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Hand Injury Considerations

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Viewing 11 posts - 31 through 41 (of 41 total)
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  • #232425
    leisesturm
    Participant

    @Biagio, I will look into those other forums. TBH though there is plenty here in archived discussions. Many of my Google searches link right back here, albeit to threads that started (and ended) more than 10 years ago. An interesting thing about those is that some posts are obviously truncated as follow-up posts refer to information that no longer appears in the earlier entries. Still I remain impressed with the ability of the harping community to discourse in a very genial manner until the subject of Grandjany v Salzedo comes up. The gloves come off then.

    I go back and forth between the Ravenna and the Crescendo and I am ashamed to admit it comes down to appearance. The Rees people were my first contact with the harp world and I really wanted to like their instruments more because they are just so gosh darned nice. Then Sylvia played a Rees and Dusty Strings side by side and there was no contest.

    I could not hear a difference between any of the 34 string Dusties over the Skype connection. A Ravenna with Camac levers, pickup, and case costs about what the base Crescendo costs! I’m more than tempted.

    Obviously aesthetics matter in harp design and manufacture. I’ve never seen so much sheer … creativity applied to the appearance of any musical instrument. To my eyes the instruments that streamline the interface between the column and the top arch are the most pleasing. Crescendo wins there. The deep soundboxes of pedal harps in general is a design feature that has not crossed over to lever harps except the Ravenna. I don’t include the L&H Prelude in the category of lever harps as the Dusties.

    Sigh, a Crescendo with Camac levers, pickup and case probably cannot be justified as a first instrument. But, like I said, I would pull that trigger if it had that deep soundbox (at the base) the Ravenna has. I can’t be the only one that feels this way. You may be better placed than most to convey my opinions to the luthiers that actually make the instruments that we consider for purchase. Cheers.

    #232429
    wil-weten
    Participant

    Hi Howard, did I already mention that I like to complicate things? LOL
    I think the Dusty Ravenna is a real nice harp to start one’s harp journey with and the staved soundbox probably feels significantly more comfortable while playing then the square box of the Crescendo.

    But you may like to have a look at the 34 string Dusty Boulevard Classic too. It looks a lot like a Ravenna (and is based on that model), but it is strung with pedal gut strings. Perhaps you like the sound, perhaps you don’t. But, I think, you would really like to find this out for yourself.

    Yes, I do understand you’d like to play celtic music on it, but as you often play in churches, you would also like to play Bach, which in my opinion, sounds better on a pedal gut strung lever harp. On the other hand, nylon strings may feel kinder to your fingers….
    Anyway, you may like to have a look at and listen to the soundclip at: https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/harps/browse-models/boulevard-34

    Frankly, when I would choose a 34 string harp with pedal gut, I undoubtedly would choose a L&H Ogden for its mellow and rich sound (see: https://www.lyonhealy.com/harps/ogden/. But L&H’s have the widest space between the strings in the bass section of all harps I know, so that may be not so comfortable for your left hand in your particular case.

    But anyway, whether you prefer a Dusty Ravenna or a Dusty Boulevard, is mainly a question of taste, and in my opinion, one can’t get wrong with a Dusty.

    #232435
    Biagio
    Participant

    Hi Howard,

    Those Yahoo! forums…one must be member to take full advantage of the wealth of knowledge in them. TBD as you say however, and the VHC has been rather quiet of late.

    I do think that aesthetics can be almost as important as tone and economics so no reason to be “ashamed.” A beautiful harp is an inducement to play!

    We argue about all sorts of things – strings, technique, sound boards, tension, the box size and shape, the proper glues to use, how to construct the joints, and ya dee ya dee. Sometimes the discussions get heated but I think you will find that the harp world is one of the most generous with shared knowledge anywhere, with very few exceptions.

    I personally may disagree with others on some points for instance, but I often come at many questions from the standpoint of a harp maker rather than a player. That does make me an authority, and we are still very good friends. The more opinions the better!

    Certainly finances are a consideration; in general I advise buying the best harp one can afford. A solid wood sound board as on the FHs will improve over time while a high density laminate as on the Ravennas/Crescendo/Boulevard will not (at least, not much). OTOH it will cost more (grin).

    It is probably a good idea to assume that the first harp will not be the last; most players I know have at least two, often more (I have three and at one time had eight – gasp!) So it may be a good idea to go with something less expensive like the Ravenna or Crescendo at first.

    It will also depend on the venue; those who often play outdoors like a laminate board and nylon strings, which do not react to humidity as much as do solid wood and gut. I mentioned Harper Tasche; he often plays a Dusty for FH indoors (mahogany and spruce SB) and a Boulding Oran Mor (laminate board) outside.

    In any case I don’t think you can go wrong with a Dusty, Thormahlen, Rees, Camac, Boulding or other established maker if you like the feel, tone and etc.

    Best wishes and enjoy the journey!
    Biagio

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Biagio.
    #232438
    leisesturm
    Participant

    Hmmm. I just gave the Boulevard a listen and, just for good measure, the Ravenna and Crescendo, again. I don’t really care as much as many, about the difference in sound between a Steinway, Kawai or Borsendorfer piano. I am finding, however, that I definitely notice the difference between the Ravenna and the Boulevard, and I much prefer the sound of the Ravenna for the Celtic repertoire. I also noticed the difficulty the harpist had in cleanly executing the moderate embellishments on the Boulevard. Hard to say whether it was just an inexperienced harpist or whether the higher tension made for the difficulty.

    The Crescendo was quite a bit louder than the Ravenna but otherwise they appear to have an identical timbre. Either one sounds just right for doing Celtic type solos and accompaniments. Wil-weten, you are right, for Bach I would want a different sound. I am ok with needing two harps! But as a starter harp the Celtic types seem more approachable. It would be tempting to just do it all on a pedal tension lever harp but the Boulevard would not be the one in that case. The L&H Prelude more fits that bill IMO.

    Dusty Strings is in Seattle and probably only 3 hours north of me so I shall probably have to take a trip.

    #232440
    Biagio
    Participant

    Tasche plays all the lever harp sound samples on the Dusty Strings website except the Boulevard, which is played by Marianne Sussman. She is primarily a pedal harpist, though she also plays lever harp. They are recorded just with a mike – no mixers, equalizers etc. So what you hear there is what you get in the hands of a very experienced harper or harpist.

    A trip to DS would be a good idea, and aside from their own models they sometimes have others on consignment. I came within a gnat’s whisker once from buying an Excaliber haha. So , yeah, by all means take a field trip to their Fremont music shop,and while you are in Seattle also visit their HQ and factory in Ballard. That alone is worth a trip!

    In fact, if you ask my advice I’d visit in the reverse order – first tour the factory to see the harps being made and talk with the crafts people; then try the harps on the floor with a deeper understanding of the models’ differences.

    Have fun, they’re wonderful people!
    Biagio

    #232451
    balfour-knight
    Participant

    Wow, guys, there are many more good posts here since I last saw this forum! Biagio, CL loved the “malt cows” comment! She is still laughing about it!

    Howard, I once owned a very nice Ravenna 34 for a number of years. I traded it in on the FH36S in cherry, mainly for financial reasons–you know how that is! I also knew that I would probably never play the Ravenna again, compared to the FH! I do love the built-in pickups–they are a MUST for the kinds of outdoor events I play for. I agree with others who have said, “you cannot go wrong buying a Dusty!” Also, one of the best things, in my opinion, is the Camac levers Dusty is now using on their harps. I had only experienced Lovelands and Truitts before I finally saw Camac levers in Atlanta, GA at the Atlanta Harp Center. I was sold on them immediately! Not only do they SOUND better, but there is no unpleasant rubbing on the Bass strings when levers are flipped during the playing of a piece. The Lovelands used to “scrape” in a very embarrassing way when I performed on lever harp, and there seemed to be no way around it, other than flipping fewer levers, which I do not like to do. The Truitts were better than the Lovelands, but not as easy to use as the Camacs, and their handles always feel “thin” in my fingers. The Camacs are very solid and have a nice, fluid movement.

    Howard, it is a fine balance among my instruments, two harps, piano and organ. I dearly love all of them, and they are like magnets drawing me to them, depending on what mood I am in and which one I want to play at that particular point in time. Also, if I have a concert or program coming up, that dictates which instrument will get special attention right now, like my next performance is on the Dusty FH36S. (Yes, I do play a lot of Bach and all sorts of styles of music on the Dusty!) I will ask Harp Column to give you my personal E-Mail address, since I do not want to post it here.

    Take care, harp friends!
    Balfour

    #232535
    balfour-knight
    Participant

    Howard,
    I asked Alison at HC to give you my personal e-mail address, but have not heard from her. You may need to ask her for it, if you like.
    Best wishes,
    Balfour

    #233390
    leisesturm
    Participant

    >Not to butt in Howard but your post reminded me: there are two other forums you might consider joining: the Harplist and the Virtual Harp Circle. Both are Yahoo! groups, the latter was set up originally explicitly for beginning “harperists”. It is easier to reply directly from them than it is here.<

    In light of the quoted above I thought it important to share intel I acquired just minutes ago: https://organforum.com/forums/forum/blower-room/general-chat/668278-yahoo-shutting-down-groups

    #233397
    wil-weten
    Participant

    Recently, Harplist has transitioned to: https://harplist.groups.io

    #240661
    Sallie
    Participant

    Howard –
    I just saw your question about hand problems. It reminded me that I had a similar experience with my right ring finger and pinkie long ago. I went to a hand specialist, who diagnosed irritation of the ulnar nerve. It runs through the elbow and controls those two fingers.
    The cure consisted of a splint for several months and giving up such things as raking leaves, washing windows and other “rhythmic” activities.
    Have you seen a doctor?

    #241131

    If I didn’t say so already, for any soft-tissue injuries (non bone) I strongly urge seeking out a radiologist who is trained in using ultrasound imaging to provide an accurate picture of what is happening in the body, and who can then use needle therapy (injections or needling) to cure such conditions as trigger finger, tennis elbow, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and such things, without surgery. The technique was perfected by Dr. Levon Nazarian, my doctor, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and he has trained many doctors in this procedure.

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