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Sonya,
I just wanted to add my two cents as a harpist living in Chicago. I actually live about 4 blocks from Lyon & Healy. The neighborhood is not downtown and I wouldn’t wander around alone in the dark, but it is safe during the day. I would highly recommend taking the train from downtown. It is extremely easy, just take the Green line and make sure you’re going in the correct direction and get off at Ashland. When you get off the train you walk down to the sidewalk level and L&H is 1 block away. $2.25 is a lot less than the probably $20 a taxi will cost.Like everyone has said, La Luce is a wonderful and convenient restaurant across the street but just a short walk away are tons of amazing restaurants on Randolph St. Being a foodie myself, I would highly recommend trying one of them out.
Finally, if you plan on sight seeing you could stay near the airport if you are willing to take the train into downtown. (Again, super easy and only $2.25) If you’re driving, traffic will be a nightmare during rush hour into the city so you might consider staying downtown in that case.
There is a great Crowne Plaza Hotel on the corner of Halsted & Madison that is very nice but not a Michigan Ave price.
Have fun!
LynnKay- I’ve had great success with Ortiz’s music. This spring I had a large mixed level ensemble perform Danza de Luzma, Cumbia and Habanera Gris. The three parts he has in the book are of varying levels plus you can create some really simple parts very easily.
Hi Mark,
Which episode are you talking about? (sorry, I don’t currently watch the show)
They’ve used several different harpists over the years. I can’t speak for the others, but one was a harpist who attended the Eastman School of Music with myself and plays a gold 23. She’s done a few episodes lately including recording the actual music and appearing on screen. I can assure you that she has excellent technique and a wonderful tone, but you never know what they do post-production to the recording. She’s actually mentioned before that she does a lot of sitting on set and doesn’t get many seconds of screen time.Laura,
I played Gold Rush a few years back. I would suggest buddying up to your friendly librarian and find out the minute the scores arrive. It was a ton of notes and quite exposed a lot of the time. On top of that, it moves fast!I didn’t copy it because the book was quite thick and I figured I would never see it again….sorry.
-Lynn
If you want to be a symphonic harpist, and that is the absolute only thing you can imagine yourself ever being, then I would suggest contacting several successful Principal Harpists directly. Most importantly those who have won jobs in the past ten years to get a real-life impression of what it took to get their position.
Music Conservatory is very expensive, but there is no avoiding the training and experience necessary for learning the skills required for a symphonic job whether you do it in a traditional fashion or otherwise.
I think in today’s world it is wise to have a broad education because you never know how your life will change in the future or how the music world will change.
There are few symphonic jobs for harpists at this moment, there will be less in the future. I hate to sound pessimistic but its a reality in the music world.
Lastly, look for any and all scholarships you can apply for, enter music competitions, get a part-time job, do work study, get creative in funding your education. Don’t go for the cheapest education, go for the most valuable one.
-MLW
Hi Abby,
You should definitely consult with your private teacher because ultimately they are the only one who knows your level of performance and what repertoire would be appropriate for you to be working on.
It is of the utmost importance for you to present a highly polished performance at auditions rather than trying to play the hardest music ever written.
A lot of harp majors will travel to meet a teacher and take a lesson during their Junior year so as to get a feel for the teacher. This is the perfect opportunity for you to talk with them about audition repertoire as well.
Good luck with your preparation and auditions!
-MLW
Depending on what kind of teacher you’re looking for and if you’re willing to travel outside of Boulder, you might consider contacting either Rachel Ellins (Colorado State University professor) in Loveland or Courtney Bress (Colorado Symphony Orchestra Principal Harpist) in Denver. Both these ladies are excellent harpists and have serious credentials.
Some harpists do this in the Debussy Dances as well. I’m all for making a harp part “playable” if it is impossible, but these two spots are certainly playable and Debussy was well educated in harp. If had wanted a glissando, he would have written a glissando not an arpeggio.
BUT
to each his own!
Hi Rosalind,
Its a great little set of carols, really enjoyable to play and not very difficult. I would find out tempos if possible. Compared to the usual Britten or Rutter, this is a cake walk. =)
(Also, be prepared to play the guitar part too, or add in some important things. I had to do this once when unfortunately the guitarist wasn’t reliable)Enjoy them!
-Marguerite
Charles,
I always think its fun to see a harpist on tv! (especially when its actually a harpist, and not just an actor sitting at a harp)
Just out of interest, the harp was actually a grand concert Venus Penti! Very similar to a 30…
http://venusharps.com/Penti-grand-big.htm
Happy Harping!
-ML
The repertoire list was not announced for the Boston Lyric Opera audition yet.
It would be absolutely wonderful if both the Chicago Lyric and New York City Opera had auditions, but in light of economical factors I predict that the New York City Opera will wait at least another season before doing anything. (I would love to be proved wrong though!)
The Chicago Lyric Opera is indeed open, but no plans have been announced for the audition yet. Elizabeth Cifani officially retired last Winter, so the position is currently open.
Even though the Boston Lyric Opera is not a full time job, I feel like it will attract a lot of auditionees since we haven’t had many harp jobs open lately. It seems like it would be a great opportunity for someone to have a foundation for a career in Boston, adding teaching, freelancing, chamber music etc on top. The last sub-list audition I was at (Minnesota Orchestra) attracted as many harpists as some jobs do, in fact more than some job auditions. I think every audition that is announced is going to see a much larger response since more and more young harpists are “waiting in the wings” and frankly are getting desperate for work.
Thanks for posting Barbara. Its always interesting to know what new harp ensemble arrangements have been published.
I do have to say that if “Many harpists have complained that the only classical music in print for ensembles is watered down for the widest market,” then they really haven’t explored the repertoire that already exists out there fully.
I just finished a concert tour for Duo Harp and performed an hour program of Classical Music. In fact, when I got into rehearsals my duo partner and I discovered we had about two times as much music as we needed! Actually pairing down the music to one hour was a big chore since there were so many options we didn’t want to cut out!
I think its a fantastic idea to arrange major orchestral works for harp ensembles, and I look forward to learning about these new arrangements, but please don’t put down all the repertoire that already exists in an effort to promote new works.
I certainly wouldn’t call works by Salzedo, Thomas, Andres, Ravel, Bach, Franck etc “watered down”.
Thanks again for letting us know about these new publications.
-ML
I received this information today from the Boston Lyric Opera:
“Greetings from Boston Lyric Opera,
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Boston Lyric Opera is postponing its plans for harp auditions.
Revised arrangements will be posted on the BLO auditions web page within 14 days.”
This possibly means they were overwhelmed by the response they received, the same thing happened with the San Diego Symphony auditions and St. Louis Symphony sub auditions.
It may be good news for anyone who didn’t get their resume in on time though.
Yes!
I’ve suffered through sciatica. The best treatment is yoga! (maybe some anti-inflamatories as well)I don’t believe its specific to the ‘pedal harp’ I do think it is connected with sitting far too much for work though.
Phyllis,
I was actually discussing this opera with Olly Knussen about two years ago. Its apparently quite tricky and he was saying he didn’t hear it performed well or even accurately very often.I’ve never seen the part, but wonder if that means it could use a little ‘editing’ to make it fit in the hand better, or if its just difficult due to meter changes and the normal contemporary music pitfalls.
I would say get the part ASAP if you’re going to perform it.
Good luck!
-ML
