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HarpWays

About Me

Mary Jane Ballou performs professionally on the Celtic harp and wire-strung salterio, bringing to these instruments her conservatory keyboard training and a love of all types of beautiful music. Mary Jane plays a repertoire ranging from sacred chant melodies to a synthesis of Irish, classical and New Age that is all her own. Currently based on St. Augustine, Florida, Mary Jane is available for performances throughout the Southeast U.S.A. She is sought-after as a wedding harpist because of her wide repertoire and willingness to work with couples to make the music as special as the day.Her current and upcoming recordings are available online at her website or from CD Baby. "Ancient City Harp: Songs of St. Augustine" delivers over 400 years of music in just under 40 minutes. From chant to popular wedding music, you can enjoy a sonic trip through the nation's oldest city. "At Midnight in Bethlehem" is a gentle Christmas album of carols from around the world that recaptures the wonder of Christmas Eve in a noisy world.When she's not performing or exploring new works, Mary Jane also produces and hosts the Classical Fan Club, a weekly radio show featuring music "off the beaten track" on Flagler College Radio, WFCF St. Augustine 88.5 - Radio with a Reason!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 09/10/2007
Band Website: www.harpways.com
Influences: Derek Bell, Patrick Ball, Louise Trotter, Mary O’Hara, Laoise Kelly, Sylvia Woods, Frank Voltz, Alfredo Ortiz, Loreena McKinnett, Lisa Lynn, Sue Richardson, Alison Kinnard, Kim Robertson, Jo Morrison, Cynthia Cathcart, Andrew Lawrence-King, Anonymous 4, Nicanor Zabaleta, The Chieftains, Nancy Calthorpe, Victoria Schultz, Ray Pool, Sunita Staneslow, Alison Vardy, Nancy Hurrell, Enya, Pamela Bruner, Laurie Riley, Beth Kolle
Sounds Like: A mix of Celtic, classical and ambient styles.
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

Have a Musical Thanksgiving

Here's wishing all my friends a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  And don't forget to break out the holiday music.  Dig out those Christmas albums.  Make a resolution to add a couple of ...
Posted by on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:12:00 GMT

Welcome Back to Me!

I've been busy and travelling.  Getting the word out about Ancient City Harp, visiting family on the far side of the country - and bringing my organ-playing chops back up.  Along with progra...
Posted by on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:32:00 GMT

New songs from my new album

Hooray!  I've put up two songs from my new CD, Ancient City Harp: Songs of St. Augustine. Take a couple of minutes to listen to Blind Mary - a lovely Irish tune that features violinist Janine New...
Posted by on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:21:00 GMT

Ancient City Harp

My new album has arrived!  Ancient City Harp: Songs of St. Augustine is 400 years of music in 40 minutes!  All a tribute to the diverse musical cultures that have flowed together in St. Augu...
Posted by on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:24:00 GMT

Happy Summer Solstice

Where does the time go?  Here we are on the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and the shortest Down Under.  And it's on the way!  "What?" you might ask.  My new a...
Posted by on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:33:00 GMT

More than the harp

In addition to my harp playing, I’m also developing a repertoire on the salterio (known in France as the "cithare").  The problem with calling it a cithare in the USA was everyone would the...
Posted by on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:27:00 GMT

Getting Started with MySpace

This MySpace site is just getting started for me. "Social networking" sites are a different animal.  I've had websites (you can find me at www.harpways.com and www.mjballou.com).  I've been ...
Posted by on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:32:00 GMT