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Shana The Harpy!

@shanahipharpy.bsky.social

1.7K followers 780 following 4.1K posts

Harp wrangler, messy gardener, aspiring bee keeper, e-trike rider. The plucky 1/2 of the Chaski Flute & Harp Duo. Austin, Texas. ChaskiMusic.com

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · Aug 30

Happy #playmusicontheporchday!
We started celebrating early with a protest music sing-along. Woody Guthrie for the win!

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Reposted by Shana The Harpy!

Steve Smith @nightafternight.bsky.social · 6h

PSA: I snapped back into journalist mode recently for an episode of the podcast Big Ears: Conversations About Music, chatting up composer/performer Lisa Bielawa ahead of premiere performances of 'Knoxville Broadcast' this Friday and Saturday in Knoxville. Here's where to find it: pod.link/1795714457

Composer Lisa Bielawa, a smiling woman with short brown hair, glasses, and a gray jacket. Text: Big Ears Conversations About Music.

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Reposted by Shana The Harpy!

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 5h

An important message to the people of New York City.

More information at zohranfornyc.com/birthday

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Raffi Melkonian @rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social · 15h

My super modern regulatory plan is that any entity named for a thing from Tolkien has to publicly explain why Tolkien wouldn’t immediately throw it into Mount Doom

Tony Tassell @tonytassell.bsky.social · 1d

Tolkein continues to resonate. The new bank being set up by Palmer Luckey and backed by Peter Thiel is named Erebor after the “lonely mountain” in The Hobbit. This was also an interesting line in this rpt on the new bank by @tabbykinder.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/202d...

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 16h

Yay, indeed. I should note that I can only play the froggy bits, and at the moment the last froggy phrase is really dodgy. (Damn accidentals.) But I’m not a proper ocarina player & I’m having silly good fun playing along. I spent WAY too much time on it today!

Reposted by Shana The Harpy!

Chaski @chaski85.bsky.social · 18h

"...impeccable musicianship with an intuitive camaraderie honed over decades of collaboration." 🦙 We're thrilled to share Dr. Amy Frishkey's remarks about our recent visit to UT San Antonio. See the full comments in the alt text.
#chaski40th @flautadita60.bsky.social @shanahipharpy.bsky.social

"Chaski is Central Texas's world music treasure, combining impeccable musicianship with an intuitive camaraderie honed over decades of collaboration. They bring to life their shared commitment to Latin American folkloric music with expertise over a vast array of instruments and styles. Their performances are as accessible as they are skilled, inviting and moving the audience to jump to their feet singing, clapping, and dancing.

As an ethnomusicology professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio, I arranged for a residency with Chaski in the School of Music on September 29, 2025, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the group's 40th anniversary. During the day, group members gave a lecture-demonstration on Andean music, a guitar masterclass, and a flute masterclass, culminating with the concert "Postcards from South America" as part of UTSA Arts's En Vivo Guest Artist Series. Students thoroughly enjoyed learning an Andean panpipe (siku) piece, new techniques on flute and guitar, and new career possibilities as instrumentalists and educators — a group of flute majors even asked to learn a dance after the concert!"

Dan is wearing black and a Bolivian vest, playing ayarachi. Adrienne is dressed in black with a striped Bolivian stole playing ayarachi. Shana is dressed in black with a striped Bolivian stole playing bombo. Photo by Ashley Lillian. Visit https://www.chaskimusic.com to learn more about our 40th anniversary season! ¡Visite https://www.chaskimusic.com para obtener más información sobre nuestra temporada del aniversario cuadragésimo!

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

If I get in any trouble at Austin’s No Kings March, it might be because I’ve figured out how to play bits of this on my ocarina. I’m currently on the porch playing along w/The English Baroque Soloists. It sounds utterly ridiculous!
Many thanks (I think) to @drcanonic.bsky.social for the ear worm.

Händel: Israel in Egypt - 4. Their land brought forth frogs - Gardiner

YouTube video by pannonia77

www.youtube.com

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Sanho Tree @sanho.bsky.social · 1d

“Footage, obtained by the outlet, captured the musician face-down in the mud, with her instrument about two feet to her left, struggling as what appears to be a federal agent straddled her backside. A police officer stood next to the pair.”
The Feds then jailed her across state lines. For music.

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 1d

“A clarinet player was arrested after playing her instrument to the tune of the ‘Ghostbusters’ theme song outside of a Portland ICE facility…”

Musician playing ‘Ghostbusters’ outside ICE facility is arrested by agents

‘Taking us citizens out of state to detain them without charge is a new action from the Feds and should be opposed,’ her band said

www.independent.co.uk

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Kathleen Belew @kathleenbelew.bsky.social · 1d

My neighbors have filled the Little Free Libraries with whistles so we can warn each other about ICE. Chicago is not afraid.

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 1d

First they came for the woodwind section, and I said nothing ...

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 1d

“A clarinet player was arrested after playing her instrument to the tune of the ‘Ghostbusters’ theme song outside of a Portland ICE facility…”

Musician playing ‘Ghostbusters’ outside ICE facility is arrested by agents

‘Taking us citizens out of state to detain them without charge is a new action from the Feds and should be opposed,’ her band said

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Shana The Harpy!

St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney @stmagnuscathedral.bsky.social · 1d

Earlier this year, an excavation in Rousay by @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social uncovered an expressive carved stone face. We have a similar fellow in the cathedral, so archaeologists visited today to examine them side by side!

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

My friend @aprylknight.bsky.social shared this with me and I can’t stop smiling about it. Thought that all y’all might enjoy a smile this morning.

Froggy Went to Portland

YouTube video by Daniel Kelly Folk Music

www.youtube.com

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

I hadn’t seen it! It’s breathtakingly wonderful. Thanks SO much for sharing it with me. Clearly it will be on the setlist for future editions of Play Protest Music on the Porch!

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Adelita for Congress @adelitaforcongress.bsky.social · 1d

Speaker Johnson, you ready to swear me in?

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

Wearing my little ocarina as a necklace is the perfect protest accessory. Works with my froggy outfit, too. Making sure I can play “Froggy Went a Courting,” “Rainbow Connection,” and “Their Land Brought Forth Frogs” from Handel’s Israel in Egypt.

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks! It’s actually a thing. Our shady front porch/garden is perfect for it & we participate every year. We did a set of protest songs last year. It was a huge hit. So this year it was (almost) all political songs & readings. Had a whole yard full of folks singing along.

Play Music on The Porch Day – A worldwide celebration of peace and music.

playmusicontheporchday.com

Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

I’m likely to add a little image of the score to the other side of my No Tyrants! No Kings! fan for Saturday.

A photo of a handmade paper fan. It’s made from paper plates, clothes pins, craft sticks, and a glossy post card that reads: No Tyrants! & No Kings!

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

I ❤️❤️❤️ this picture of Dan!

Chaski @chaski85.bsky.social · 1d

Before Hispanic Heritage Month wraps up, here's Dan singing and playing the ronroco at our recent En Vivo concert at UT San Antonio! #Chaski40th @flautadita60.bsky.social @shanahipharpy.bsky.social

Dan is wearing black and a Bolivian vest, singing into a mic. Photo by Ashley Lillian. Visit https://www.chaskimusic.com to learn more about our 40th anniversary season! ¡Visite https://www.chaskimusic.com para obtener más información sobre nuestra temporada del aniversario cuadragésimo!

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

THIS! This is my walk on music (in my head) for No Kings Day! Thank you, Erica.

Erika Supria H @drcanonic.bsky.social · 2d

Their land brought forth frogs, their land brought forth frogs, YAY! even in their king's chambers www.youtube.com/watch?v=43A3...

A collage with a photo showing an inflatable frog staring at a bunch of ICE officers in Portland, who are in camo, masked and armed to the teeth, and an excerpt from the plagues section of Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt, showing a bouncy bassline and then the entry of the alto voice singing "Their land brought forth frogs, their land brought forth frogs, yea"

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southaustinhippy @southaustinhippy.bsky.social · 1d

The Queen City on the Concho!

She Who Must Be Obeyed used to play with the San Angelo Orchestra as a hired gun out of Austin (Harp), and once stayed in a hotel that had a restaurant with a breakfast menu that included an entire page dedicated to "The Wonderful World of Eggs" (pronounced "Aigs").

Team Talarico @teamtalaricohq.bsky.social · 3d

Huge crowd for James Talarico in deep red San Angelo, TX!

This county hasn’t voted for a Democrat since LBJ, but they showed up for Talarico.

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

A young man came by The Wee Free Herb Garden while I was working outside & thanked me profusely. Apparently he’s a big fan of the the orange mint & always picks a a few sprigs to nibble when he passes by. (And he goes out of his way to pass by.) Said they help disrupt his nicotine cravings.😎

A photo of my curbside herb garden decorated for the season. It consists of bunches of pots on a table and on cinder blocks. It is in the shade of a Mexican Buckeye tree that is festooned with a garland of colorful skull cutouts. On the table is a whimsical metal sculpture of a cow. She is wearing a crown of plastic orange marigolds. The herbs visible in the picture are: orange mint, spearmint, parsley, oregano, chives, and thyme. The rosemary and dill are just out of view.

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 1d

Many thanks to Trek Bicycle Sport Shop on S. Lamar & BSR. They take great care of my e-trike. Just got it back from a Spa Day & Tune-Up. It was overdue for maintenance. Nice to have it in tip-top shape and so very clean! (Here’s a gratuitous trike pic from another day!)

A photo of my purple e-trike outside in a park with the Austin skyline in behind it. The trike is on Doug Sahm Hill, which provides a nice view of the park and downtown. There are brightly colored shopping bags (purple, red, and yellow) in the back basket because I never leave home without them!

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Shana The Harpy! @shanahipharpy.bsky.social · 2d

I drew this on the driveway today!

A photo of my chalk art creation on the driveway. It reads: No Kings! (in red & pink), then has a drawing of a gold crown, outlined and circled in black, with a red X through it. Below that, in turquoise is October 18.

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Gareth L. Powell @garethlpowell.bsky.social · 2d

"There's a point, around age twenty, when you have to choose whether to be like everybody else the rest of your life, or to make a virtue of your peculiarities." - Ursula K. Le Guin

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That Harp Guy @thatharpguy.bsky.social · 2d

Post your "Gay Card".

Old Fairy Soap sign:

"WHITE • PURE • FLOATING"

Fairy Soap
"Have you a little fairy in your home?"

Young Victorian girl in black perched upon an oval bar of soap.

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Punk on Bus Lives!🚍📻 @punkonbuslives.bsky.social · 2d

Bring your army; but, I think, you'll find
They've not prepared for us.
- Coriolanus (I, 2)

The Portland protest frog stands up to a line of POS ICE goons.

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