Awaiting arrival of first harp. Have several questions

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This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 9 months ago by sheila reiss.

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December 2, 2010 at 5:55 pm #158103

sheila reiss
Participant

Hello. I am currently awaiting the arrival of my first harp. I bought a 12 string Celtic Baby Harp. It is all that I can afford presently. I have studied and played the piano for 44 years. I have been teaching for 16. I know music. However, I am looking for sheet music for 12 strings (for the new harp). All of the music that I have seen online is for at least 19 strings. Can anyone tell me if there is published music for this 12 string (octave 1/2) instrument. Secondly,
though, as I stated, I currently am limited to the 12 string harp, do you feel, small though it is, this is a credible learning instrument? I would appreciate and all answers as I am very excited about this new musical experience. Thank you in advance.

December 2, 2010 at 6:16 pm #158104

kay-lister
Member

Hi Sheila,

Welcome to the world of harps!

December 2, 2010 at 6:36 pm #158105

sheila reiss
Participant

Kay,
Thank you for your quick response. I do expect to outgrow this first harp in the near future, but I look forward to the initial experience. Needless to say, there are no sharpening levers on this intro instrument. Can I manually tune it by adjusting the tension and the F and C strings enough to sharpen them and thus put the instrument into the key of D for example…thereby expanding the variety of songs? (It’s really amusing to me how excited I am about a $90 harp….considering I own a $10,000 baby grand piano. I guess it’s the novelty of it all…..such a mesmerizing sound.)
Thanks again.

December 2, 2010 at 7:03 pm #158106

kay-lister
Member

Hmmmm – $90.00?

December 2, 2010 at 7:07 pm #158107

sheila reiss
Participant

Thanks Kay. Of course I was aware of the quality and limitations when I ordered this, but for now I will bide my time…..play small…..and dream big. When I feel confined with 12 strings….I will pivot and address 88 keys. All in good time (no pun intended). Thank you for your time Kay. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season. I’m sure you’ll provide lots of melody. Maybe I will drop a line in the future if you don’t mind.
Take care and
Thanks again.
Sheila R.

December 2, 2010 at 7:14 pm #158108

kay-lister
Member

Best to you Sheila, Merry Christmas and so GLAD to hear that the harp bug has bitten once again.

Kay

December 2, 2010 at 7:37 pm #158109

Tacye
Participant

Hi Sheila, it sounds like you have fairly realistic expectations of this instrument, I hope it starts something for you which goes much further!

December 3, 2010 at 4:05 am #158110

Saul Davis Zlatkovski
Participant

You can play all kinds of medieval music, with a simple bass line, a drone, or single notes or fifths on the lower strings. They don’t have so much range and are often diatonic. You can also play jigs, reels, and the like, which come by the yard.

December 3, 2010 at 6:26 am #158111

sheila reiss
Participant

Thank you very much for your input. I’m very much looking forward to this new experience. My passion has been the piano for the past 44 years, and it remains so. However, there has always been a buried desire to play the harp (I guess it’s a string-thing). Again, thank you.
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