“Terri Langerak brought to the Aberdeen Steakhouse in Atwood, KS music which was unlike any ever heard before. The moment her hands slid confidently across the harpstrings, the vibrations which resonated from her beautiful instrument captivated and enchanted us. We moved from a reality of clinking silverware to an awestruck land of magic sound. I literally had brain cells activated for the first time as my ears received the blending notes. If glistening webs in a forest glen could produce music, it would sound like Terri's harping. Her songs, lessons in humanity and healing, are delivered with a bluesy throatiness, contrasting delightfully with the harp's voice. We, at the Aberdeen, will look forward to her return and hope it comes very soon.”
Thank you again for ALL,
Alice, Jeff & Grace, proprietors of the Aberdeen Steak House, Atwood, KS
Zen Koans & Caffeine
Terri Langerak Casts Spell at Borders
Harpist Terri Langerak details the atmosphere with her music. Playing to a roomful of caffeine-consuming listeners and readers Friday night in the cafe space at Borders, Fairview Heights, she utilized her slightly-amplified instrument's shimmers, glimmers, scintillations, and washing waves of sound to subtly suspend moving time.
In doing so she managed to create an authentic air of mystery.
As both of the harpist's hands are about the business of striking strings --neither one required in service to fingerboards, fretboards, or plectrums--the skilled performer will capitalize upon this manual mobility to embellish the sound with effects. In Langerak's case, the embellishments tend to be "sculptural" in nature. As you watch her hands move away from the plucked strings, they cup and tilt and turn--reinforced with considerable body-English--deflecting and caressing the sound waves as they undulate out into the room.
There is something ever-so-subtly magical taking place as she does this-an unmistakable transformation in which, as they say, "the singer becomes the song."
Which is a good thing, because "magic" has a lot to do with what this woman's music is about: a magic that magnifies moments, and their accompanying sensations, in time.
A case in point Friday night was "Tea Mind", from her most recent CD "Zen Breakfast". Against descending scales she spoke a few spare lines of verse that invoked images of a tea kettle, warmed water, and tea leaves. The song conveyed what seems to be a recurrent theme in her verses, the Zen-imperative to immerse oneself in the drama of the unfolding moment. As the piece progressed, Langerak launched into some of the evening's most vivid, jazz-style harp playing.
Although narrative threads run through her songs, their impact derives from this singer-songwriter's impressive command of powerful, sensorial images: the black feathers and blood of a crow fallen in the snow, a single leaf poised against a rock in the middle of a rushing stream, the sensation of a kiss.
Langerak's songs, while delightfully melodic, do not run especially circular courses. Rather, they meander according to the strictures of a musical navigation that is all her own. Although the melodies arrive back home, the courses they run are free ones that serve her verses wonderfully.
Her music, Friday night, demonstrated the power to cut through the percussion of banging baristas, the giggles of courting adolescents, and the pervading caffeine buzz of Borders, addressing itself to the hearts of Langerak's fascinated listeners.
Paul Harris - Prospect News, St. Louis, MO
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“Terri Langerak’s exquisite harp truly stands out. How lucky St. Louis is to have a singing, plucking (and plucky!) harpist. “Center of the River” finds Terri striking a great balance between the bass line on one hand, the luscious glissandos of the upper octaves on the other hand, and a nice, unforced vocal in the middle. “Ravensong” evokes a wintry mood, almost commanding you to pour a glass of lightly chilled wine, dim the lights and lose yourself in the music. Even though it’s summer, the track evokes a satisfying autumnal chill. Terri’s ability on the harp is well-known, and is a local treasure.” Kevin Renick, NoisyPaper
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“Every aspect of Terri’s music stands alone as prolific, intelligent and rich with human experience. As if playing one of the most unusual instruments around wasn’t enough, Terri adds to her songs a beautiful voice and a tremendous ability to write thought provoking and inspired songs. While her intricate harp playing is truly a sight to behold, her words are no less expertly fashioned. Her voice is both earthy and smooth and floats nicely beside the intricacies of her well trained fingers.” Jeff Shaw, Host of The Pony Expresso Cafe’ Expression Sessions, and producer of ‘Suite 16’ , a compilation CD of 16 St. Louis female original artists.
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“When you think of the Harp, do you think of angels? Soft classical/new age music? Serenity in Heaven, floating on a cloud? Think again! St. Louis Harpist/Singer/Songwriter, Terri Langerak, plays her electric concert harp like you’ve never imagined it could be played. Audiences love her rich and mellow bluesy voice, coupled with amazing and spontaneous harp playing.”
Kendra Kermann, CRC @ Borders’ Books and Music, Creve Coeur, MO.
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"Terri's voice and harp tap into the soul of us all. Whether it's the heavenly notes you might normally associate with the instrument, or the notes of anger/hurt as she bends them to the 'bluesy" format that distinguishes her from the usual ideas you have when you hear that she's "a harpist". In fact, her work on electric harp has opened up a whole new world of sounds and emotions for me as a listener that can only be heard to be experienced! There's nothing 'usual' about Terri, as she covers the gamit of topics from her 'ode to the organic farmer', to the plaintive plea of a love 'gone cold', to the tale of an extraterrestrial, to the recurring theme throughout her work of yearning for the oneness of everything! To that end, she's not just a Women's Artist, though she's a woman; any more than she's not just a harpist, though it's her instrument of choice (and there is some debate on whether she chose or was chosen...)" Clint Harding (the Voice of Saturday morning radio...), Blue Highways, KDHX, St. Louis.
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“The first and only harp player to grace the Acoustic Night stage! A ‘Suite 16’ member, she plays professionally around town in various venues, plucking and strumming glorious and entrancing tones from the classic instrument, much like an artist who paints with sounds. Meshed perfectly with sensitive, intimate vocals, her loving and unique range of songs become a melodic feast for the ears.” Kentaro Sugiyama, Singer/Songwriter and Presenter for the ‘Acoustic Night Concert Series’
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