Why do you play the harp?

[clh-h]

I’m a huge J.R.R. Tolkien fan, and he often mentions the harp in his writings.

In one particularly inspiring scene Fingon, an Elf, is searching for his friend who is being held captive by the enemy. He can’t find a way into the enemy’s stronghold so “in defiance of the Orcs, who cowered still in dark vaults beneath the earth, he took his harp and sang a song of Valinor that the Noldor made of old… and his voice rang in the mournful hollows that had never heard aught before save cries of fear and woe.” I always found it quite strange and intriguing that he suddenly had a harp at the ready, the idea that he would take his harp with him on a rescue mission.

I started to think that if I ever played an instrument, I would be the harp. Admittedly, at first, because all the Elves were doing it, and because I didn’t know anyone else who played the harp and it just seemed like such a strange and wonderfully geeky thing to do. I mentioned wanting to play the harp to a friend once and she laughed and said I didn’t seem the type and would have to wear a long flowy dress if I played the harp. Her reaction did nothing but to enforce the desire. I love nothing more than to defy stereotypes.

So I did some research about harps and when I graduated from high-school I bought my harp with some of the money I got as graduation gifts. It’s a 19 string mid-east pixie harp, which all of you with the big expensive harps love to call rubbish, but I don’t care. I love it. It may not be as good as one of the expensive ones but it’s good enough for me (and better looking in my opinion). I only wish it had more strings sometimes.

What keeps me playing it is that it has just about everything you could want from an instrument. It sounds good even when you aren’t that good at playing. It looks great. And it feels amazing in your arms and under your fingers. It also has a rich and beautiful history, which along with it’s rarity (when compared to guitars, flute, saxophones and all that) always makes it feel old and exotic.

[Amber M]

When I was in high school, I was fortunate enough to go on an exchange program to the UK and Ireland.

[Angela Biggs]

clh, my first harp(s!) were all Pakistani models, way back in the early 2000s. As I grew out of each one, I upgraded to the next larger model by hanging out on mid-east.com and waiting for a refurbished one to become available, because they were half-off that way. I get that they’re not professional-quality, but even now that I have a glorious Sylvan by Heartland Harps (and the road to it was *ten* years long!), I still think those Pakistanis are good as a first and cheap option. Somebody on YouTube once sniped at me for saying that, but hey – it was what I could afford, it looked beautiful, I was able to learn all the skills I needed, and it only took me a day to adjust to the different string spacing when I got my hands on the dream harp.

In fact, I was just remarking to myself again today that one of those Pakistani harps actually held its tune much better than the Sylvan, and at a time in my life when I couldn’t afford to keep it in a climate-controlled environment!

So best of luck with your little harp. Not all of us are looking down on it. 🙂 If you’ve outgrown 22 strings, try looking online for used or refurbished harps. Believe it or not, I found my Sylvan on Craigslist!!

[shannon-schumann]

Since Comic Con

[Amber M]

Thats awesome! Got a good laugh out of your middle of the night story.

[lisa-kikol]

I fell in love with the HARP on a very superficial level.

[rod-c]

Hi Lisa..

It is quite a special instrument, isn’t it?

[Stephen Conor]

Same here. I fell inlove with the harp when my parents enrolled me in a music school. I was there for voice lessons but I overheard someone play the harp and I fell inlove with it eversince.

[michael-steadman]

I was 15 or 16 years old and playing principal bassoon in the all-state orchestra in Boulder, Colorado.

[Jerusha Amado]

The experience of playing the harp is an exercise in sublimity.

[John McK]

Simply put, it’s the best way for me to explore early music.

My “main” instrument is wooden flute. I do the Irish trad “session” thing, go to workshops, and houseparties, and I love it. It’s very social.

But my more introverted side is obsessed with medieval music, including the Hilliard Ensemble, Anonymous 4, Joglaresa, etc. The harp lets more explore this sort of thing on my own in a way that cannot be replicated on the flute, or anything else. The harp is very meditative and relaxing. I don’t really have a huge desire to play it in public. I suppose playing the harp is a form of therapy.

My first harp was a Thormahlen, which I had planned to use for Irish music. I found myself using it less and less for sessions, and then at home. Then I switched to a Campbell “Boston” harp. It’s amazing. It weighs about 7 pounds, but has thirty two strings. I can pick it up with my pinky, without strain. It’s got a hint of that early music dry twang that I absolutely adore. It’s got bray pins for when I feel like playing some heavy metal. (I am not really exaggerating about that, either) It fits in my car without a problem. It’s a keeper. I can’t imagine dealing with a big lever harp anymore, let alone a pedal harp.

[barbara-kraichy–2]

I would be interested in finding out if any harpists like me had a mother who was/is a harpist and there was/is a harp right in the home. My mom infuenced me and I took harp lessons at an early age. My mom never forced me to practice and I remember a few times I went to me lesson totally unprepared because I’d rather go play outside with the other kids. My mom would say “Go ahead, I don’t care.” Naturally I caught “You know what?” from my harp teacher.

About middle school, I found out that I really wanted harp to be an integral part of my life and I seriously started practicing. I became obsessed at becoming a harpist. I spent a summer studying with Marcel Grandjany. Got involved with All State and AllNorthwest Orchestras. My health teacher in high school got thoroughly disgusted with me when I put that “Gregor Handel” expermented with peas rather than Gregor Mendel. (I was learning the Handel Concerto at that time!) on a test.

So my mom was the main influence for me wanting to become a harpist.

[rod-c]

Hi Kathy:

Interesting. I don’t think I’ve seen that question posted before: was/is your mother a harpist.

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