Radio controlled replacement technology for pedal harps

[unknown-user]

Hi Michael,

The Wagner harp is on the Horngacher website. Rod listed the link above, but googling Horngacher harps should work.

Good luck!

[john-strand]

re – your jazz inclinations and pedal work – have a listen to some of the Mimi Allen arrangements – she was particularly noted for her Gershwin arrangements and the speed and complexity of her pedal changes – also, Stella Castellucci is a marvel of jazz voicings on the harp – also noted for complex pedal work and textures – she also has a book

[barbara-brundage]

I think for sheer chromatic virtuosity, nobody can equal Park Stickney.

[michael-rockowitz]

[Tacye]

The Beckmesser is specifically designed for use in Wagner’s
Meistersinger- a one-song harp!

[michael-rockowitz]

Tacye,

I see the irony you’re referring to.

[unknown-user]

Michael, have you considered a cross-strung harp? No levers at all, all the notes. The playing technique is a bit different, to deal with the differing planes of strings, but there are quite a few players nowadays who are very, very good. (And there are of course the Welsh and baroque triple harps, and double harps.)

Check out this page for an introduction:
The Contemporary cross strung harp
(lists some makers and recordings to check out, too.)

[michael-rockowitz]

[unknown-user]

This site has samples from cross-strung player Skye Hulbert:
http://members.cox.net/skyenotes/songs.html

Do you have iTunes? If so, search for Harper Tasche and you will find plenty of recordings to hear a 30 second sample of, and of course buy by individual track. Lots is folky/new-age but there are a few jazzy and classical tracks that also show the chromatic possibilities (including Joplin’s The Entertainer). Likewise you can look up Cynthia Lynn Douglass on iTunes.

[michael-rockowitz]

[unknown-user]

Hmm…bearing in mind I’ve never personally played a cross-strung nor inline chromatic harp, I really can’t see much difference in the overall learning curve and effort required to get to a certain standard of improvisational jazz on either cross-strung, inline chromatic, pedal, or lever harp.They all have their pros and cons and idiosyncrasies.

Verlene Schermer teaches jazz and improvisation on cross-strung and diatonic harps, and has published a couple of books on jazz chords for cross-strung harp.

Probably the only way to really tell what would suit you would be to try out various kinds of harps.

[e-nb]

Michael, if you can create a lever harp with all the advantages of the pedal harp – especially with regard to weight and cost, I will hero-worship you! Go for it, I say!

Have you heard Catriona McKay’s music? She developed a harp in conjunction with Starfish harps in Scotland which has a chromatic octave below middle C, and the rest of the harp is diatonic. It is a compromise, but allowed her to do much more chromatic stuff than a standard lever harp. Check out her website http://web.mac.com/catrionamckay

Or her Myspace site – search for Catriona McKay in the music section.

Enjoy!

[michael-rockowitz]

[michael-rockowitz]

[michael-rockowitz]

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