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Hello to all,
Thank you so much for your answers, specially yours, Biagio.
I’ll look into the makers that you mentioned : Elettaria, I had also heard about Violaine Alfaric who seems to make beautiful harps. However, she might be above my price range, especizlly considering that she doesn’t offer double strung harps on her website, so this one would be completely custom. Perhaps in a few years.
I currently have been loaned a small harp (27 strings), which will enable me to see exactly the range that it allows me to do, and see how many strings I feel I might need with a double-strung. I hear what you’re saying, Biagio, when you say you feel more comfortable with 3 ½ octaves.
Obviously my major concern when buying this kind of harps is that I have to try it out before buying it, if only to know if the sound is the one I want to stay with my whole life. The overseas part makes this complicated. However, I have also seen that Stoney End is link with the British website Hobgoblin. Perhaps I could go to London and check it out.
Thanks again for your advice! If you feel that you have anything to add or advice to give me,please do not hesitate to do so!
Good morning,
First of all, my deepest thanks for your answers and my apologies for replying so late.
Allison, I had indeed checked out the YouTube tutorials of both Laurie Riley and Smilingharp. They definitely convinced me that this was really what I was looking for!
The fact that you’re both saying that the double-strung harps are not too loose is a relief. I’m actually thinking that my teacher must have mixed up with the “cross-strung” arpa doppia although I specified a few times the type I meant. But then again, she swears by gut strings and finds nylon a big loose already for her own play (she stills finds nylon a very acceptable material for strings, let us be clear). Being a full beginner, I appreciate the fact that she is proficient in teaching the harp (both Celtic and pedal) and I’ll see if there’s a seminar or something I can do to get a hang of the double-strung once I have one.
Biagio, thanks a lot for the links. I will check out the harps that you have specified.
Great to read that you can also go from the double-strung to the simpel without problem, Allison. I probably will start by renting whichever harp I like (I plan on going to see at the Camac, Salvo and Maison de la Harpe shop in Paris, if you know the brands) and putting money aside to buy myself a great double-strung.
Which leads me to another fundamental question : how many strings are enough on the double-strung? Biagio, you were saying that the double-strung weighed more than the single. I also realise that there’s a lot more that we can do wit two row of strings so that there isn’t as much need to have 34 strings in order to play comfortably. But is 2×24 strings enough? Should I aim for 2×30? Then there’s the balance between the weight and the portability…
Thank you so much!
