than you will ever know. You are sorely missed 🙏🏼💞🙏🏼.
This is a very peaceful and contemplative piece that is well loved by many people. Special thanks to Brook for allowing me to cover his beautiful song and I hope I do him proud. I've been planning to make this video for some time now, and lately I've come across this song being mentioned three separate times on Facebook within a week. I guess Spirit is urging me to make it now :-)
I love how the melody expresses so much emotions and really touches the heart deeply. I enjoy playing this song especially in the quiet of the night because it is very meditative and so soothing to my soul. So this video is recorded at night and I'm really sorry the low lighting is making the picture quality grainy. Enjoy! 💞
*For best audio effect, please use headphones.
Harp: Thormahlen Serenade Harp
P.S. All my harps are tuned to A=432hz to be more in harmony with the natural healing vibration of nature. For more information on the benefits of 432hz tuning, check out this short article: powerthoughtsmeditationclub.co...
Please connect with me:
Facebook: / harpingfromtheheart
Email: [e-mail]

[@Nelsonbrook33]

Tracie, I can't tell you what it's like to open KZbin and see a link to one of my pieces being performed. However, that pales in comparison to actually listening and watching someone play the piece. While it's hard to say that I have a favorite performance of this piece, this will go down as one of my most favorites. You play it exactly as I imagined it being played--with much feeling, rubato, and expression such that you make the piece an extension of yourself. I could not be more honored that a harpist of your caliber chose to record this piece. Saying thank you seems so insufficient, but, in the spirit of the piece, a simple thank you will hopefully convey the multitude of feelings and emotions that lie behind those words.

[@TracieLin]

Nelsonbrook33 Brook, it means so much to me to have your affirmation 😭😭😭! Your song has touched so many lives, including mine, and I am beyond grateful to be affirmed by a musician of YOUR caliber. I’m not a professional harpist, just someone who loves playing harp and sharing it with people who enjoys the same passion. I still have much to learn from people like you. Your encouragement motivates me to keep improving myself. Thank you so much for your inspiration and musical genius 🥰!

[@TracieLin]

Btw, I wanted to update you on the stringing of my harp. I gave folk gut strings another try. I actually got rid of the previous fluorocarbon strings and put folk gut back on from C below middle C to middle F. The rest I kept nylon. That is how the harp is strung in this video. It sounds much warmer and richer now (the recording doesn't do justice to how it sounds in real life) ! I think maybe last time I tried I didn't allow the strings to settle before deciding it was no good. Thought I'd share this experience with you 😊

[@Nelsonbrook33]

@@TracieLin I've played Serenades in both nylon and gut. Sharon once told me that some of them just sound better with nylon, and some with gut. To my ear, the gut-stung harps are just a tad warmer. My Serenade is strung in gut, and it sounds incredible. It's great that we have the option to do that. Oh, and I LOVE the Camac levers! Sharon thinks they're the best, and I agree with her. You really can't tell when they're engaged. They don't affect the sound at all. I feel so blessed to have a harp that was hand-made here in the USA by a master luthier. I will cherish this harp always.

[@susansuits8001]

@@Nelsonbrook33 I purchased the pdf of this piece just yesterday. I couldn't put it down afterwards. I worked on it for several hours. I just started playing the harp in August and rented an Ogden for 3 months. I am currently using a Prelude but the Thormalen's are calling to me. I'd love to purchase more pieces similar to Willows and will be looking for your arrangements.

[@susansuits9851]

@Tracie Lin What a beautiful gift I've been given. To have never met the man but to be given the gift of his music to learn and play for myself. The Heavens have opened and called home one of the most gifted harpists. He will be remembered with affection and gratitude.

[@sandikaye4115]

As I listen to this piece, I can see Brook in my mind's eye playing it just like that. He was so special and humble. He probably had no idea how many people were blessed by his wonderful gift.

[@TracieLin]

Sandi Kaye Yes, Brook was such a gift a and blessing to us all. He models humility and tenderness perfectly through his words and his music. Even though I’ve only known him for a short time, I feel a big sense of loss at his passing.

[@ThePianoPutterer]

Oh so beautiful. He was a great arranger and composer. He has been sorely missed. My wife started learning the harp a few years ago, and Brook quickly become her absolute favorite in sheet music to play. Thanks for sharing this. It's now on her list to learn next.

[@TracieLin]

Thank you so much for listening and for commenting! I do love Brook's arrangements as well. I wish your wife the best on her harp journey! 🥰

[@St.Joe_Phil]

Very lovely. May your music bring you peace and solace after losing a good friend.

[@TracieLin]

Thank you for your condolence. I have never met Brook in person. But he was so generous with his kind words for me and we got acquainted sharing our passion for harp. May he rest in peace 🙏🏼.

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

Thank you for this performance Tracie. I was able to learn it thanks to your video and play it in church this past week as a bit of a tribute. I'm so sorry for you and the others who knew Brook - he seemed like a wonderful soul!

[@TracieLin]

Tiffany Schaefer - Harp & Song Awww, thank you so much Tiffany! I’m so glad my video was helpful to you. Brook had a special gift of words of encouragement for others. Many people have felt greatly uplifted by his generous kind words. I only knew Brook through text messaging, but I could tell he was a man with a huge heart, and his music shows it. I feel very honored to have played this song, and I hope to bless others with my music the way he did with his 💞.

[@michaeljohnson1157]

L. I. N.

[@Meltiqueful]

Wonderful tribute to Brook! Loved how you played his beautiful arrangement!

[@TracieLin]

Glad you enjoyed it! I was fortunate to have his blessing for this one.

[@mariejan21]

wonderful sound. I love the way you give us this beautiful music. Merci :-)

[@TracieLin]

Thank you very much! Really appreciate your kind words 💞.

[@giocondavarasrios1499]

Muchas gracias, muy bella interpretación ❤️

[@franceschi07655]

Played with such tenderness. Thank you for sharing your gift! I'm sure Brook Boddie will be honored by such a graceful and moving rendition of his song.

[@TracieLin]

Donna Devens Thank you so much Donna! I’m glad the music has touched your heart ❤️

[@AngelaBoraston]

Such a beautiful piece of music played with such tenderness. Thank you

[@TracieLin]

Thank you so much for your comment 🙏!

[@MarkFosterMelodies]

I love this Tracie! What a wonderful rendition of Brook's piece. I can only imagine that he will be very pleased to hear you play it.

[@TracieLin]

Glad you enjoyed it, Mark!

[@shonerip]

Ciao, Tracie, a really beautiful, dreamy, relaxing melody. Masterfully played, it was a real pleasure to listen to you. Thanks. Pino :-)

[@TracieLin]

So glad you enjoyed listening to it as much I enjoyed playing it! 🥰

[@susansuits8001]

I think I'm in love........with the piece and the harp. I've been racking my brain trying to decide whether Camac, Lyon and Healy or..........I've watched hundred's of videos and the one that keeps speaking to me is the Thormahlen. I think it might be the one. Thanks to you for beautiful playing and to the writer of the piece for beautiful music. I can't wait to play this myself.

[@TracieLin]

Thank you so much for your comment. Yes, my Thormahlen Serenade is a wonderfully sounding harp. The recordings really don't do it justice. I personally like warmer sounding harps, but I've never had a chance to play a L & H. I hope I get to try it at some point. Good luck on finding your dream harp ☺️

[@TracieLin]

Hi Susan, I am considering switching to a higher tensioned gut strung harp from Camac. If so, I am probably going to let my Serenade go. Would you be interested in it? Are you in the West Coast US?

[@susansuits9851]

@@TracieLin Did you ever try a higher tension? What did you think?

[@TracieLin]

Susan Suits No I never had a chance to try out higher tension harps because of COVID lockdown. Instead, I’ve grown to really love the sound and feel of my Serenade so I’ve decided to keep it. So at this point, I am pretty happy without needing to try the higher tension harps.

[@saritagardner9248]

Awesome, Tracie!!! I Love Brooke Boddie's arrangements! You play it Beautifully!!! ❤❤❤

[@TracieLin]

Thank you so much for your kind comment!

[@Nelsonbrook33]

And thank you for your kind comment regarding my music! I appreciate that greatly.

[@michaeljohnson1157]

L o n g ~ L i v e B r o o k_____

[@jenniferwong9340]

So beautiful 😍 may I ask what's the harp brand ?

[@TracieLin]

Thank you! This is my Thormahlen Serenade fitted with folk gut strings.

[@jenniferwong9340]

@@TracieLinis this brand more pricer than Salvi and H n L?

[@TracieLin]

@@jenniferwong9340 Yes, Thormahlen harps are all made by the luthier Dave himself so he probably doesn’t produce the kind of quantity that would reduce the production cost down like Salvi or Lyon and Healy.

[@jenniferwong9340]

May I ask how to tune the harp to 432 hz

[@TracieLin]

@@jenniferwong9340 To tune to 432hz, you'll need a digital chromatic tuner (I use Snark ST-2) and recalibrate the tuning from A=440 to A=432. Then you just tune your harp as normal.

[@buggy3254]

What kind of harp/string pairing is it? Sounds great!

[@TracieLin]

Thank you so much! My harp is a Thormahlen Serenade 36 strings with folk gut strings.

[@lorikirkwood5414]

Did you get the music for this somewhere? I would love to learn it.

[@TracieLin]

Yes you can purchase Brook Boddie's arrangement in various places online. Here's one of them: www.harpcenter.com/product/pdf-download-boddie-upon-willows/