lever harp vs. pedal harp

[unknown-user]

Hey Jerusha —

In regards to playing jazz on a lever harp, I’ve found it most fun to start with Blues. I tune my harp in Ab, then mostly play blues in F and Bb. I recently learned to play Rhythm Changes (basically, “I Got Rhythm”) on a lever harp after many years of trying, that was a long-time goal — now I just have to get comfortable with it. A couple other tips are: Summertime (basically a minor blues), Take Five (but you have to sing the melody). I noticed in another post that you noted I don’t really consider myself a jazz player any more (very true, and glad to hear people are noticing that — many folks still call me a jazz-harpist and it’s just not true anymore!). I’ve also totally fallen in love with the lever harp. Anyway, I’m starting to try to merge the two a little more (jazz forms and harmonies with the lever harp), moving out from Blues and Flamenco — so hopefully in the next couple years I’ll have some more tips on how to get some better — uh – leverage — on jazz tunes.

Meanwhile — to check out some blues levering, my show “Invention & Alchemy” is on a lot of PBS stations and I think there might be a cut of “Way You Are Blues” on YouTube.

Hey — have a great time — it’s a wonderful challenge to merge lever harp and jazz!

[Jerusha Amado]

Thanks for writing, Deborah!

You know, I thought of you as a straight-ahead jazz musician with “Round the Corner” and then

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

I like lever harps with a full, sweet sound. But an electric lever harp with the sound of a crappy South American harp is poison to my ears, no matter what you do with it.

[Han Hsieh]

“But an electric lever harp with the sound of a crappy South American harp is poison to my ears, no matter what you do with it.”

I can’t believe these words are coming from a PROFESSIONAL harpist. I think it’s insulting, and it’s multidimensional to other hopists, people, cultures, life styles………… history……. Sigh………..

[Victor Ortega]

Han, I agree… aesthetics are very subjective, and what one person (or one culture, for that matter) loves might well be disgusting to another; and yet, because it’s so subjective, it’s good for us to respect the views and preferences that others hold in this regard.

[Jerusha Amado]

The reason why the electric lever sounds like poison to your ears is that you’re comparing it to an acoustic harp.

[John McK]

Maybe somebody should tell Saul that you need to PLUG THEM IN first!

;P

[HBrock25]

Hello?

[unknown-user]

Hello All

I live in Uk and recently took a break from teaching to do something new for myself.

I bought a lever harp ( Pilgrim Clarsach) and found a teacher ( travelling great distance!) and joined an ensemble ( great!)

Then bought a fabulously cheap L and H style 23 pedal harp which is magnificent, and only goes to ensemble occasionally because of the weight!

I have learnt a lot in my short harpsical career so far.

Firstly I have learnt that there is a huge resurgence in interest in the harp.

Secondly I learnt that this interest is quashed at the first post when prices are discussed.

So consequently, I learnt that thirdly, learning the harp is only for rich kids, or, middle aged chick-less- nested mums with more disposable income to be able to afford to buy a harp and more time on their hands to learn to play it.

And fourthly, we have a handful of very rich harp makers who control the market, advising x customers of an inflated

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Re: new music for the lever harp: I have just finished compiling a book of music for either lever or pedal harp, which will be available this month from The Avondale Press in Vancouver, BC. I threw in some humorous general advice and more specific tips as well, listed under each piece’s title. It ranges from intermediate to advanced in difficulty, and all the pieces are no more than three pages long. The longer pieces will have pages which fold out, so that buyers will not have to photocopy in order to turn the pages!

[mark-andersen]

This sounds excellent. Please let us know when it’s ready for purchase.
Mark

[unknown-user]

Thar sounds great! Will look out for it when it goes “live”. Many thanks.

[unknown-user]

“…harp is only for rich kids, or, middle aged chick-less- nested mums with more disposable income to be able to afford to buy a harp and more time on their hands to learn to play it.”

OK, so I do know some harpists who resemble that remark.

But

[unknown-user]

Just getting my two cents in.

[brook-boddie]

Congratulations, Mike (from another male harpist).

[Author]

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