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Lots of good suggestions here! I think the 100 column is just gorgeous. They are beautiful harps! Congratulations on your new harp—enjoy!!!
Hi Madelyn.
Everyone has their preferences, and it is unfortunate that people make such sweeping statements. I have a Venus Encore and am very happy with it. It has a full, rich bass and an upper register which is clear and sparkling without a hint of harshness. As far as being well-built is concerned, mine is 10 years old and has never had any problem. I certainly would not rule out a Venus. Whatever you decide, remember that nothing takes the place of trying and choosing an instrument in person, since the sound and feel of every harp is different, and the experience of playing, as well as what feels/sounds right to you is so subjective. Good luck!Trying a different tuning key would be a good place to start, and much less expensive than new pins…or a new neck! I hope that solves the problem.
I remember seeing a few harps back in the 60’s and 70’s with an older color scheme: the C’s were green, and the strings that are currently white were red. F’s were still black (or purple or dark blue).
Physical therapy is key to recovery from injury or surgery, and can truly work miracles. Wishing you a full, swift and complete recovery, David.
Hi Geoff, I really enjoyed this piece. What a wonderful combination of tone colors! This is a very nice performance as well…..clean and crisp. Where and when was this?
This is a great piece to have in our repertoire. Is it published?
Thanks very much for posting.
Eliza MorrisonIf you are fortunate enough to have 3 Venus harps being offered for sale in your area, I would certainly go and try all three. Get a good history on each and get a technician’s opinion if you are not confident in your ability to assess their condition, especially if there are any areas of concern. Play each one as much as possible and go with what feels and sounds best to you. Take another harpist with you if you can, or ask the owner to play something for you so that you can hear each harp from the other side of the room (they can sound surprisingly different when someone else is playing). You can hardly go wrong with a new L&H, but I would try the 3 Venus harps first and see if one of them really grabs you. Good luck!
I actually agree with ALL of the above posts. It sounds like a fantastic project, and you will learn a lot from doing it. Your expertise in violin repair will stand you in good stead; many people have gotten into harp repair from a background of building/repairing other instruments. However, I also agree with those who say that the instrument should not be sold. Mistakes and mis-steps are inevitable in a project of this nature. You wouldn’t want a future owner to be paying dearly for those mistakes a year or two down the road. Perhaps you should consider completing this project under the mentorship of an experienced harp builder/repairer. I certainly wouldn’t take a harp apart without that guidance. Good luck to you!
I know this is an older thread and the issue is resolved, but I just noticed it, and thought I’d throw in my two cents. I think it depends upon what is meant by “student.” If the student is a child or young adolescent –or adult– who has been playing the harp for a year or two, that is one thing. Something else entirely is when the student is working toward a master’s degree or artist diploma at a major conservatory. In the latter case, the student IS a professional and should be paid accordingly.
Although parents cannot anticipate every move a young child will make, they must take full responsibility for the actions of their child, particularly any actions resulting in damage, major or minor. It is never okay to leave young children unsupervised even briefly, and it so unsafe for the child that I am amazed any parents would even consider it. As far as the harp goes, I have found that a hand-lettered sign reading DO NOT TOUCH, placed on or near the harp, is effective if I have to step away for a few minutes, or longer. It may not be pretty, but it works…fewer people will try to touch the harp, especially if they would have to move the sign in order to do so.
I’m certainly willing to give this a try, though it sounds wobbly. I’ve always played in flat shoes with thin soles. Thanks for the tip!
I learned the Salzedo method, then much later studied with a French-method teacher. One significant difference is the type of repertoire emphasized by teachers who represent the different schools. I appreciated having a whole new area of the repertoire opened up to me and making those wonderful discoveries. The French teacher never tried to change or modify my hand position or technique. For me it was wonderfully expansive to experience both.
A minor problem I had with the Salzedo method is that many of his compositions are taught by adherents of his method. I don’t like most of Salzedo’s work, with a few exceptions; there are many other more worthwhile pieces to be working on (my opinion only).
I do love playing “Scintillation” though.Though I have always avoided playing basketball and volleyball for fear of hand injury, it never occurred to me to avoid handshakes. I guess I’ve never been on the receiving end of a painful one. It seems an unlikely way to be injured….though you might catch a cold or the flu from it.
I was able to perform some of the movements singly or in small groupings before ever having to play the entire work. One year in May, my teacher (the wonderful Ann Hobson Pilot) suggested I get out Ceremony of Carols and learn any movements which I had not yet done. It was great to work on the piece at a time of year when I had plenty of time and could approach the project in a relaxed way. Many of the comments already made on this thread give great suggestions. Much of the piece is relatively easy, but there are a few spots which are fiendishly difficult. You’ll identify those easily enough! The movement “In Freezing Winter Night” is the one that seems to be most problematic for the choir intonation-wise, in my experience. Studying how the harp part and vocal parts are put together will be very anchoring for you, especially in the rhythmically trickier sections. The “Interlude” makes a great short solo piece which I’ve played by itself for many a Christmas Eve service. It’s lovely and a nice thing to have in your repertoire.
