The starting point for this week’s Sepia Saturday will send participants running for all the harp and angel related photos in their family albums
H………A………..R………..P………..S
is for hair which sometimes supports a circlet of flowers such as in the ring of roses worn by the bride and bridesmaid in this 1948 family wedding at Scots Church, Melbourne,
is for angel – it is believed that angels play harps but in this case my angelic granddaughter clasps a recorder.
is for repeat because I have another angel to show you, a knitted knitting angel.
is for playing a musical instrument, not a harp this time but another stringed instrument, the piano, played by the young angel above, practising during her brief venture into piano lessons.
is for St John of God Hospital in Geelong where for over twenty years harpist Peter Roberts has offered music on a one-to-one basis to fragile and vulnerable people in a medical setting, compassionate care through music.
Peter Roberts music Thanatologist at St John of God Hospital
(From Australian Story ABC TV 14-6-2010 Transcript here)
PETER ROBERTS, THANATOLOGIST: The instrument itself doesn’t have the power. It sits there on its own and it doesn’t do anything until it’s touched. It’s about the person who’s playing it. Honestly, it is. When I take the harp out of the car and roll it into the hospital, usually there’s curiosity and surprise. A funny thing usually happens when I get into an elevator with people and there’s that silence that happens when the door closes. And I always say, “You’re in big trouble now.” And then they’ll laugh and they’ll say, “Well where are your wings?” I always say that well the music is not that good.
Each time a baby is born at St John of God they play a short recording of Peter playing Brahms Lullaby on his harp over the loud speaker system to announce the birth. And when you are lying in bed sick and hear this soft, slow and sweet melody it is very comforting to know that life is just starting somewhere else in the building.
This is the segment but played by John Kovac. Do close your eyes and listen and let your thoughts roam free.
You can see more people connecting to this weeks theme image on Sepia Saturday
