featured in this issue
Feature
Lesson Learned
What is the best thing you learned from your teacher? Harpists share their favorite words of wisdom.
Feature
Reset the Standard
Tired of teaching the same pieces over and over again? We’ll help you change up the status quo with some refreshing alternatives.
Interviews
Asian Fusion
Harp, gardening, raising animals, jazz, Judo—it’s all in a day’s work for Motoshi Kosako.
July-August 2014
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Columns and more
Tech Talk
Waiting for Green
Deciding whether a used harp is the right choice. ’all know Peter Wiley, right? Harp technician extraordinaire, oracle of knowledge and wisdom, the “Harp Doc.” He once said to me, “Mike, a harp is three things: a musical instrument, a mechanical device, and a work of art.” Keeping this observation in mind, let’s take a […]
Sounding Board
Obsessed
Being completely consumed by the harp is a good thing. “You must be completely obsessed with music to succeed.” A teacher whom I adored and respected told me this when I was young. In order to thrive, I needed to eat, sleep, and breathe my work. Could I imagine a life without my harp playing […]
From the Editor
3-D Viewing
Close up, none of us really fit the stereotype of a harpist. Raise your hand if you’ve heard someone say to you at a gig, “Oh, you look just like a harpist!” It was likely uttered as you played some glissandos while donning a flowing gown. Maybe you’ve heard the opposite (ah hem, gentlemen), “Why, […]
Strange But True Harp Stories
Divine Intervention
n July 2009, I attended my first Celtic harp training workshop, sparking my love affair with playing Celtic music. A few days after the workshop, I was asked to give a 45-minute presentation of Irish harp music to interested participants an upcoming, rather large Irish Festival. Love is blind. I said yes. For the next […]
Advice
How Much Slack to Leave?
Q: What is the correct amount of slack to leave when changing nylon, gut, or bass wire strings? n bass wire strings, the goal is to coil the wire three times around the tuning pin when the string is at pitch. The way I approach it is to make sure the tuning pin hole is pointing straight up […]
Reviews and extras
Music Review
Stock Up
Lots of original compositions to add to your repertoire. There are several new original works for both pedal and lever harp that are worthwhile additions to harp repertoire. Frank Voltz has added some new pieces to his library of publications by Chiera Music for lever or pedal harp. The highlight of these recent additions is […]
Recording Review
Ek is Eik
Anne Vanschothorst, harp; Saskia Laroo, trumpet; Ernst Stolz, viola da gamba; Arthur Bont, percussion; Bob van Luijt, bass; Big Round Records, 2014. 4.5 harps (Note: recording reviews prior to 2014 were based on a 5-star system.) It’s not harp, but muted trumpet that sets the mood for Anne Vanschorthorst’s minimalist, soulful album Ek is Eik. […]
Recording Review
Impressions de France
Caroline Leonardelli, Naxos, 2014 4.75 harps (Note: recording reviews prior to 2014 were based on a 5-star system.) How do you become a world class harpist? Practice, practice, practice. Right, very funny, Alison. But aside from countless hours of work, there is usually a spark, an inspiration, something that grabs a young budding musician and sends […]