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If you learn a non classical harp technique then you could play with your nails. Yes, Some celtic harpists – especially wire string players use the nails and some specialists in early harp do the same. I’m thinking of double or triple strung early harps (not the modern levered kind of double harps). Take a look at Andrew Lawrence-King who is a leading expert in early harps and the traditional techniques that were used to play them. Finding a teacher may prove tricky but perhaps there is a Skype option out there? The World Harp Congress in Cardiff next summer may well be a really good place to visit as hopefully it will showcase some the diverse harps that exist.
Uuuurgh, I get this EVERYWHERE! From formal concerts to weddings. It’s second only to the “wish you played the flute?” question. At weddings I tend to be using my stunt harp (cheaper, UK made so easier to fix if it gets damaged and I’m happy for it to go outside) rather than my main harp – LH 23. I have lots of harps for different things and also rent some out so I usually say “well this is my cheap one – I’ve got quite a few. Let’s just say that all my harps added together are worth more than my mortgage.” I say it very matter of fact. They usually look horrified and back away. I obviously don’t mention that I bought my house a reaaaaallly long time ago and it’s really small…..like my mortgage! 😂😉
That said, I’m quite tempted to just pop this image behind my music and whip it out where necessary!
Stardust, I’m so sorry the image wouldn’t work. It was a suggestion to change the L hand fingering. I’ve added it to an online photo site so maybe this link to it will work?!
It may help you time the right hand more easily.
Thanks so much for posting these. I’m another huge fan of playing with the looper but I’m no composer! I’ve done a couple of simple arrangements of folk and pop but I’m always looking for new things to play using it. I’ll be looking at buying the music. 😃
You might like to check out Eleanor Turner’s Alice in Escher’s Wonderland. This is my version on pedal harp but Eleanor has a video of it on YouTube too on the DHC. I’m sure she would provide the sheet music if you were interested.
Alison, is it possible that you might be confusing the World Harp Festival with the WHC? There were only 2 of them I think – in 1991(?) and 1994, both in Cardiff. I went to both and yes, they were very reasonably priced and brilliant. I still have the programmes.
While the WHC is certainly a LOT of money, based on my experience in Sydney, it is worth every penny. I do question the need to buy a membership separately on TOP of the ticket prices though. It’s a pointless faff that should be included in the ticket price!
I went to Sydney and it was without doubt the best week of my life. I made so many friends, met people I only knew previously in cyberspace, mixed with superstars of the harp world and learned sooooooo much. I couldn’t afford to go to Hong Kong but can’t wait for Cardiff. Hope to see you there!
It would be a huge challenge in only a few weeks. I agree with Elizabeth that simplifying it would be a good idea. Playing a more straightforward version well would be preferable to the risk of a slightly “fudged” version of the “proper” harp arrangement. There is a fairly easy piano version available free here https://musescore.com/user/13252/scores/26656
I would a bit of an intro to it and would probably try to make the Left hand more interesting as this one is a bit on the dull side. It’s a starting point though.That is such sad news. I remember reading his posts about his struggle to escape Syria and how hard he found it to settle in Europe and begin playing harp again. Devastating for everyone who knew him personally.
The famous serenade is available here
http://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=53520The point of a Bluetooth pedal is that you don’t have to plug it in. It connects wirelessly. Just put it on the floor, switch it in and away you go. With only one page at a time visible on the tablet (unless you use it in portrait and have two, small pages visible) there are twice as many page turns.
I never though it would be something I wanted to do either but turning pages with my foot became so easy that I now find myself randomly stamping in the empty floor if I try to play from actual paper!
I also use electric harp with a looper and various other effects pedals. One more makes no difference! 😂I’ve used an iPad for my music for many years now. I also have the iPad Pro 12.9 inch with Apple Pencil. I use the airturn BT-105 Bluetooth page turner. It didn’t take me any time to get used to turning pages with my foot and it doesn’t impede my regular pedalling at all. I only ever turn forwards though, never backwards even though the page turner will do that. I just duplicate pages in the iPad where a repeat is required.
I didn’t like fourscore personally – although I can’t really remember why!! I use a free app called Paperless Music. It does everything I need it to in a very straightforward way. You back it up direct to the cloud.
One thing I love about digital music is the ability to write in it in white – essentially giving you a very fine rubber. Changing pedalling, using enharmonics and generally marking up parts the way I want them without making them look messy is really easy.
I do play outside but since I insist on shade for the harp it’s usually fine for reading from the iPad too.
It took me a weekend to scan all my background gig music but a lot of the time now I buy digital music straight into the iPad wherever possible. If I do want to scan things quickly I use and app called genius scan. It’s not as good as my proper scanner but less bother than scanning into a computer and then sending the files to my iPad.
If glare is really a concern then this might also be something to consider. Pricey for something that does nothing but display music though!!
https://www.padformusician.com/en/products/2-padmu2.html
