HARPTALLICA: 'There Are A Lot Of Parallels Between Metal And Classical Music'

Ashley Toman and Patricia Kline of the clasically trained harp duo HARPTALLICA — which performs a series of arrangements based on the music of METALLICA — recently answered the following questions for The Charlotte Observer.

Q: What drew you to METALLICA as opposed to other mainstream acts or metal bands?

Toman: My husband got me into heavy metal. We had a lot of METALLICA CDs, so I found myself listening to them a lot. I grew to really love the songs, and I wanted to play them myself. But now, there are other bands such as MEGADETH and BLACK SABBATH that I would like to someday cover.

Q: What is it about METALLICA's music that lends itself so well to classical interpretation?

Kline: Part of it has to do with the density of the music. There are a lot of parallels between metal and classical music that people are eager to explore — the intensity of emotion, fascination with gothic and dark themes, and also some structural things. You could easily draw a comparison, for example, between guitar solos in metal music and cadenzas in symphonic music.

Q: What's it like having gone from nice theaters to small clubs?

Kline: The biggest change for me hasn't been the venues, but the audiences. Classical audiences are kind of distant, both literally and figuratively. It's been very cool for me to be able to interact with the audience while we're playing, to have them yell out requests or sing along and just to be able to see them.

Toman: I enjoy the clubs and bars. I love playing with the harp amplified. The harp can never be loud enough.

Q: Is part of the point to introduce people to the harp?

Kline: Definitely. One of the cool parts about playing live is getting to kind of give the tour after concerts. It's neat to show someone around the instrument for the first time and let them see how it works up close and personal.

Toman: Many have never seen a harp in person. I hadn't until I was 15. If I can get someone who would never dream of giving harp music a chance to listen to it, then I've done my job.

Q: How are fans reacting?

Kline: The music has been really well received. I always worried a little about how this was all going to go over, especially with the die-hard metal fans, but they seem to be the ones who actually really enjoy it.

Watch video footage of HARPTALLICA performing the METALLICA classic "The Unforgiven":