Dee Carstensen
Encyclopedia
Dee Carstensen is a New York City
-based Pop/alternative harpist, singer and songwriter
.
At the age of eight, Carstensen was selected as one of five children tapped by the Eastman School of Music's experimental program to study harp with a classical harpist from the New York Philharmonic. Although the program only lasted one year, Dee studied the harp for nine. She also developed an interest in singing and songwriting, which eventually caused her to move from the conservatory path to a career as a singer-songwriter.
, who became her husband in 1993. Her debut album Beloved One, released in 1993, included guitar work by Mark Knopfler
of Dire Straits
.
Her second album, Regarding the Soul (1995), integrated her singing, songwriting and harp-playing. The Map (1998) was a collaboration with Mainieri. Their first child, Ruby Anna, was born on November 19, 2000.
Dee also recorded a children's album, Can You Hear Lullaby (2001), which featured guest vocals Everett Bradley, Curtis King and Julie Dansky and instrumental work by her husband.
. Dee plays a Lyon & Healy electric harp in her recordings and live performances. Her incorporation of harp
in singer-songwriter and pop music also influenced the new generation of young singer-songwriter-harpists, such as Joanna Newsom
and Habiba Doorenbos.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based Pop/alternative harpist, singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Early years
As the daughter of Professor Dr. Edwin L. Carstensen, a biomedical engineer in University of Rochester, NY, Dee was influenced by her father and his musical talent on piano and clarinet. Dee and her four siblings began to take music lessons, with Dee first playing piano.At the age of eight, Carstensen was selected as one of five children tapped by the Eastman School of Music's experimental program to study harp with a classical harpist from the New York Philharmonic. Although the program only lasted one year, Dee studied the harp for nine. She also developed an interest in singing and songwriting, which eventually caused her to move from the conservatory path to a career as a singer-songwriter.
As a singer-songwriter
Carstensen's singing and songwriting talents were discovered by vibist Mike MainieriMike Mainieri
Michael T. Mainieri, Jr. is a vibraphonist best known for his work with the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead....
, who became her husband in 1993. Her debut album Beloved One, released in 1993, included guitar work by Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
of Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
.
Her second album, Regarding the Soul (1995), integrated her singing, songwriting and harp-playing. The Map (1998) was a collaboration with Mainieri. Their first child, Ruby Anna, was born on November 19, 2000.
Dee also recorded a children's album, Can You Hear Lullaby (2001), which featured guest vocals Everett Bradley, Curtis King and Julie Dansky and instrumental work by her husband.
Patch of Blue
Dee went back into the studio and recorded a solo album, Patch of Blue, which was released in 2005. Unlike previous work, all eight songs were originals, except Fly Away whose music was co-written with her husband who played vibraphone on the album. Patch of Blue did not include any guitar work. Instead, it featured Dee's harp and vocals, with backing from the Tosca String Quartet http://www.toscastrings.com/ and several woodwind players.Impact on harp music
Dee was the first pop singer to participate in the Lyon & Healy Jazz and Pop Harp Festival (1999), sharing the stage with jazz harpists Park Stickney and Deborah Henson-ConantDeborah Henson-Conant
Deborah Henson-Conant is an American harpist known for her flamboyant stage presence and refusal to fit the stereotype of a harpist as an angelic blond woman in a long dress....
. Dee plays a Lyon & Healy electric harp in her recordings and live performances. Her incorporation of harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
in singer-songwriter and pop music also influenced the new generation of young singer-songwriter-harpists, such as Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom is an American harpist, pianist and singer-songwriter from Nevada City, California.- Early life :Newsom grew up in the small town of Nevada City, California...
and Habiba Doorenbos.
Discography
- Beloved One (NYC Records, 1993)
- Regarding The Soul (Exit Nine/Universal Music, 1995)
- The Map (Exit Nine/Universal Music, 1998)
- Home Away From Home (Live Album, Exit Nine/Universal Music, 1999)
- Patch of Blue (Exit Nine/Universal Music, Released on November 2005)
External links
- http://www.deecarstensen.com/http://www.deecarstensen.com/ - Artist Official Website