Thomas Loefke - North Atlantic Soundscapes

Harp Music from the Celtic Northwest with slideshow:

“I open the door, a cool wind blows in my face, and the sea smells better than ever. The sky is still grey, but the first rays of the sun are scattering on the horizon. I look forward to the new day…”

Islands in the North Atlantic, like Tory Island – the Irish island of legend and myth, the Hebridean Islands in the Northwest of Scotland or the wild archipelago of the Faroe Islands situated between the Shetlands and Iceland – these are the places where harpist and photographer Thomas Loefke spends a considerable amount of time every year to compose music. Dramatic coastal landscapes, the wide open space of the Atlantic ocean and the ever changing sky reflect in the pieces of music created there.

The tunes are accompanied by photographs Thomas took during his travels to the islands and by a bunch of amazing stories, a combination which makes this solo program a very entertaining show indeed.

Thomas learnt his trade in Dublin from Ireland’s leading harp players – Máire Ní Cháthasaigh,

Helen Davies and Áine Ní Dhúill. Since 1984 he has been playing professionally and has won several international prizes, including first prize at the O’Carolan Harp Festival. He regularily tours with his band Norland Wind featuring Clannad’s Noel Duggan, with Riverdance-violinist Máire Breatnach, with Colorado based cello/guitar duo Acoustic Eidolon, with Faroese fiddle player Angelika Hansen as duo Norðan and as soloist.