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I would highly recommend that you take a few moments to read and fine article written by Joyce Rice on composing for the harp. You can find the article here:
http://www.harpspectrum.org/harpworks/composing_for_harp/composing_for_harp.shtml
Joyce is a wonderful composer and would be a great resource for your endeavor.
Mark Andersen, president AHS Greater Seattle
http://www.ahsseattle.orgWell I’ve gotten the one about string color as well. I’ve had people come up to me and ask how long I’ll have to be playing before I can get rid of the colored strings.
One of the strangest idiotic requests I’ve had came from a bride who, just before the ceremony, asked me to quickly show her how to play “something” on the harp so that she could step over and play it during the ceremony. I was shocked but I did ask her if she had ever played harp or even piano before. Her reply was “no but it looks really easy.” I didn’t know whether to be insulted or complimented??? I just latched down the B and E pedals to create an F major glissando and told her to have at it! (It wasn’t my harp – one the bride’s family had borrowed)
Mark
Well I would certainly defer to Carl on this as he is by far the expert but I can tell you that I have a Salvi Daphne 40 sitting right beside a L&H 85P in my teaching studio right this very minute and they are certainly NOT the same harp. The action is different, the number of discs are different, the width of the sound board is different, the height of the two harps vary by 3 inches and the shape of the neck is different. There is absolutely no way that they are the same harp except for the “look.” They sound totally different which is the most important distinction.
Unless Salvi has completely changed the Daphne within the last 9 months this information cannot be correct. Granted they are both smaller than my concert grand but they are certainly not the same harp.
Mark
Hi Rachel,
One of my teaching harps is a Salvi Daphne 40 and while it is a lovely harp, especially for beginners, I do not think it could hold up to orchestra playing with regard to volume and tone. You can indeed get a little more volume from the Daphne by using a slightly smaller diameter string (usually found on lever harps with gut) but it still would require an electrical pickup and amplification to hold its own against an orchestra or band. If you absolutely MUST have a smaller size harp I’d highly recommend a Lyon and Healy 85P. It is not that much larger than the Daphne but it projects far better. I also have an 85P and when I need to take out a smaller harp for a playing job, I would always choose the 85P over the Daphne 40. The best of all would be a Lyon and Healy 85EX with the extended sound board. Of course then you’re getting into a larger size harp but still not a concert grand.
All the best,
Mark
Yes, Robinson Harp Shop and Vermont Strings can do them for you.
I’ve gotten several sets from them over the years and they are excellent.
All the best,
Mark
Hi Peggy,
I’ll send you a string chart for that harp. The strings are available from Robinson Harp Shop at this address. http://www.robinsonharp.com/ Just let them know that it’s a Jay Witcher N5 Welsh Single strung and they have the charts there. If you need anything else please don’t hesitate to call or write.
All the best,
Mark
I also play from the Grandjany edition feeling that it serves the concerto better than the rest. I have several students who have used this edition as well with great success.
Thank you all so very much for your help. I have found two programs that I think will work well for this student.
All the best,
Mark
Stoney End Harps have them….
I’ve usually gotten students by referral or by someone seeing me performing. Both when I
lived in New York City as well as here in upstate I find that people ask for my card when
I’m out playing. I also perform on a weekly television show in upstate cable access called
“Crescendo”. I find that I get a lot of inquiries from that as well.
All the best,
Mark
I don’t know of any harpists personally in the Dayton area but I will ask my sister who lives
there. I do know that she has hired a couple of different harpists for events she manages.
On the subject of renting/buying a pedal harp, please let me refer you to the Harp
Connection. http://www.harpconnection.com (888-287-4277.
They rent and sell both Lyon and Healy and Salvi harps and I cannot possibly say enough
positive about them. I have gotten several harps through them and they are really top
notch people. They bend over backwards to make you happy as a customer. Call and ask
for Josh. I’m absolutely positive that he will be of great help and you can certainly rent
directly through them. Again, I cannot say enough positive about my experiences with
them. Everyone I know who has used them has been extremely happy with their
professionalism and their caring of the harp community. That’s rare to find in a music
dealer these days.
Best regards,
Mark
Hi Steven,
Don’t worry, I would never think of teaching a student to play on the left. I’ve certainly had
my own trials with it in my life and wouldn’t wish it on another. I’m happy to report that
I’ve started making the effort to switch myself now and though it was terribly difficult at
first, after a few weeks I was quite surprised how quickly I am becoming agile at it.
I play professionally on TV each week so it’s been a challenge making the switch while still
maintaining a professional playing career but I recorded my first show playing on the right
last week and it came off just fine.
There are, by the way, a number of professionals who play on the left. Most got started as
I did in the Welsh tradition of harp playing and then moved to pedal harp without
switching.
I’m glad that I’ve decided to make the change now and it’s gotten me back to practicing
several hours each day which has been a blessing in itself.
All the best,
Mark
I guess it would be safe to stick in my 2 cents here since I do have a lot of experience with
these harps. I do a lot of harp repair and regulation for my students and many other
students and harpists in the area. (upstate New York) A year ago one of our local music
stores decided it would be a good thing to start offering these harps from Mid-East and so
they bought 12 of them, all Meghans and Allysas, the two largest harps made and
imported. They sold them at a very attractive price (far less than the retail suggested) and
the unsuspecting customers have all eventually called me for “service” on these harps. So,
with 12 of them under my belt I can easily say that: 1. They ALL have a far inferior sound
which is very “thunky” compaired to
