In Chapter 3 of The Mountain in the Mirror, my current improvel, here's where we are:
So you, someone who has recently been through a magical adventure, are hoping the new girl new door will cause new adventures to happen, though you're aware that this is probably wishful thinking. But...it's night. And you're lying in bed. And something is NOT RIGHT. You have no idea what. The world seems to be tilting on its axis, ever so slightly. The air doesn't feel safe. You need to get out of bed and figure out what's going on, but you're frozen in place. Your brain is trying hard, but it can't make everything seem normal, and this time, there isn't even an obviously supernatural bird to blame.
The weirdness of the night is here represented by a harp played in an idiosyncratic manner. You can make all sorts of weird sounds on a harp if you try. I'm using an autoharp tuning key there; I can create similar effects with a metal chopstick.
@thedutchwidows Feb 2022
I have never seen anyone do that before! Is that a 'normal' harp technique, or your invention? It sounds so cool. I get definite 'weird night' vibes from it; it's quite unsettling in places, but also really open too (like around 1:44). Very nice.
@debrandio Feb 2022
That's so cool. Such a interesting sound, neat sounds.
@unpronounceable Feb 2022
I LOVE the tuning key thing going on here. I've been leaning towards including a harp patch in a lot of my songs but you have a real live harp! Peaceful & quirky. I love this.
@pifie Feb 2022
Whoah!!! GREAT tool for bending stuff... That caught me offguard I think if it was a tad more massive it would sound great (albeit slower to move), you could even play blues there!!
And, to free up some fingers, you could use some guitar slide (some have the end uncut)
And the atmosphere you created is awesome. Full of mystery!
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
Kari, you are a foley artist as well it seems. Fascinating stuff! The 2:55 mark sounds so cool. The harp is on my list of most beautiful instruments--along with the cello and duduk. I look forward to Chapter 4!
@ductapeguy Feb 2022
Kari. I think that is the first time I ever encountered slide harp. It is hauntingly beautiful. I love the way you craft your improvisations informed by your novel writing. This is sooo evocative.
@breezyanna Feb 2022
That was beautiful. I’m very new to the harp, but I LOVE the story the muted strings tell. Very theatrical!