Do I play weddings?
The answer to this question is yes, under the following circumstances:
I agree to play weddings where the bride and/or hiring party wishes to have Celtic music (i.e., Scottish or Irish) music and/or a selection of very standard church or classical tunes (Church tune list) appropriate for a solemn and holy occasion. I do not play a large selection of classical tunes, nor do I play a great deal of popular music. I barely have time to learn all of the Celtic tunes that I would love to learn, so it is simply a decision I have made based on the time I have available and my own preferences of how I wish to invest my time.
The fee I quote you for a wedding (service only) includes the following services:
The quoted price does not include attendance at a rehearsal, because that is a separate event. On occasion, I play at both the wedding service and the wedding reception, and we can make these arrangements at the time of contract. The price is an incremental amount extra, depending on the location of the reception (same place, or different location which involves a separate set-up), and how long you wish me to play.
Music Selection
All of the details in the preceding paragraph are fairly standard. The part of the wedding that is not standard lies in the selection of music to be played, and this is the part that I have found to be the object of most confusion to the hiring parties. When I agree to play a wedding, it is with the assumption that I will listen to your preferences regarding the type of music I will play, and that I will select tunes that best meet those criterion out of my current repertoire (which is rather large!). In other words, my schedule usually precludes my being able to accommodate an unlimited number of pieces of music that are not in my current repertoire. Frequently weddings are as demanding as live concerts, and equally frequently they are videotaped, so my performance is often saved for posterity. I wish to be at my best, and honestly, this is where you would wish me to be also.
Therefore, if it is important to you to select pieces of music that are not in my current repertoire, I am quite willing to refer you to other harpists known to me who might be better able to accommodate your wishes.
Wedding Experience:
I haven't actually kept count, but my best guess is I have played at 250+ weddings in my 25 years of playing. As such, I have participated in more weddings than many ministers and priests I have met -- and I usually get lots of compliments from the guests and wedding party (and no complaints that were ever reported to me!). My general harp credentials are listed in detail on my bio page: http://www.cfrharp.com/bio.htm. My solo CDs are both available for purchase, and there are sound clips on my web site: Lang a' Comin' and Tailgated by the Moon. If this set of credentials is not sufficient to convince you that I am capable of playing suitably at your wedding, I cannot think of any other way that I could offer you that assurance.
Links page on my web site, under Celtic Harp Resources: to search for other harpists
E-mail address for a quote: CRAMSEY1@columbus.rr.com
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