Interview: The Harper and The Minstrel

Lulled by Medieval Harps

By Christine Stoddard
QuailBellMagazine.com

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You are a forest sprite, zipping under the roofs of toadstools or over the limbs of yearling trees. The sunshine soaks your hair as the most glorious sounds flood your pointy ears. Taxes, standardized tests, and traffic jams don't exist. Nirvana? Maybe, but not the band. A different musical group's responsible for this particular heaven. Meet The Harper and the Minstrel, a husband and wife duo who specialize in "instrumental Renaissance, Celtic & Medieval music."

Anyone who wants earthy and serene tunes can't help but love this heart-dappling music. The Harper and the Minstrel draw their inspirations from early European traditions, Sting, Yes, Loreena McKennitt, and other melodic influences. 

Quail Bell interviewed Jay and Abby Michaels to hear what they have to say about their art:

Answers from Jay Michaels

What inspired you to take on the name The Harper and the Minstrel?

I used to call Abby on the phone, and when I got her voice mail I would say "Hi, it's The Harper, call me."  She started leaving messages "Hi, it's The Minstrel, call me." We just put that together. It made sense and felt right. Because we perform at Renaissance and Medieval Festivals about 6 months out of every year, we wanted a name that had a bit of a Middle Ages feel to it.

What other names were you considering?

We thought about "Jay and Abby Michaels," and often people do call us that as well...but we really did not consider any other names.

Does the name mean the same thing to you now as it did when you first chose it?

When we first started, I played the harp and Abby sang. As we grew together and evolved, I began to sing and play guitar on some songs. Abby started adding other instruments as well...flutes, recorders, Irish penny whistles, Bowed Psaltery, guitar. And she learned to play the harp as well.  When we started, I was the Harper and she was the Minstrel. Now, technically, we are both Harpers and we are both Minstrels.

What distinguishes The Harper and the Minstrel from other musical groups and acts of the same or similar genres?

I think one thing that distinguishes us is our arrangements of songs.  The first thing we do with a new tune that we learn is rearrange it to suit us. We try to make it our own...perhaps slow it down, speed it up, add some different harmonies, change the instrumentation. When I listen to a musician perform a cover song, I want to hear it their way...I want to listen to their interpretation. I have always found that fascinating,  so we try to do that with every song that we do.

I think the other major thing that distinguishes us is our instrumentation.  Our instruments are more traditional...instruments you would hear in Renaissance and Baroque music. So when we do, say, "Fields of Gold" or "Message in a Bottle" by Sting, it is already going to sound different because of the instruments.

Why do you choose to cover more modern pieces, like works by Led Zep and Sting?

We've always loved those artists. I am a huge fan of both Sting and Led Zeppelin. The thing is, a lot of Led Zeppelin's music has thematic elements that are inspired by The Lord of The Rings and medieval lore...so we are just doing it from the other direction. Instead of playing heavy metal on modern instruments inspired by something medieval, we are playing the songs on traditional instruments as if they really were medieval tunes.

What draws you into the world of fairytales?

Music, art, and nature. I have always loved how Loreena McKennitt could weave wonderful tales of faeries and magic into her music. She is awesome! I love the artwork of Ed Beard, Jr. and Brian and Wendy Froud, and I really dig Victorian faerie painter Richard Dadd. When I was in high school, I heard a song by Queen that was based on his painting "The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke." I think that was the start of my fascination with the fae in music and art. A nice walk in a field or the woods can really start a connection into that realm as well!

How does your music pay tribute to fairytales?

I think that our music honors the legends of the faeries...we try to keep that ancient magic alive through our songs. Some of our original pieces are inspired by the faeries. Many of the ancient songs we choose are about faeries and elves. One of our previous albums, The Circle of Fae is a collection of tunes about magical beings including the faeries.

Do any of your pieces 'tell' tales of their own?

Many of them do. "The Circle of Fae" is an original piece about a gathering of minstrels, mages, and others when the moon was full on the Eve of Midsummer. The song follows those gathered who wish to catch a glimpse of the faerie folk, and perhaps step into their world. The new CD The Road To Lindemar is all instrumental. We have several faerie inspired tunes including "Elfstorm Revisited" and "Pan's Frolic."

How does your performance change when you play live?

The difference between playing live and recording  is vast! Recording is like being under a microscope - you hear every little sound, squeak, breath - and no audience. It takes a bit of getting used to. Playing live is an amazing exchange of energy. To me it feels like a "loop." We feed off the energy of the audience, and it makes us play better...the audience likes it...and it goes back and forth. I once listened to an interview with a jazz singer, and she said that performing was about building a bridge between your heart and the hearts of the audience. That struck me as very profound. Since then, both Abby and I try to do that every time we perform.

What advice do you have for other young artists who want to go into your line of work?

Practice, practice practice! Listen to music outside your safety zone. You can learn a lot from other forms of music from the past. Don't spend all day and night on the internet! It is a great tool for promoting your music, but don't let it take all your time. Get out and live life so that your music can draw upon your experiences!

Answers from Abby Michaels

What inspired you to take on the name The Harper and the Minstrel? 

That name came from me leaving voice messages for Jay 'way back' before we started performing together. His phone message was, "Hi, this is the Harper, please leave a message," so I would say, "It's the Minstrel, call me!" It just grew out of that.

Does the name mean the same thing to you now as it did when you first chose it?

Yes, and even more so. I mean, Jay IS the Harper; he lives and breathes harp. Me, I do feel that I am a minstrel - I enjoy traveling and performing for all our audiences.

What distinguishes The Harper and the Minstrel from other musical groups and acts of the same or similar genres? 

Oh, definitely the Bowed Psaltery. Ha ha ha no, what sets us apart is a combination of things - we play a wide range of instruments and we put a definite 'spin' on everything we do. From the rock to the Renaissance, we tend to make songs our own. And we do play a wide range of genres as well as write some of our own music. Jay and I also have a great working relationship onstage and off and people pick up on that. It brings something to our music - we mesh well and sometimes can even 'read' each other, like anticipate what the other is going to do and go along!

Why do you choose to cover more modern pieces, like works by Led Zep and Sting? 

Why not? Sting has done 'our' music too! Seriously though, we like to play tunes that we love, and EVERYONE should do "Stairway to Heaven." It's the third most requested song at Renaissance faires...and the joke is that I'm not joking!

What attracts you to their music and how does it relate to Celtic/Medieval/Renaissance music in any way?

A good song is a good song. It tells a story or makes you feel a certain way, and you can perform it and make your audience feel what you feel...that's true of any genre.

What draws you into the world of fairytales? 

I've been reading fairytales since I first learned to read. My Grandma used to read to me and my sister out of the big red Andersen fairytale book, and I loved every story. I loved imagining myself in the stories as a princess or a knight or a 'third born son' on a quest. As I grew older and learned to read, I read every fairytale book I could get my hands on! When I first discovered Renaissance faires, some part of me went "Wow, I'm in the fairytale world!"

How does your music pay tribute to fairytales?

We sing of the fae, tell their stories, and play songs about them.

Do any of your pieces 'tell' tales of their own?

Yes...even the instrumental songs have 'tales' that they tell - at least I imagine that they do when we play. Songs like "Believe" tell how the fae have gone from our world and ask you to believe in them again. Or "Lady Sif''s Lament" makes you feel how she must when she remembers her lost love...or at least we hope so!

How does your performance change when you play live? Considering that you play so many old-timey pieces, how do you think our modern ability to record sound has changed music? 

Huh...sometimes we change the songs themselves when we play live! Sometimes I'll put an extra run in or Jay will change up on a harp solo, and there is an energy and a connection that happens when you play for an audience - sometimes an audience really brings out the best performances by giving their energy and attention to you. Also, the acoustics of where you're playing or what is around you makes a difference.

The modern ability to record has come such a long way, so far that some studios can fix notes that are shaky or out of tune and add effects or make it sound like the recording was done in a cathedral. It's all pretty amazing when you think about it. It is also a lot more accessible now that it ever was before for musicians to record and to play midi keyboard and make it sound like any instrument that they want. It can really add a new dimension to songs but then what happens when that person goes live?

Is music now somehow inherently different from how it was in the Middle Ages and Renaissance? If so, how?

Yes. I think we take music for granted more so than ever before. We are so spoiled by its accessibility! You can have your own personal soundtrack to your day all day with the radio, CD player, iPod, or MP3 player.  No one today has to hire musicians to live with them to do that!

Thirty-second elevator speech: why should people listen to your music?

We are like that cool drink of water on a hot dusty day - for your ears. We are very good at creating a peaceful place musically. Our music can help take away the stresses of your day - or at least that is what people keep telling us!

What advice do you have for other young artists who want to go into your line of work?

Practice, practice, practice! Go to open mics and test the waters. Get comfortable playing for an audience! Choose songs that mean something to you, and it comes through when you play. You also have to learn how to sell yourself to the people you want to hire you, so you have to believe in yourself! Enjoy what you do; if you love, what you're doing it shows!

Any last words?

It is truly a joy to be able to play for people and have them enjoy our music as much as we do!