Dusty’s and Preludes

[deb-l]

I know .. another thread about my harp rental dilemmas.

[barbara-brundage]

You know, Deb, I think you’re at the point where you have to let your heart decide. You’ve done the research; now go play those harps and pick the one that speaks to you, whichever model it may happen to be. 🙂

[deb-l]

thank you for the encouragement Barbara.

[barbara-brundage]

Yes, that’s my arrangement, and yes, t’s possible on a prelude. I was using a prelude(38 string version) when I did that arrangement. I always check everything on that harp to be sure it’s possible, although it’s a bit quicker on a low headed harp like a dusty.

[deb-l]

that is an incredibly beautiful arrangement.

[barbara-brundage]

You’re welcome, Deb. One thing about a harp like the prelude: You might find it helps to sit a bit higher than you might otherwise do, in order to be closer to the levers. (I don’t bother, but for some people it’s a help.)

When trying out the harps, see if you can get arranged so that you’re comfortable for playing but you can also reach up to the low G lever without having to get up off your bench or do a lot of wiggling around to make the grab. If you can do that, you should be fine with about 99% of the literature (in all musical styles) that requires lever changes.

[deb-l]

thanks Barbara, I have a piano bench that I should be able to adjust to the right height.

[Karen Johns]

But what about your portability issue? Wouldn’t getting a pedal harp complicate this? Or even the Prelude- they weigh upwards of 40 lbs.

The total value of my three harps is around $13,000, but I would never trade them in for a used pedal harp. I’d feel confined to just one instrument, one voice. But that’s just me, and I’ve never been interested in pedal harps. I still feel that you may find you are a multi-harp person: at least one for performance and one for portability. At least this way you don’t have to make up your mind on just one!

Can you rent two at a time? Or buy one and rent another? Thoughts anybody?

Karen

[unknown-user]

Deb, didn’t you return the Egan due to it being too big and not portable enough, and the room you have to keep it in because of the wood heater

[deb-l]

yes Natty, I wouldn’t be considering a Prelude or a dusty except a couple things have changed, new furniture, rearranged, so I have a space in my living room, and my daughter is getting an appartment so I will have a bird room.

[deb-l]

Karen,

[Karen Johns]

Anytime I can help, just let me know!

A word about those Preludes…if it is new and

[deb-l]

thanks for the advice on the strings Karen, good to hear they settle in and it diminishes.

[Donna O]

Deb,
Just to let you know, Preludes come with nylon strings in the first two octaves.

[Ann]

I’m with Karen. Just my personal opinion, but it really sounds like your heart won’t be satisfied with an all-around harp. There will be too many compromises, even with a Dusty. You might just be a multi-harp person, as she suggests. Your challenge now is not beating your harp(s) into the shape of your budget, but rather, shaping the budget to fit your necessary harps.

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