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This is a great collection of effect symbols… but my question is, how does one create the whistle sounds symbol within the Finale music notation program?
Ciao Elena! Talk to Mimmo Peruffo at http://www.aquilacorde.com/. He makes flourocarbon strings for all kinds of instruments and can get you exactly what you need.
For small and medium-sized events I use the Crate Limo and I’m very happy with it. The charge lasts a long time and I’ve never run out of battery during a gig. With the right pickup I get a powerful balanced sound without ever turning it up too far. It has some effects, too.
One of the venues where I play frequently has its own Bose Tower and it makes all of my harps sound AMAZING. So I think it’s worth the money but I don’t buy one because 1) I don’t want to haul any more gear than necessary and 2) the larger venues where I play have their own great sound systems that I can use.
Re pickups: I have used a Dean Markley in the past but wasn’t pleased with the tinny sound. In my acoustic harps I really like the Dusty Strings pickup and the Schatten, which is mounted with the sticky stuff so is easily interchangeable between harps. Both pickups give problem-free fantastic sound.
I’ve had multi-focal contact lenses for a a few weeks now and I love them! I was having the same issues in orchestra, mostly having trouble reading the music but the strings were out of focus, too. My distance vision doesn’t need much correction. I tried several types of contacts, including the monovision approach, which didn’t work for me. These multi-focal lenses give me clear vision at every focal distance. There is a very slight compromise in distance vision in low light but not enough to matter. I’m very happy with them.
I’ve just gotten contact lenses for that very thing, a couple of weeks ago. My Dr. and I are experimenting with different prescriptions to see what works best so when I’m playing in the orchestra I can focus at the distances appropriate to see strings, music stand and conductor. We haven’t found the perfect solution yet but we’re close. I’ll let you know how it goes.
No need to go to a filling station to pump these tires up – this cart comes with a small pump which is very easy to use and it’s very small so it fits in my gig bag if I want to take it along. The stems are an easy-access angle.
A few months ago I bought a harp trolley from the Harp Shoppe in Loveland, CO and I love it. It’s made of aluminum that’s strong yet lightweight and also easily breaks down for storage. It has a slightly wider wheel base than my old Salvi cart which gives it greater lateral stability – also wide enough that the wheels don’t rub on the harp case. Big pneumatic tires with grippy tread give a smooth stable ride over gravel, grass, stairs, curbs, etc.
One of the best things about it is the placement of the two straps: One is around the middle of the harp and then another over the top of the neck. The harp is held very securely on the cart so if somebody tries to “help” you up the stairs they can’t lift the harp off the cart. I use it for both my concert grand Camac Atlantide and a semi-grand Wurlitzer. The shelf is big enough and straps adjustable enough that it’s also useful for hauling an amp.
At $195 it costs less than many other carts and because it can break down into a small space shipping costs less.
The only negative I can think of is that when I first unpacked it there was a strong rubbery smell from the tires and the cushy neoprene that covers the handle portion but that wore off in a day and is no longer an issue.
I can’t say enough good things about it, I give it two thumbs up.
Information is available here:
Thanks for the update Carl. I’ve been worried about Basel while watching all the bad news and it’s a big relief to know he’s safe. It’s too bad about leaving the harps but those can always be replaced. Please let him know we’re thinking of him.
Ciao Lucia,
Ho trovato un po’ d’informazione qui, però in inglese:
http://www.craftsburychamberplayers.org/notes/2010_damase.html
In bocca al lupo!
My student harp ensemble performed at a retirement home in Ventura, CA today and afterwards one of the residents approached to tell me that she grew up with a famous neighbor who was a harpist. She told me,”The girl who lived across the the street from me in North Hollywood was a dear friend and played with Desi Arnaz’s band. Her name was Nancy Youngman.” She didn’t know how long Nancy was with the group. When I get a chance I’ll print out the photos and take them to this woman to get an identification.
Wristies are great, I keep a pair in all my harp cases so I’m never without them. They’re comfortable to wear while playing and don’t get in the way of your fingers. They also make a “heated” model with pockets to hold those disposable hand warmers. They would be useful for really cold situations:
What a great coincidence! I had a wedding gig today with another harpist (actually there were SIX harpists for this wedding!) who played a beautiful arrangement of Musetta’s Waltz. Turns out it was arranged by Sharon Watson. It was just lovely, I think I need it!
I once attended a concert by Andres Segovia, the celebrated classical guitarist, at the Ordway concert hall in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was nearly 90 years old at the time and still an absolutely brilliant musician. The acoustics in the Ordway are such that you can hear a pin drop and during the concert two ladies whispered loudly in one of the upper galleries, apparently oblivious to the fact that everyone in the place could hear every annoying word. They’d been gabbing for about a minute when Mr. Segovia suddenly stopped playing and damped his strings with a loud slap. He turned his gaze up toward the offending ladies and announced, “I will continue when you have finished.”
You can bet it was completely silent for the rest of the concert and we were all grateful. I will never forget how gracefully he handled that situation.
Jennifer, My Wurlitzer-Starke I model harp with 43 strings is serial #923 and inside the action plate there is the signature of Emil Holub and the date 1917. So Carl’s estimate that your harp dates from 1910-1912 is probably pretty close. Regina’s site is a good collection of information on Wurlitzer history and I believe Paul Knocke keeps data on existing Wurlitzer serial numbers and dates, as well.
I forgot to add… Andrea Piazza’s single-action Tyrolean harp is made by Fischer:
http://www.musikhaus-fackler.de/fisherharps/startpage/startframe.htm
