“We need a name,” my flutist friend Kathy announced through the mini speaker of my cell. “What’s a good name for a flute and harp duet?”
My brain jammed to a complete standstill. For years, Kathy and I had kibitzed during orchestra rehearsals, saying we wanted to play duets together. Last month she called and announced that she had a venue that needed music: Better World Books in downtown Goshen, for the upcoming First Friday in March. After years of mutual admiration we had an excuse to finally make music together. My mind exploded with the backlog of perfect songs.
“But we need to put out an announcement we’ll be playing.” Kathy continued. “We need a name for our duo.”
And my mind became a perfect blank.
A name, a name, what’s in a name? Over the next few days, my mental gears ground back into movement and I began compiling a list of arcane phrases and bad puns—“A String in the Wind,” “Sweet Sounds” and other inanities. Kathy suggested “Claddagh” relecting Celtic music but I was already collecting some Jewish songs for our repertoire and pointed out I wanted to be able to spell our own name.
We were taking some pictures after rehearsal for another concert we were both part of, The Planet’s Suite with The Elkhart Municipal Brass Band. I said, “What about Jubal’s Daughters?”
“Jubal . . . where do I know that from?”
“From the Bible.” I whipped out my handy Bible app and looked up the book of Genesis. Chapter six describes a man named Jubal, the first musician and the father of all those who play the flute and the harp.
“Well, that’s perfect!” said Kathy. And that was. It captured both our instruments and our hearts.
Sometimes, to find a name you have to go right back to the beginning.
You can hear the premiere performance of Jubal’s Daughters! On March 4 I will be playing on First Friday in Goshen with my fabulous flutist friend Kathy Plank. See us between 6-8 pm at the Better World Books store in Downtown Goshen. Our repertoire covers everything from from Celtic to Classical to Klezmer! Come enjoy friends, food, and flute and harp music this First Friday!
You can see more at the First Friday Website or my Facebook events page.