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Best lever harp for Celtic repertoire?
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Home › Forums › Harps and Accessories › Best lever harp for Celtic repertoire?

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Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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  • October 11, 2023 at 9:36 am #305951
    rozelle-sunkel
    Participant

    I’ve been playing on a pedal harp for almost 10 years (only had a Salvi lever harp the first year of my lessons). I want to explore Celtic music but I’ve read that the high string tension and larger spacing on pedal harps can make it more challenging?

    I want to buy a lever harp in the near future, so I’m wondering which model/s would be best for the type of music I want to play (advanced Celtic repertoire)?

    I’ve checked Lyon & Healy’s website but their best-selling lever harp has the string tension of a pedal harp, which I want to avoid, it seems. I also want to avoid a harp that sounds too “tinny.”

    Any advice?

    October 22, 2023 at 2:37 pm #306079
    Shannon Friel
    Member

    Hi Rozelle,

    Here’s a small list. Most are light-tension with narrower string spacing.

    Sligo Luchair (what I play)
    Salvi Donegal (“standard” spacing. I have one but find I always gravitate back to the Sligo)
    Camac Janet
    Fisher Harps
    Teifi (would have to find used)
    Starfish Harps
    Kevin Harrington Harps
    Killarney Harps
    Thormahlen Ceili

    I was also originally a pedal harpist. For more advanced Irish-style playing, the change of harp improved the sound dramatically (and was also more comfortable). Hope this helps!

    October 22, 2023 at 7:16 pm #306082
    balfour-knight
    Participant

    check out the Camac line of fine lever harps!

    October 26, 2023 at 1:45 pm #306164
    Jerusha Amado
    Participant

    I play a lot of Celtic music on my Dusty Strings 36S in maple. It has medium-tension, regular string spacing, and also has an ethereal tone that is perfect for this genre.

    • This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Jerusha Amado.
    October 27, 2023 at 10:34 am #306265
    balfour-knight
    Participant

    I agree completely, Jerusha! How could I recommend Camac without saying something wonderful about my Dusty FH36S? My “Cherie” is my favorite lever harp of all time, and I have had her since 2015. She is so special that I only own ONE lever harp. I love the beautiful figured cherry wood, both for its appearance and its most wonderful sound! Also, this harp is blessed with Camac levers, my favorite! All different types of music are possible and beautiful on this harp, including Celtic.

    Good to see your post here, Jerusha.

    Harp Hugs and best wishes,
    Balfour

    October 28, 2023 at 10:51 pm #306323
    Jerusha Amado
    Participant

    Thanks, Balfour! It’s good to be back posting!

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