Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Kay, the Pozzoli Intermediate Studies are a good way to learn pedals gradually. No. 1 uses just the B and F pedals, sparingly. No. 2 uses B and G. No. 3, the F and the G. So on and on
On February 18, 1978, I participated in a harp workshop led by Mildred Dilling, at the U. of Oregon in Eugene. Also attending were harpists Bronn Journey, Laura Zaerr, Jeff Parsons, and others.I scribbled notes madly as she spoke and demonstrated; then
Ben, both the Bruner and Sylvia Woods books tend to use mostly Irish and “traditional” melodies. The Schlomovitz Beginning Harp Books 1 and 2 tend to introduce more composed music, by Bach, Satie, Sibelius, etc. after some folk songs from many countries at the beginning.
Elaine, perhaps someone else knows of something in print that addresses “how to flip levers”. Here is what you could do until such a guide is found: Play the new piece twice through, just activating a needed lever when the next note demands it. Then, from the beginning,
You have already come so far with classical piano, you have a very good background, and the discipline,
Ben, The Moldau is a piece demanding virtuoso technique on a pedal harp, as transcribed for harp from the orchestra version. Only by making a simple arrangement yourself of perhaps 32 bars, of the main theme, could you enjoy playing it on lever harp. If you tell us a little more about your ability on harp so far, and any budget limits, some on this forum could offer harp choosing advice. Good luck!
Tony,
Yes, you are right that Derek Bell’s first harp was made especially for him by the Pilgrim shop in South Godstone, Surrey, England. But it was not named Pilgrim Harps until Wilfred Smith, the founder of the company, died, and the workers decided to buy his company, form a cooperative, and rename their company Pilgrim, in the 1980’s. Derek Bell’s harp was actually a Wilfred Smith clarsach. You can consult John Hoare, the excellent engineer who has been working there through the Wilfred Smith days, and is still there at Pilgrim. Wilfred was multi-talented, starting off as a professional flautist in several London orchestras, writing a flute Method, doing some repairs on harps on the side, often carrying them home to his studio/shop in Barnes,
Saul, I use No. 1’s; they seem to be darker than No.2’s. They are very hard to find just now since Office Depot no longer allows a special order of just two dozen, but only a whole case! Does anyone know a better source?
In Norway there is a highly regarded harpist named Willy Postma, teaching in a major University there. It is highly likely that if you search on the internet and find a way to contact her, she will know a teacher or an advanced harp student not too far from you! Good luck!
Take a look at “Thumbs Up” by harpist and teacher Kathy Bundock Moore. It is for adult beginners, and has many illustrations of correct and incorrect hand positions, as well as good learning exercises and pieces. Many U.S. dealers have it.
Lever harpists who have been playing for about a year, may like to learn simple accompaniments to hymns, while they either sing the melody, or have one or more friends who can play the melody. This is so useful to accompany choirs in the church service. Many harp music dealers carry the volume “Familiar Hymns With a Friend”, with 21 favorites, published by Herald Music. A CD with Danielle Perrett, London harpist,is included, as are string quartet parts.
Saul, at a certain point my students get the 12 etudes by Angelo Bovio, Op. 26. No levers are needed once the etudes, in many different keys, are begun, and advanced technique takes the fingers over the whole range of the harp.These are out of print but my teacher let me photocopy her volume. Bovio was harp Professor at the Royal Conservatory in Milan. He was succeeded by his pupil, Tedeschi. Tedeschi taught Graziella Pampari, who taught in St Louis, Mo. Pampari taught Albertina (nee Flach) Weygandt, and took her,
