Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Never played it, never seen it, but I’ve heard it. It’s very slow and melancholy. It has some lovely moments, but I’d say the biggest challenge will be staying awake.
One fairly straightforward name for the concert would be”
“(your name), harpist
with
(flutist’s name), flute
In a concert featuring the works of (composer A, composer B, and composer C).”
or something direct like that. I sometimes prefer something direct over concert titles that are too clever.
But perhaps if there is some general theme to your music selections, maybe the time period, composers, subject or style, that could help give ideas for a name. “Baroque music for harp,” “French classics for harp and flute,” “An evening of minimalist pieces for harp and flute” etc.
I guess I’ll never win a contest for most interesting event title, but at least people will know what to expect when they attend. What are some of the pieces you plan to play?
That’s my favorite gallery. I don’t think I noticed who the subject was, I was just said “Oh, harp!” One of the historic houses, I think it was Tudor House but might have been Dumbarton, has a harp in one of the rooms. I couldn’t make out the name on it and didn’t want to bother the guide to ask (only later did I find out that for things they don’t know off the top of their heads, there’s a notebook in each room they can use for more details on every object in that room).
I can’t believe it’s been out there almost two years and I never saw it. I’m making my way through the whole series.
I imagine the Prelude and similar “pedal harp appearance” lever harps are among the heavier ones out there. They all look pretty solid.
For the best sound in a very light package, Heartland Harps now makes a harp made of carbon fiber that from the clips they have up sounds quite nice. 38 strings and 10 pounds is quite appealing if you don’t want to strain yourself, and if I were shopping for a lever harp right now that would be on my list. I mean wowie, that’s a light harp. It has a somewhat futuristic appearance because of the material. They have a clip up at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzSdptY82HQ and some others on their web site.
If you want a more traditional (i.e., wood) appearance, you might look into smaller harps. Blevins Harps makes a gazillion shapes and sizes and a lot of people on here enjoy their harps. If nothing else their site is fun to browse around on since they have so many – I think the Aspen is my favorite to look at, and if I were shopping for a lever harp right now, that would also be on my list. I might have a long list, so I guess I’m glad I’m not shopping for a lever harp right now.
I own a Thormahlen and love the feel and tone. It respond well to a light touch but does a good pedal harp impersonation if I want a fuller sound. I don’t know their weight, but I’d guess probably a bit less than a Prelude. My Cygnet doesn’t seem too heavy, but it depends on how light you want. It fits into the back of my Toyota Echo pretty easily and I can carry it without much trouble, but I wouldn’t want to walk a 5k with it or carry it while juggling knives. They have clips at http://www.youtube.com/user/thorharp.
I also used to rent a Camac Aziliz and thought it was a great size and weight. It’s 34 strings, not as tall or wide as many with that many strings. I’d give it props for portability while keeping a good number of strings. I think it has a very nice sound for traditional music as well, it has a nice brightness but doesn’t get plinky. Clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbbRPdHmfcY.
On the subject of renting, if you’re somewhere you can rent, you might see about renting a few different sizes and get a better idea for how many strings you need for the music you want to play, whether you need full levers, how badly you want cool celtic drawings, and all that fun stuff. You also might look into makers or retailers that let you trade up later, so you can start out on a less expensive model while you learn and be able to get a different harp more affordably later if you want.
I wonder if the prevalence of studio recordings is partly the cause of this. People can’t distinguish between a recording that required several takes, splicing, and maybe some digital enhancement, to a performance by a mere human.
Now for a story: back in school during finals, there was a presentation by a university counselor on negative ways of thinking. She asked us to talk about some of our own, and we did, all the while hedging so as to sound more well-adjusted with explanations about how we’re working on our problems. Then one student’s term came, and she said “I’m a perfectionist, but I’m a lot better than I used to be.”
I wonder if the prevalence of studio recordings is partly the cause of this. People can’t distinguish between a recording that required several takes, splicing, and maybe some digital enhancement, to a performance by a mere human.
Now for a story: back in school during finals, there was a presentation by a university counselor on negative ways of thinking. She asked us to talk about some of our own, and we did, all the while hedging so as to sound more well-adjusted with explanations about how we’re working on our problems. Then one student’s term came, and she said “I’m a perfectionist, but I’m a lot better than I used to be.”
I wonder if the prevalence of studio recordings is partly the cause of this. People can’t distinguish between a recording that required several takes, splicing, and maybe some digital enhancement, to a performance by a mere human.
Now for a story: back in school during finals, there was a presentation by a university counselor on negative ways of thinking. She asked us to talk about some of our own, and we did, all the while hedging so as to sound more well-adjusted with explanations about how we’re working on our problems. Then one student’s term came, and she said “I’m a perfectionist, but I’m a lot better than I used to be.”
And these days they frequently use a keyboard with a “whole orchestra” button. Ability to actually play a keyboard is optional as the notes are already programmed in.
I do think American orchestras tend to overplay. I blame insecure brass players out to prove something, forcing everybody else to keep up, and American audiences who enjoy having their eardrums blasted to pieces. A lot of European orchestras now have to dial it down since a lot of places have
I didn’t carry it around, but I played one once and was very please with the sound and feel. I also love the appearance, the gold accents are just right – gorgeous without going overboard.
A tackle box is a great idea. Back in school we had an art teacher who required it for our art supplies.
Tackle boxes: they aren’t just for fishing anymore.
Carl,
I’m an adult who’s been playing 3-5 years. I mostly play for myself at home, but I also might like to someday play in a community band or orchestra. The kind that plays fairly light repertoire with a casual schedule, not the hardcore kind where most of the members have studied since childhood. And casual chamber music, perhaps playing in church every now and then (I currently don’t attend any church, but if I did I’d probably want to play for them – I used to play in church orchestra and had a good time until the pastor forgot we were volunteers and started committing us to evening concerts and special post-service services without asking — come to think of it he committed the paid organist and pianist to without asking and without paying them extra, but I digress).
My goals vary a bit, mostly on whether to stick with lever harp music or get a pedal harp. This is because I have other goals, mostly financial such as saving for a home downpayment and keeping a decent reserve for emergencies, that aren’t completely in line with the goal of owning a pedal harp, at least in the short term. But basically I want to continue improving, playing interesting and challening music, while maybe finding some opportunities to socialize and play with others= musicians in a casual setting. And I want to do work a bit on improvisation and reading lead sheets, both to play popular standards (Cole Porter etc.) and because flexibility can help when playing in small groups with whatever music is handy.
I’ve had two teachers (due to a move – both were great in case any are reading!). I was pretty clear up front with my goals, and I think both understood pretty well and did a good job of teaching with those goals in mind.
