The CD is finally here! When the UPS truck pulled into our driveway, my whole family rushed out to help carry in eleven boxes of CDs! 1,000 disks titled “The Joy We Share Hymns for Solo Harp” were really here–the realization of a very long process.
Making this CD began several years ago when people like you began asking me if I had recordings for sale. My most persistent fan was my Grandmother who lives with us. “When will you make a CD?” she would ask when I practiced. But I was far away from home on New Year’s 2013 when I realized, the CD needed to happen this year.
It took me till Augu
st to begin asking questions. First question, who? I was relieved to discover the talent of my longtime friend Nate Butler from Nimble Wit Productions. He provided the full service package of recording, editing, mastering and joke cracking. And I knew I could trust him.
Where? Wracking my brains to find a resonant space, I found I could record in the vibrant acoustics of Goshen College’s Rieth Recital. Oh the thrill!
Finally, what? N
ow it was up to me to provide the music. All the tracks on this CD are my original arrangements of favorite hymns–I just had to decide which of the many hymns I play and finalize how to play them. For three weeks I practiced, rewrote and refined my ideas. I got critiques from my teacher and from musical friends. I spiced up key changes, altered intros and added entirely new songs to my repertoire.
All too soon (and not soon enough) we were scheduled with Nate. The two days of recording were a combination of performance pressure, sheer elation, editing, exhaustion and laughter. You can read about that fiasco in my post Recording in Rieth.
Then came all the things
I wasn’t expecting.
A CD needs cover art. Off we went to the fabulous Bryan Chris Photography for a photo shoot which was dangerously windy, blindingly bright and nearly poisonous, but resulted in several stunning photos including the one on the cover. You can read about it at my post Photoshoots and Poison Ivy.
A CD needs graphic design. Fortunately my mother is not only my manager, my chauffer, my advertising agent, but also an artist and graphic designer. She laid out my ideas as I wavered between photos, words, typefaces and layouts. You can see her art work at Cathy Hagen, Artist Facebook.
A CD needs a title. This was a tough one. At my teacher’s suggestion, I began looking in the lyrics for the hymns. “The Joy We Share” comes from the chorus of my second song “I Come to the Garden.”
A CD needs to be manufactured so mother and I had to hammer out details of uploading audio files and cover art to DiscMakers. Computer work can be . . . stressful. I was worried; would I have any hair left?
Once the CD was manufactured, I had to figure out how to add the little sales widgets provided by CDBaby to my website. Both these companies were wonderful to work with. All the same, remember what I said about computer work?
But every single minute was worth it when we opened those UPS boxes. I pulled out one of the little plastic containers, ripped off the cellophane wrapping and smiled. Then I turned, and kneeling, gave my Grandmother the very first CD. She smiled. And cried. And I cried.
We shared the joy.
My CD “The Joy We Share” is now available online, at my website, my Facebook, on iTunes and at every event I play. Listen, like and pick up a few copies for yourself and for others. Share the joy.