In 2008 Mike worked with the BBC in the adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’, which was screened on UK television in four parts during September/October 2008. Mike’s contribution involved first travelling to London to work with actor Eddie Redmayne (Angel Clare in the story), teaching him to play a traditional English song ‘The Snow That Melts The Soonest’ on an 1880’s Zimmermann autoharp belonging to Mike and which is seen in use in the production.

In the summer of 2008 Mike worked on location with the BBC in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to supervise the use and maintenance of the instrument and to advise Mr Redmayne during shooting.

Following the tutoring of Mr Redmayne, Mike attended shooting of scenes involving the use of the autoharp working on location with the BBC in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to supervise use and maintenance of the instrument and to advise the actor during shooting. It is unlikely that Thomas Hardy ever came across an autoharp before his book was published in 1891, his text referring simply to a small harp, so the still-operational Zimmermann had the right ‘feel’ and vintage appearance appropriate for the film.

Some autoharp background texture was used on the musical soundtrack for several scenes, and it is Mike that you hear playing a required rudimentary version of the ‘Snow’ tune during the scene where Tess and the other farm girls are turning in for the night and they hear Angel upstairs practising on his ‘harp.

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