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Thanks so much, Curly. I really appreciate it. I, too, hope that I am pleasantly surprised by my harp. I value open-mindedness and hope I can accomplish a lot with what I am fortunate to have (or get. Eventually.).
So thanks to all!!
~Fairy
Well, for one thing Lyon and Healy had that big sale. That was a deciding factor.
Also, since I have a Prelude, I was eligible for a trade-up.
(But I don’t like the sound of my Prelude. Rather tinny, actually).
My teacher plays Lyon and Healy, and the 23 sounds alright.
So does the 85 series, at close range. But, when I got the oppurtunity to play an 85 in a concert hall…the brightness was WAY overpowering! And, from the 3rd octave up, it kind of loses the ‘harp’ sound. To me, anyway, it just kind of assumes this sharper, ‘music-box’ sound. The beauty of the bass doesn’t translate to the upper registers…and that really bugs me!
Anyway, still waiting.
It’s good to know people are happy with their Venus harps. I would definitely like to look elsewhere from Lyon and Healy for my next harp, because I really don’t like the sound. Bright is fine…but the harps err on the side of harshness, in my experience.
What kind of sound does a Venus have?
My cat is rather impartial, actually. My dogs consider the harp a big thing in the way of my lap, and why am I paying attention to that when I could be playing with them??? My only pet that likes my harp is my rabbit, actually. He mostly lives outside but when he does come inside to visit, he loves music! Just have to keep him from getting too close…yummy wooden instruments are oh so appealing to little bunnies!
(My cat only is interested in music when there is a flute/recorder playing. Then she gets all excited! But the harp produces no reaction.)
Good luck!
Louisa, Congratulations on your plan to start the harp!
The main reason why people start on levers is probably price. But also, most beginner music is written FOR the lever harp, with lever notations, etc. I actually don’t find moving the pedals all that difficult or anything, but I know that some people have trouble with hand/eye/foot coordination.
Nylon will probably give your harp a slightly brighter and ‘shallower’ sound, but it should be fine, really.
And I don’t know if it’s ‘everybody’s own preference’ to start with a lever…for my family, we quite honestly didn’t know any better!
Good luck on your vegan harp (I think that is a really good idea. I personally felt rather bad when playing my harp
Thank you so much for posting this. The competition is rather out of my league for the moment, but I look forward to working on these pieces (I jotted down a total of 17!)
I forgot to congratulate you. CONGRATULATIONS! I borrowed my teacher’s harp the other day (haven’t got a pedal yet!) and I went NUTS playing all sorts of crazy stuff. I so didn’t want to return it. So have fun!
(And…I have played a gig with a blister. Not fun, but it worked. Depening on which finger it is, on which hand, and how difficult your pieces are, you might be able to adjust your fingering.)
I suppose you could always use bungee cords. (?!)
What exactly are the warranties good for, anyway? Like if you drop your harp down stairs or something? Just wondering.
I just feel rather lied to, if you know what I mean. I was assured it would be soon…but it wasn’t…why couldn’t they just say that at the beginning? I could have gone with a different harp style. It’s not like it was a custom order or anything…they were already in the process of building it when I called.
Also, why 3 and 1/2 years?
And, what’s the word on Venus? Everyone I know steers well clear of them…any specific reasons?
Ms. Patricia,
I appreciate your bringing up ‘fall back’ plans. I love to sew, mostly by hand. I embroider and quilt. I love to cook, and usually cook a few times a month for my family. Music isn’t my only interest, and I try hard to cultivate my other interests and skills. I understand music is a difficult business and so I take especial care to ensure that I am well prepared for life in general.
(And Janna–so glad to meet another dancing harpist! Ceili is the best…my favorite is the Sweets of May!)
I agree, totally the Arianna is my favorite. I also love the Minerva (but in mahogany) and the Arion. I actually don’t like any of the L&H, really. I like simplicity, but the 30 and the Salzedos are to stark for my taste.
I love the Camac Athenas in a Cherry finish!
(You know, I saw a very interesting harp in the movie “Shanghai Knights”. It looked like a gilded Salvi Apollo. That was very beautiful…)
I also love most antique harps.
Marisol,
You’re not to old. Don’t worry.
I would not advise starting out with a pedal harp–my Celtic hurt my fingers enough! I would advise getting a nice Celtic harp with full levers (like the Dusty Strings Ravenna). I actually got a harp off the Internet when I first started, and while the levers are actually not usable and it doesn’t have the best sound, she keeps great tune and is mobile and everything. And she was cheap!
I also agree on the “get a teacher” advice. Sound advice. Follow it. Playing the harp wrong can lead to much pain.
Don’t be surprised if, when you do start playing, that your fingers blister, burn, and even bleed. It’s normal, and means you’ve officially joined the harpist family! I found when I first started that playing in ten-minute increments helped a lot.
Good luck!
