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Congratulations! It looks beautiful. Like Tayce I tried them at an exhibition and found them to have a really lovely sound.
Of these options, the last one. But I agree with Tacye, put it all on the same line and just use tails up/down to indicate left or right hand.
I’m sure any half decent, fully qualified teacher does indeed teach this. It’s literally lesson one for all my students – and I insist their harps are tuned to E flat. The earlier they learn how it all works the better they understand it. That said, there’s no guarantee that the OP is actually learning the harp (or even that western music is their first musical language ifswim) They may just be curious.
Evolène I think there must have been a glitch in the site as when I looked last time your link and Biagio’s were the same but now yours is clearly Josh Layne. Hence my confusion! That possibly also explains why Biagio is not hearing the difference between Betty’s Air and O’Carolan’s Welcome?? Curious.
Biagio, I looked at these unnamed tunes and none of them is Betty’s Air.
It would be nice to know its actual origins as it always proves very popular with my beginner students.
I’m a bit confused re the videos posted. Evolène and Biagio seem to have posted the same version of O’Carolan’s Welcome – but neither of those is Josh Layne’s Version of O Carolan’s air as published by Betty Paret! That is, as Wil has said, a completely different tune. I’ve attempted to add it below (but if I somehow post the same video as above a third time then we’ll know there are Gremlins about!!)
There is another, slightly different version of the Betty Paret Air in Fun From the fIrst – vol2 by Samuel Milligan. It is also attributed to O’ Carolan.
Evolène, You beat me to it re the Dustys! I’ve just taken delivery of a 26 string Ravenna that will be a rental harp for an 8 yr old pupil I have starting next week. I e been having a bit of a play on it and I’m really reluctant to let it go!!! It has an amazing sound for such a small harp. I love it.
Both are lovely harps and you can’t really go wrong with either! I don’t think the Teifi levers are superior to Camac levers so that wouldn’t be a consideration for me. Having played both, personally I would pick a Hermine. I’m just a real fan of them. I like their bright rich full sound. I have 2 that I use as rental instruments and 3 of my pupils have them. They are all excellent – very consistent sound with all of them. Given that the Siff-Saff is a more hand made to order harp, I don’t know how consistent they are so I would personally want to try the one I buy rather than ordering one new.
I don’t know where you are located but you can try both harps in one day if you are able to get to S. Wales. The Camacs can be tried at Vining Harps in Cardiff and the Siff-Saff is available at the Harp Studio in Newport. I suspect it would come down to the simple question of which sound yor daughter prefers.They are excellent. Nigel (Tree) is a first rate technician. He used to service my harps when I lived in London. The other options probably near you would be Alan at Munson and Harbour or Salvi London. The Salvi/Lyon and Healy technician is Billy Hornby (The Harp Doctor) and he travels around the country and will probably visit the new Salvi London showroom from time to time. He is who now services my harps as I live miles away down in Devon!
Djan, I can’t offer huge amounts of info for you except my own opinion (no in deapth knowledge of string physics and harp construction here – sorry boys!!!) I’ve tried the Salvis with silk gut and I didn’t like it. It just wasn’t a sound that appealed to me. I like the pilgrims but they aren’t my favourite harps in that price range. None of them have really ever turned my head in a crowded room!! I honestly prefer the Camac Hermine. For the money, if you find a good one, the sound is lovely. Rich bass and bright top end. If you are anywhere near Cardiff at the start of March, then this event might be a perfect opportunity for you to try the full range of Camac harps in one place. https://wales.camac-harps.com/en/cardiff-camac-harp-weekend-2019/ While you are there, the Harp Studio is not too far away in Newport where you could play the range of Salvi harps for comparison. They also stock Telynau Teifi harps too. Camac levers are superb for fast lever flipping. That’s something to take into consideration too.
Of the two harps you mention, the siff saff is FAR superior to the Hempson. The Hempson is an OK beginner instrument (I have one that I rent out to students when they first start to play) but in my opinion it isn’t an instrument that would take you very far. Personally I agree with what others have suggested. For build quality and value for money you can’t go wrong with Camacs. The Hermine is a great instrument at under £2000 I have two and 3 of my pupils also have them. All have a fantastic sound. Depending where you are in the UK, maybe you could visit Camac’s harp weekend in Cardiff next month to try out their range. https://wales.camac-harps.com/en/cardiff-camac-harp-weekend-2019/
Amy’s music is incredible. She’s an extraordinary harpist and brilliant arranger – but it isn’t easy!
For pop requests I always use sheetmusicdirect.com I try to find an easy piano arrangement and then make my own harp arrangement from there. I find it easier to add to a simple version rather than try to work out what to cut from a tricky piano version.MusikFind1 – I’m sure most of the harpists looking for the part would love to buy it from the publisher but it isn’t available without buying the other parts – which would be pointless for a harpist to own. It’s a shame the publisher hadn’t twigged that most professional harpists play this piece over and over again and have their own copy marked up with their own fingering and pedalling. Most of us have our own way of doing it!!
Alison, the solo part (from the Hp, Org and Perc. version) is essentially a condensed version of the two harps from the orchestral version, it’s not hard. There are a couple of tricky moments in the first mvt. that need a bit of practice but it’s a joy to play. Stunningly beautiful.
If you have Instagram take a look at the account of Keziah Thomas. She has a young son and posts some fantastic videos of games she does with him at the harp. She’s a fantastic teacher and I’ve learned so much from her with regard to games for very young children with the harp.
Her account can be found here https://www.instagram.com/harpistkeziah/?hl=enThere are other boards that offer harp exams as well as the ABRSM. Trinity College London and London College of Music for example. Here in the UK, there has recently been quite a lot of social media discussion among harp teachers about our increasing frustration with the ABRSM syllabuses and exams. Many of us are increasingly moving over to Trinity.
The trinity syllabus can be found here.
https://www.trinitycollege.com/site/?id=1054
