Chad McAnally - Ann Heymann's Measure

This piece I composed in honor of my mentor and friend Ann Heymann. Ann along with her husband Charlie, are pioneers of the revival of the Gaelic harp and continue their ground breaking work to the present.
This piece uses an older idea of composition, primary the idea of a "measure"- a repeated phrase or chord progression on which variations are built. Similar composition techniques are found in the ap Huw manuscript (Welsh harp manuscript from early 1600's but an anthology of much older pieces) and in the Ceòl Mòr of the Highland Bagpipes, or the Ground Bass, found it Baroque music. To this foundation, I added modal transpositions, some counterpoint and areas of improvisation, all based on the harmonic ground work of these older approaches.
I did four takes of this piece for 'Of Bards and Beggars. This is take 2, but not the version we chose for the album.
Recorded and filmed at Wild Sound Studios in Minneapolis, MN. For more information on this music, please check out my new website: ceadachharps.w...

[@brianlitecky9798]

I am honored and enriched by knowing this guy for about 35 years

[@mdlahey3874]

This is just so lovely... 🙇🏻‍♂️

[@GaelicSurfer]

Very nice Chad, thanks for sharing!

[@mcnutt10]

Just beautiful, Chad, well crafted.

[@francsois482]

J'adore. Thank you!

[@ceadachrua]

zappbrannigan420- Thank you!

[@ceadachrua]

boaire- yes the left hand is playing a ground or "measure" hence the title of the piece. The structure of the piece is fairly defined, but leaves some room for improvisational elements. The idea for this piece comes from my study of older music like the ap Huw manuscript and Ceol Mhor; both at their most basic level are theme and variation type forms. Here the left hand provides an ostinato (which changes occasionally- it gets transposed, the rhythm varies, etc.) and the right hand plays differing but set patterns over the ground pattern.

[@750nut]

Happy Sunday

[@WiskyDuck]

Ann as well as Turlough O'Carolan himself are well pleased (as am I).

[@zappbrannigan420]

But an excellent song all around, beautiful.

[@boaire]

So the left hand playing the ground can have so much improvisation as well? Is this an exercise, creative exercise?

[@ElizabethNicholson]

Very nice! Are those Alaska pics? Do they work well for you?

[@ceadachrua]

Need to check this more often! Sorry for the delay! Yes, the Alaska pics work in a crunch- still prefer the sound and feel of my own nails.

[@zappbrannigan420]

Chuckled a bit at the name.