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Tayce- I replied earlier, but my post seemed to disappear.
So, I’m going to try and reconstruct what I initially said.
As to ‘gut-strung’ lever harps. Yes, I did try out and investigate the Boulevard at the AHS conference. For what it is, it’s a very useable instrument. Cost is at a good price point, as well. But you know, apart from that, it’s rather had to find such a wild beast (gut-strung) in a herd of nylon-strung harps!
I must say, your other comment was very odd. “…You mention people being reluctant to make definite recommendations – I think it is partly because we don’t know you well enough.”
I wasn’t aware that one needed to be ‘vetted’ on this forum, for an honest opinion to be made. In the matter of commerce, opinions are like people – everyone has one. If my opinion is not yours, that’s fine by me. But when dollars are at stake (or pounds, euros, etc.), at least someone giving insights, is better than none at all. For example, if you don’t like a certain movie, you can tell people that, and even go so far as to say, ‘Don’t waste your money… or your time.’ Well, spending thousands of dollars, rather than $10, makes ANY opinion that much more valuable- in time, money, and worrying.
But not allowing, or (worse yet) denigrating an opinion simply because it IS an opinion, is like the group mindset exemplified by the NPC meme- a chilling desire to stifle any speech, precisely because it is not ‘approved speech.’ Even (especially?) in the simple matter of buying a harp.
Now, having said all that, I understand people want to know where a person is coming from. I’ve alluded to my background in prior posts, but perhaps you’d like to know more about me.
I am an operatic basso, with a DMA in voice performance, and am a college professor of Music. I played viola in HS, College, and local community orchestras, before a bone degeneration thingy made that wrist torquing too painful. I’ve been an NPR announcer, and have sung on the stage, and even danced in ballet when younger! (which is why I love the harp part in Nutcracker) After some bodywork (Rolfing) my wrists are doing much better, and I find that horizontal or vertical hand positioning relative to the lower forearm, does NOT give pain- thus, piano and harp are viable options. I’m studying with a Salzedo lineage pupil, and want to play lever harp, to sing and play Celtic music, as this is my ethnic heritage. Hopefully, that helps with the ‘vetting’ aspect. Pax.
I agree with Tacye, to be able to give someone valid recommendations regarding certain harps, one needs to know a lot about the wishes and abilities of the person asking for advice. The point is, as others stated before in this thread, is that beginners seldom know what they are looking for and how their fysique could influence their choice.
People that love to play classical pieces would be happiest with a harp that is best suitable for that kind of music, while people dreaming of playing fast Irish music would prefer another kind of harp. And people that want one harp for all kinds of music, tend to make different choices than people that want one harp for each kind of music.
Then the way one is built, plays a role. A very short person may prefer another harp than a very large person.
Also, transportability plays an important role for some people and not for others.
There are many more factors playing a role with the selection of a harp.
One thing, which might deserve more attention: when one is a beginner, a harp with low tension string may feel and sound better than a harp with a rather hard tension. I think beginners really should ask a harp teacher, or a harp friend with a lot of experience on the harp, and/or the shop assistant to play on the harps for them. Every one gets a different sound from the same harp, but still, harps with hard tension sound quite different when played by an experienced harper than by a beginner.
Edit: Biagio, I saw your message immediately after I posted mine and agree with you.
Edit2: When one has Camac-levers or the new Salvi-levers on one’s harp, restringing the harp with a different material, would require a regulation of the levers and probably a replacement of some levers for levers meant for strings with a smaller (or larger) diameter.
“The point is, as others stated before in this thread, is that beginners seldom know what they are looking for and how their [sic] fysique could influence their choice.”
And I, (for my part) as a ‘beginner’ on harp, was trying to help other beginners. FWIW. I stated my preferences in harps, by specifically noting my physique (Large, long-limbed male) for that reason. Thanks.
If you had read my post a bit more carefully as well, you would have noted I addressed many of the points you (tentatively) raised as not having been considered, when I DID consider them. In this era of soundbytes, sometimes a bit more attention to a post may be in order. Sigh.
Thank you Charles for calming things down with those wise words. I really do wish that someone someday would write a book for players about how harps are designed and built and how different approaches produce different outcomes. That sort of information is either scattered over forums such as this…or else it will only be found on platforms directed at other harp makers.
I would add that a beginner might be best served if for some reason they cannot do that research, by purchasing one of the many good, but not concert quality harps. As we all also know, the harp and the player will “grow on each other” over time. If in the future the player finds it no longer suitable, if the harp is good quality it will be easy enough to sell. That in fact was my experience: after perhaps 8-10 years with nylon/gut strung harps I finally realized that it was the wire harp I actually liked best.
Incidentally for anyone else following this thread: “my” forum and several others do in fact vet prospective members before approving them for membership. They do this principally to weed out scammers or those who are merely interested in selling their product or gaining access to the forum files. But on occasion as well membership may be denied if a prospective member has a known reputation for being argumentative or even (in two cases I can recall) offensive.
Oh well,
Biagio
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