About jay and abby michaels
Husband and wife team of Jay and Abby Michaels have performed together since 2002 after meeting in 1998 while Jay was performing as a solo Harper at a Medieval Festival at Hammond Castle on the north shores of Massachusetts. The meeting quickly developed into a deep friendship and was the inspiration to perform and record together. Jay and Abby were married in 2005 and reside in Southern Massachusetts
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Jay plays the nylon and wire-strung Celtic Harps, Guitar and he sings. Abby sings, plays Flutes, Recorders, Penny whistles, Guitar, Harp and Bowed Psaltery. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Anna Maria College, Jay has taught Guitar, Piano and Harp. He has performed in various musical ensembles over the past thirty years including several acoustic rock duos, a 20-piece big band, choral groups, community bands and, as a solo Harper, for weddings, restaurants and Renaissance Festivals.
Abby earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Westfield State College where she studied opera. She has taught music in the public and private school systems, and has also taught recorder and voice privately. Abby's performance background includes rock bands and various choirs, she was a popular soloist for church services.
The Harper and The Minstrel have performed at Renaissance Festivals and Coffee Houses in many parts of the country including Florida, Arizona, California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and all over New England. They have also played at Celtic and Folk Festivals, Irish pubs, restaurants, open mic events, farmers' markets, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and for weddings and private parties.
In addition to winning the 2007 Soule Homestead Emerging Artist Showcase, The Harper and The Minstrel have had favorable CD reviews appear in Celtic Beat, Motif, South Coast, Renaissance and Faerie magazines.
Here is a list of some of the Celtic, Folk and Renaissance songs performed by Jay and Abby Michaels - The Harper and the Minstrel...
Sheebeg Sheemore
Come By The Hills
The Blacksmith
Since First I Saw Your Face
Scarborough Faire
Westlin Winds
The Faeries Hornpipe
The Twa Bonny Maidens
Nonesuch
All In A Garden Green
She Moved Through The Faire
The Faerie Dance
Planxty Fanny Power
Once I Had A Sweetheart
Brian Boru
Bonny Portmore
Jenny Pluck Pears
A Maid in Bedlam
Banish Misfortune
The Star of the County Down
Bouffons
Planxty Burke
Comin' Through the Rye
Carrickfergus
King of the Faeries
The Sally Gardens
The Lady of Shalott
Blind Mary
Come Again
Angel from Montgomery
The Last Rose of Summer
Green Grow the Rashes, O In a Garden So Green
Some of the Songs written by Jay Michaels... For A Moment The Man That I Remember Courage The Solitary Circle Believe With You At The Faire
Home
The Session
Seven Secrets
I Pray Thee Save the Trees...The Lament of the Last Elf
The March of the Elf King
Dreaming of Butterflies
Beloved Mine
Evening in the Enchanted Glade
The Maid in the Mist
Jurate
The Circle of Fae
Five and Seven
Two Faeries Dancing
Sir Topaz and the Elf Queen
The Last Day of the Faire
Some of the more modern songs arranged and performed by Jay and Abby Michaels...
Everything Little Thing She Does is Magic-Fields of Gold- Message in a Bottle-Diamonds and Rust-Ramble On-The Battle of Evermore-Your Move- Owner of a Lonely Heart-Rhiannon-Landslide- Down Easter Alexa-Harvest Moon- What A Wonderful World-Father and Son-Imagine-Eleanor Rigby Our House-With or Without You- Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
