Perceptions of Harpist

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This topic has 10 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 9 months ago by Emily Granger.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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July 15, 2015 at 11:26 am #189099

S Hawkins
Participant

What are the most known perceptions about harpist. What are the things that you hear the most about harpist or the things that people believe most about harpist. Please share your interesting stories and thoughts about the perception of harpist. Please share and comment!!!

July 15, 2015 at 1:30 pm #189101

Biagio
Participant

Fun topic! From people with no prior interest or knowledge the most common perception is this:

“I thought harpists were mostly ladies in flowing gowns with that beautiful big gold harp!”

Always good for a giggle. After a little period of discussion the next question is often “Gosh, how much would a lever harp cost and where can I buy one?”

That’s one I really enjoy answering!

Biagio

July 15, 2015 at 2:28 pm #189102

Sylvia
Participant

But why is the topic posted twice?

July 15, 2015 at 3:45 pm #189104

balfour-knight
Participant

“Harpists are all Angels!”

July 15, 2015 at 4:22 pm #189106

Victoria
Participant

Harpists can’t count, can’t sight read well and always play out of tune. I have heard this perception from quite a few other orchestra musician.

Harpists are rich and snobs. Probably have something to do with how financially demanding it is to own a harp.

July 15, 2015 at 4:28 pm #189108

Sylvia
Participant

Here are the ones from the other (same) post.

Sylvia ON JULY 15, 2015 AT 1:25 PM #189100
One perception of harpists that I encounter is that harpists play only classical music.
Also, that a harpist needs another instrumentalist to play the melody.
Another is a kind of disbelief that harpists (especially girls) would lug around such a heavy instrument.

E
balfour-knight ON JULY 15, 2015 AT 3:48 PM #189105
You are correct, Sylvia. Our posts are going to two different places!

July 15, 2015 at 4:33 pm #189110

Sylvia
Participant

“Harpists can’t count, can’t sight read well and always play out of tune. I have heard this perception from quite a few other orchestra musician.”

I haven’t heard this from other orchestra musicians, but personally, I fit the first two categories. I like to think I’m pretty much in tune. However, we’re the only orchestra member who has 46 or 47 strings on our instrument, so any other orchestra player who says that is really obtuse.

July 15, 2015 at 4:53 pm #189112

S Hawkins
Participant

The 2nd post was a mistake. Sorry!!!

July 21, 2015 at 12:32 pm #189168

Saul Davis Zlatkovski
Participant

I grew up in Minnesota, and it seemed to me then that to be a professional harpist, you had to be a blonde with a blond style 23 harp.

July 24, 2015 at 2:24 am #189260

hearpe
Participant

“Harpists are all Angels”-

A number of years back I wrote a script about a harp bearing angel-
when I couldn’t sell the script- I finally put it online- and it’s still there:
http://thehearpe.tripod.com/index.html

Never known any real harpists myself, but I love “fairy music” and some of the fantasy art on youtube:

I’m a fairy guerilla journalist!

July 28, 2015 at 7:00 pm #189376

Emily Granger
Participant

I always get, “Oh you look just like a harpist! Do you all have long blonde hair?” I think the common perception is that we are super feminine in big gowns and sit around and play glissandi! And of course the Can’t count, can’t play in tune thing is unfortunate…. We can count and we can play in tune!
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