Jennifer White (composer, harp, voice, storytelling) with Robert McMaster (world and soundscape percussion)
Jennifer is becoming known for her emotionally charged original story-music, some describe as 21st Century Programme Music, or film-scores for the imagination. She likes to think of her harp not so much as a single instrument but as a portable orchestra. Completely self-taught on the harp and pulling from a variety of early musical influences from classical, jazz, Celtic and folk, with an early love of sound and story, Jennifer's harping sounds like no one else's. And in everything, it's her love of story and its transportive and transformative power that shines through. The effect goes beyond something imaginative to something quite visceral.
Robert's accompaniment on a collection of world percussion hand drums and things-that-ting-bash-crash & tinkle, foraged from music shop and junk yard has been aptly named "SoundScape Percussion", providing both rhythmic accompaniment and filling out the landscape created by Jennifer's compositions. We're still not entirely sure what he's doing, but he's interesting to watch.
Together Jennifer and Robert create a full sound that may surprise you, enchant you, and will certainly take you to another time and space.
Jennifer often works out of an ancient bardic tradition, weaving together stories drawn from Celtic folklore with original musical settings she has composed for lever harp. From lyrical air to rousing jig and reel through evocative thematic scores, Jennifer shows herself a master of the instrument, and hers is a gentle vocal presence that never forgets that the story comes first. Jennifer's debut recording Clarsach was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and her music has been featured on radio programs throughout North America, the UK, Europe and Australia. Three tracks from Clarsach are included on two international CD compilations commercially available worldwide. In the works is a long-anticipated second album, A Silver Branch (an invitation into the Celtic otherworlds), and a nostalgic yuletide album, featuring original winterlude music along with innovative arrangements of traditional favourites.
This enchanting duo have captivated audiences in Ontario and the northeast United States with their unique blend of original compositions and traditional Celtic music and stories. Their interweaving of instrumentals, song and story transports listeners to the mythic lands of Celtic legend and folklore and the 21st Century program music that offers film-scores for the imagination .
Some notable past performances include the launch party for the creative folks from the New Zealand based WETA Workshops and Alliance Atlantis (Films) Communications Inc. for the 2002 exhibit of costumes, sets and props from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, a private reception for Deepak Chopra on his recent lecture and book tour stop in London Ontario, and opening for John Tesh at London's Centennial Hall. This past January Jennifer and Robert were the featured guest artists for three (full house) orchestral concerts with The Stratford Civic Orchestra, for a concert at Stratford's historic Knox Presbyterian Church and with The International Symphony for two concerts in Sarnia Ontario and Port Huron Michigan, all featuring selections of Jennifer's original music.
Contact information:
Knockgrafton Productions P.O. Box 23132 -London, Ontario N6A 5N9
Phone/fax: (519) 438-3924 - E-mail:
[email protected] - Website: www.knockgrafton.com Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
