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RachelParticipant
Hi, it looks like there is a harp technician who regularly comes to Milwaukee, WI. You might want to check with him: http://mossharpservice.com/calendar/
Also, as a side note, if you are not yet a member of the Madison Folk Harp Society, you can get on the email list (there is no cost) here: https://www.madharpers.org/contact-us/RachelParticipantJerusha, Sunita Staneslow’s “Christmas Day” book has Baloo Lammy, and it contains other songs you might not have heard of before (plus Sunita’s books are always good for gigs!) https://harpcolumn.com/music/all-music/artists/sunita-staneslow/christmas-day/ (I also like Sunita’s Christmas Eve book) Another favorite of mine is Deborah Friou’s setting of “To Drive the Cold Winter Away” and Whitney Dobyns’ “Christmas Present” collection.
RachelParticipantIf you go to Sheet Music Plus and search for “Aljonushka harp”, there is now a lever harp and pedal harp version available for purchase. There is also a video, so you can hear it played before purchase.
RachelParticipantHi Jerusha, A Walk in the Mountains is Cater’s latest book, and it’s available at Melody’s (either digital or in print). https://www.folkharp.com/romantic-post-1820-present/4551-a-walk-in-the-mountains.html?search_query=walk+mountains+kater&results=112
The Lauren Scott books are available as digital downloads via HarpColumn, and they were also recently reviewed in the magazine. If, like me, you prefer paper, here’s each volume, with a video (or sound file) for each piece, so you can hear them before you make your purchase from Astute Music:
https://www.astute-music.com/store/p549/Adventures_for_Lever_Harp_Book_1_by_Lauren_Scott.html#/
https://www.astute-music.com/store/p561/Adventures_for_Lever_Harp_Book_2_by_Lauren_Scott.html#/- This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by Rachel.
RachelParticipantI probably have too much on my stand at one time, but I’m enjoying exploring some different styles this month. Besides the HarpColumn challenge music (fewer choices for lever harp this year unfortunately), I have Lauren Scott’s new Adventures for Lever Harp (both volumes), Songs from Thrace (Elitsa Alexandrova; harpist and videogame music composer), A Walk in the Mountains (Kathryn Cater, her most recent book, more advanced that many of her previous volumes), Scottish Music Graded Exams (Grades 4 and 5) from Taigh na Teud, and one freebie, “Funky Blues” from the Harps Northwest 2018 JaNEWary challenge: http://harpsnorthwest.org.uk/events/janewarychallenge2018.html
RachelParticipantHello, have you posted results yet?
RachelParticipantHi Jerusha, Blue Orchid is a challenging piece, but much of that comes from learning the lever flips. The edition I have is older (the lever flips were given their own clef), but the newer edition on Savourna’s site has the standard two clefs: https://www.savournastevenson.uk/product/blue-orchid/. There is also a fabulous video of Alys Howe performing this piece on Youtube. I have also seen the sheet music listed at Creighton’s Collection and Clive Morley Harps. It is worth the work!
RachelParticipantI have a couple of things circulating. For challenging lever harp music, I have “Blue Orchid” by Savourna Stevenson (excellent jazz piece), “The Garden Path” collection by Christa Grix, “The Coombe Road/Session at Fintan’s” by Michael O’Sullivan, and “Blue Dream World” by Inge Frimout. And, for holiday music preparations, I’m trotting out Mitch Landy’s “Christmas Medley”, since I have to work on the harmonics; I like the way the pieces flow into each other (and they are pieces played less often at the holidays).
RachelParticipantElizabeth, my students love the Damselfly and the Downstairs Spider on lever harp! Are you still composing?
RachelParticipantThat’s great, I’m glad it worked for you! I have zero sewing ability, so I just purchased the lip cover directly from the Portastand company (it’s the one thing you can’t seem to get from resellers like Amazon).
RachelParticipantAnd, if you like Athy’s music, it is out there for sale, and it seems to be geared towards electric harps!
http://www.creighton-griffiths.co.uk/acatalog/athy_sm.htmlRachelParticipantHi Kay, just to be clear, the video I posted was another work (Living Water), from this book:
https://www.folkharp.com/alexandrova-elitsa/4340-songs-from-thrace.htmlHowever, if you go on Youtube and search for “Blue Dream World Inge”, you will find several of the sound files from the CD that goes with the book, so you can get a very good idea of what it sounds like.
RachelParticipantFor something more mellow, how about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IuRAZjw6s4
(sheet music is available for download at Melody’s).Blue Dream World is an entire suite of music composed and performed on an electric harp is transcribed perfectly by the artist, and the book comes with a CD of the entire suite. This is more challenging music, and well worth it. I have always ordered from the artist, as no one in the US carries it. Tracks from the CD are available to listen to online so you can get an idea of the various styles incorporated. http://frimoutmusic.com/En/product.php?id=10
RachelParticipantHello Maya, there are definitely composers taking advantage of the unique lever settings that are possible (or effects using levers). Here are just a few examples:
Laura Zaerr – Dancing with the Stars collection, or River Right Rhumba
Clemens Krijger – Rataouille is a neat collection of shorts pieces Krijger (http://www.creightonscollection.co.uk/index.html?Pages/scores/SM/SM271.htm~mainFrame)
Jakez Francois – Easy Swing collection (jazzy music); Harp Connection carries this
Inge Frimout – Blue Dream World is a suite of beautiful music, and has some lever slides in one piece (http://www.frimoutmusic.com/En/product.php?id=10)
Kathryn Cater – she incorporates lever slides, etc. in some of her animal-themed books
Savourna Stevenson – try Blue Orchid (but she has a lot of great music)
Alys Howe – Phosphorescence
RachelParticipantI am working with a 7-year old right now, and she likes “Of Rhymes and Seasons”. It does kind of follow the seasons, and the songs are short (2 lines), have big notes, and get the two hands working together pretty quickly.Right now we are playing songs about pumpkins and black cats since it’s almost Halloween.
I also like the Beginner Harper’s Tunebook (Jo Morrison) if you are looking for traditional celtic music. It starts off very easy, and each tune is presented in 2 keys (and at 2 speeds on the accompanying CDs). http://www.celtic-harp.com/books.html
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