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WOW! Very interesting! Unfortunately I’m not able to help you though. Somebody else will be, for sure. Have you asked Camac’s customer service? I’m curious and will follow this thread…
– Lily
Hi Gregg,
What a fantastic answer, thank you!!! So informative and enlightening, thank you so much for taking the time to go into detail. I love it! I learned so many things I couldn’t have found anywhere else.
Thanks to all this information, it’s quite clear to me that the Ravenna 34 is better for me than the Brilliant. E.g the height is very important to me, and several other things, as well. I can get the Brilliant in white, but as a whole, the Ravenna outweighs the Brilliant. I have also decided to get one harp, not two. Either the Ravenna 34 I currently rent (it was brand new when I got it), or a new FH34S in cherry wood, probably lacquered in black. It’s sad to have to let go of my dream of a white harp, but I’m so ready to buy my own harp and these two models are definitely my favorites… <3
Yesterday I finally got to try the Camac Concert Mélusine (that’s why I’ve taken so long to respond, I wanted to be able to give you this information). Many people love the Concert Mélusine, both for its design and its HUGE sound, and surely for many other reasons as well. However, it wasn’t for me. It’s a “light strung” harp, that’s why I was interested in it in the first place (because of issues with my hands). Strangely, I couldn’t feel ANY difference in the string tension compared to the Ravenna. I actually had a Ravenna side by side with the Mélusine, so it was easy to compare. This was a good lesson for me, we should always try a harp, not only “read the label”. The sound of the Concert Mélusine wasn’t my cup of tea either, I’m clearly a Dusty girl… 😀 This has been proven so many times now – I’ve been looking for a harp for over 6 months! – that I’m sure a Dusty is what I want. The big sound of the Concert Mélusine was quite impressive, but not what I’m looking for. And finally the design. For a lever harp, I prefer a more timeless design, with less curves.
I was supposed to try a Dusty FH34 in cherry as well. But unfortunately the harp in question wasn’t – and will not be – available. That was quite a delusion. The FH34S is one of my two options to buy, so it would have been so important for me to get to try it. I have played a FH34 in walnut, which helps a lot, and I have gathered a lot of information about the FH34S. It ticks all the boxes – except being available in white! – but I haven’t heard the sound of it live, that’s my problem. The sound of the FH34 in walnut was too dark for me.
I’m quite confused right now about what to do. I have asked for quotes for both my rental Ravenna 34 and a new FH34S. So maybe the prices will help me to choose – if the FH is too expensive for me…
IF I had heard the FH34S and loved it, it would definitely interest me more than the Ravenna. The treble tension of the Ravenna is higher than the one of the FH34S. You wondered about this – which I understand perfectly! – but it’s a fact. The same thing goes for the FH34, which I have played in walnut – the treble tension was less! Also the design of the FH34S is more beautiful than the Ravenna’s. And I suppose the same goes for the sound, even though I haven’t heard it live…
On the other hand, the Ravenna 34 would probably be a really good forever harp for my needs, and I do like it a lot.
You also asked about the FH34S lacquered in black. They can lacquer any of the wood options in black. And yes, it is a pity to cover those beautiful woods with a black finish, I agree. It actually hurts a little bit, so I’m still thinking about it. But I have never seen what their cherry wood looks like and how it ages. There are huge differences in cherry woods. It might not fit my décor… 😀When I got my Ravenna 34 it had 5-inch legs. It was OK, but I would have liked for it to be taller. So the rental guy got me 8-inch legs – he’s amazing! – and I LOVE IT!!! I wouldn’t give away an inch of it, the 8-inch legs are perfect for me! It’s strange how big a difference 3 inches can make, it’s almost like another harp. I obviously can’t know if you would like them as much as I do. Maybe you could put something that is 3 inches high underneath your Ravenna and see how it feels?
I love these harp discussions! I’m sorry this post is a little disorganized, yours were so well written. And please look past all my English errors…
I’m impatiently waiting for my quotes, this is so exciting! 😀
Warmly,
Lily
Hi again Gregg,
I can’t get that white Brilliant out of my mind… 😀
In your opinion, what is the difference between the Brilliant 34 and the Ravenna 34, when it comes to the sound and the touch?
Please know you’re not responsible for what I choose to buy, I am. Just your personal opinion.
I have nylon strings on my Ravenna and would buy the Brilliant in white. These two factors might make it difficult to answer (?)…
It could be quite cool to buy my rental Ravenna 34 in black (I really do love it!), AND buy the Brilliant 34 in white… Or would one harp, the Dusty FH-34S in cherry (possibly lacquered in black) be a better investment? I feel like a confused but happy kid in a candy store… 😀
– Lily
Hi Gregg,
Thank you for remembering me, I was so touched! <3
I’m still playing my rental Ravenna 34 in black, looking for the right harp to buy. How fun that the Brilliant 34 is available in white! 🙂 I would prefer the standard white colour.
This spring I had the opportunity to borrow a Dusty Strings FH-34S in walnut for a whole week. It has a BEAUTIFUL sound, very sophisticated, but a little bit dark for my taste. In a couple of weeks I will rent an FH-34S in cherry for one month, it’s supposed to be a little brighter. So we’ll see, I’m SO curious! I just LOVE the sparkling sound of the Dusty harps… If I like the one in cherry, I couldn’t order it in white though. They can make it in black for me, if I wish.
Very soon I will also have the opportunity to try the Camac Concert Mélusine. I’m not a huge fan of its design – many people love it! – I just like more straight lines. The point with the Mélusine is that I want to try a light strung harp, due to issues with my hands. Having tried that, I can decide what to buy. I’m looking for a forever harp… I could get the Mélusine in white, but looking at it and listening to it on the internet, I’m not sold…
I could also buy my Ravenna 34, it was brand new when I got it, and I do love it! I would get half of the rent I have paid off the price (it’s part of the rental program). The only problem I have with it is the upper treble, I can’t make it “sing”, and it’s quite heavy for my hands. I’m sure I’m the problem here, not the harp 😀
And now we can add a white Brilliant 34 to my list of options! The problem is that I don’t have the possibility to try one. That’s a big risk to take…
As you can see I’m almost as confused as I was when we talked before. Within a couple of months I will make a decision though, I’m ready to buy my own harp. It’s hard to let go of my dream of a white harp, but I will have to make some kind of compromise. The FH-34S in cherry is my favourite one when it comes to the sound on the internet. If it’s as beautiful when I try it live, it will be hard to resist. It’s also a tiny bit more gentle with the hands than the Ravenna 34(the upper treble). And with high legs, it’s as tall as my Ravenna. That’s important to me, as well. The Brilliant 34 seems to be tall, as well.
Then there’s the price. The price of the Brilliant is good. Including customs and taxes it’s more or less what I would pay for my rental Ravenna. The FH-34S is MUCH more expensive, and it would take almost up to a year to build it, so there’s a lot to consider.
Sorry, this is way too long, I always get carried away when I talk about harps… 😀
THANK YOU once more for letting me know about the Brilliant in white! – Now I’m really confused! 😀
– Lily
Hi @pheona-miller and @wil-weten ,
Thanks a million for all the information! I ended up purchasing Ailie Robertson’s exercise book, it goes REALLY well together with Pamela Bruner’s method books. I am interested in “The Bochsa Revisited” as well, for the future.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to participate in Heather Downie’s online workshop this weekend. But her name was new to me and she offers a lot of interesting things! Just like Ailie, among other things, she has a lot of BEAUTIFUL sheet music. Jacqueline Pollauf was new to me as well, so thanks for that tip as well!
I’m so grateful for this forum, I have got so much help here. A wonderful community, thanks to all of you! <3
– Lily
Hi Carl,
I had a look, it just gave me the spiral bound option (or maybe it was me…). I think I prefer the spiral bound book anyway, it’s easier to handle and much nicer in every respect.
Thank you for taking the time to answer and help me, I appreciate it a lot!
– Lily
Hi Carl,
Thank you for your kind answer!
Before I received your answer, I found some more information about some of the books. Not much, but based on that information, I had to rule out Grossi and Friou, they weren’t exactly what I was looking for right now. They seem to be very popular, though.
I was left with two interesting books. Yours and the one by Ailie Robertson. I managed to find some samples of the latter one. Exercises that seemed a little boring, but simple enough for me. AND, the table of contents matched the one of my method book perfectly! So I could do exercises exactly on the things I was learning. It was all there: crossings, scales, chords, ornaments, harmonics, etc. And easily found.
Based on what I found about your book, it was definitely the most interesting one from a musical point of view. There is clearly a difference between exercises and etudes! Etudes are more beautiful, and therefore more enjoyable to play. However, the etudes in Bochsa Revisited were more difficult and time consuming than the exercises by Robertson…
I decided to buy both books. Robertson felt more right for me right now, but I could’t resist the temptation to get yours as well. However, I couldn’t find even one online store in the EU with both books (!!!). I found Robertson at the Camac online store for a very good price. They had a lot of Bochsa, but strangely not Bochsa REVISITED for lever harp (which is the one I want). So I ended up ordering only Robertson. I should get it in a couple of days. When I have seen what it really has to offer, I’ll decide what to do with the Bochsa Revisited, get it immediately or later. I found it in one single store in the EU, just like Robertson (but not the same store, argh!). It’s quite expensive in Europe, and has a long delivery time, but I suppose it’s worth it… 😉
You wrote about the left hand, that’s a very good point! Robertson seems to have most of the stuff only in the G-clef. But it’s meant to be played first with the right hand, then the left hand, and finally both hands together. Just before writing this post, the link on your website to download samples finally worked (it hasn’t worked for me before). So I got a better picture of what the book is like. You have done a GREAT job with the etude variations – WOW!!!
I wrote a novel again, sorry for that! 🙃
– Lily
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the two ladies learning the piano purely to play “Für Elise” and the slow movement of the “Pathétique”, respectively. It’s so funny, on the other hand you can look at it from many different perspectives. Chapeau for these ladies, who went for it – and accomplished it!
A very interesting thread in general as well, for a beginner like me, who hadn’t even thought about learning to play the harp without the sheet music. I learned to read music a long time ago, when I learned to play the piano. I guess I’m a little too attached to always having my music stand beside me. But I’m fine with it, at least for now. 🙂
Anyway, just wanted to thank Philippa and Balfour for sharing those delicious stories! 😀
– Lily
Hi Elizabeth,
and thank you!
My hands just didn’t get better, there were underlying issues. I have abnormalities in the joints of my thumbs and some other issues. I am now working with a really good physio, she has specialized in musicians’ problems (among other things). She is helping me to find the right way to use my hands, in order not to hurt them. For playing, but for doing other things as well.
I am playing every day now, a little, really easy stuff, focusing on my body posture, my technique and my “extra challenges”. I would like to learn new techniques and go forward, but I’m enjoying playing anyway. I know now I wasn’t relaxed enough before and my technique could have been better. So I see this as a good investment for the future. I’m glad it came up at once, when I started playing the harp – even if it was because I overdid it… 😀 The right technique is so important from the very beginning. Time will tell how far I will get with the harp, but I’m optimistic and enjoying it anyway! 🙂
I hope your hands are getting better! My teacher and many of her her colleagues have had de Quervain’s at some point of their journey. By taking good care of their hands, exactly like you said, it has always passed.
– Lily
Thank you so much Wil-Weten! I looked at all of them and this could definitely be a very interesting alternative for me! I have issues with my hands and need to see where that takes me first, but when I know exactly what I need / want, there won’t be many alternatives out there for me.
I’m usually quite cautious with less known manufacturers, because I know so little about them. But a recommendation from a person like you makes all the difference. 🙂
Thank you!
– Lily
Hi Balfour, Carol Lynn, Charles-Nix and Blindharpe R,
I have been following the discussion above between you experts. I have done it with great interest and deep gratitude. So many lovely ideas for me, and you even take into consideration the fact that I’m dreaming of a white harp… <3
I’m learning so much from this forum, and meet good and generous persons like all of you… I’m so happy I built up the courage to write here. What a community! <3
– Lily 🙂
Hi,
That is so wise, and so beautiful! I never thought about it that way, but now that you said it, I agree 100%. Thank you!
Happy Harping to you too! <3
– Lily
Hi Blindharpe,
Good point, thank you! I recognize myself in what you are warning me for… 😀
It was very interesting to hear about your experiences of tension classifications and playability.I’m still a beginner, so I guess I also need time to understand what I really want and need. I have some issues with my hands, that I also need to sort out. I’m just so interested and so curious about everything that has to do with harps, that I easily get carried away…
I live in a country that doesn’t have even one harp store, and not a lot of harps / harpists. So it’s a little complicated. But point taken, I’ll keep it in mind! Thank you! 🙂
– Lily
