The Winter 2015 Christmas volume of Folk Harp Journal published J.D. Jones’s arrangement of “O Holy Night” for flute and harp. The piece was originally written for the duo of Breanna Wilkinson (flute) and JoAnne Jones (Celtic harp) in 2011, The instrumentation and arrangement are a perfect fit for the ever popular Christmas Eve services.
This is the third harp piece by J.D. Jones published in Folk Harp Journal. The fall 2014 volume of that periodical included two pieces by JoAnne, One was an arrangement, again for flute and Celtic harp, of the famous carol “Gesu Bambino.” The other piece was an original composition for Celtic harp called “Pleasant Pastures” which is based on Psalm 23.
J. D. Jones studied music composition at Houghton College under William Allen. Her major instrument has always been piano, but about five years ago she decided to take up Celtic harp, receiving lessons from Deette Bunn of Syracuse Symphony. While much of her arranging had been for piano and vocalists, J. D. Jones began writing for the harp almost immediately after taking up the instrument. Mrs. Bunn also critiqued JoAnne’s early arrangements for harp.
JoAnne's "O Holy Night" arrangement for flute and harp was performed by JoAnne and flutist Mary Sullivan at Copper Hill Church on Christmas Eve 2015. It was an inspiring presentation.