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Sophie, since harp and piano have almost the same range of notes, and neither can sustain the sound as long as can a bowed instrument, an ideal combination in my view would be harp and cello, because the cello can sustain notes in the bass clef, so useful in this combination, and can also use pizzicato for added effect when desired.
I was advised by my teacher to always carry a “skeleton” amount of spare harp strings whenever I took my pedal harp out to play somewhere. That meant every red C and every black F, as well as each E and each A needed on my harp. Each E could substitute for a broken D if needed, and each spare A could be used for a broken G or B if necessary.
Maria123 Try out many harps, and rent first, if possible.You must feel quite comfortable with the pedals and with your hands not straining to reach the extremely high and low strings.If your dream is to play in orchestra a 46 or 47 string instrument is usually necessary. If you want it for free lance work such as for weddings, dinners and receptions, you don’t necessarily have to have such a big one, and these days with advances in amplification, a smaller harp of 43 or 44 strings can sound like a larger harp.
Thanks to Donna O., for providing the link to inslp where can be found the information that Beethoven also used the Minka, Minka melody with his own variations, keeping the rhythm of the main theme intact, however. See No. 7 below:
Composer Beethoven, Ludwig van
Opus/Catalogue Number Op.107
Movements/Sections 10 pieces
Air tirolien (“I bin a Tiroler Bua”)
Air écossais (“Bonnie Laddie, Highland Laddie”)
Air de la petite Russie
Air écossais (“St. Patrick’s Day”)
Air tirolien (“A Madel, ja a Madel”)
Air écossais (“Merch Megan”)
Air russe (“Schöne Minka”)
Air écossais (“O, Mary at thy Window Be”)
Air écossais (“Oh, Thou art the Lad of my Heart”)
Air écossais (“The Highland Watch”)
Year/Date of Composition 1818–19
First Publication 1820
Piece Style Classical
Instrumentation Flute (or violin), pianoJanis, there is a traditional Ukranian folk song called, Minka, Minka, and there are several groups that sing it, on YouTube. Some arranger has taken this same melody and changed the rhythm from simple eighth notes in 4/4 time, to a dotted rhythm and made it into a short piece for the harp. It may have a new name in that form, just as has happened with the American folk song Aura Lee which Elvis Presley sang as “Love Me Tender”. “Full Moon and Empty Arms” is now sold as a popular song but we know that same melody is from Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. This happens.
Catherine,
I wish some expert would soon post here to help you because I am quite am amateur using neither a Mac nor Finale, but instead a PC and Sibelius! But I am persevering and did locate http://www.finaleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13008. There a Finale expert answered a question from sbshp who encountered a problem with his new macbook proOSX (10.9), this March, trying to install Finale 2007, Here is what the expert replied:
“I suspect that you’re correct, and that 2007 is not compatible with 10.9. Just as a check, try installing it in a new user account. If it fails there as well, my crystal ball shows an upgrade in your future.
Even two years ago, we were told that products prior to 2010 would no longer be supported on 10.8, so I’m not surprised that 2007 and 10.9 have problems. Sorry.”
Rachael,
The clear plastic jacket or shirt covers from a dry-cleaning store might be just right to cover your Livia. You could deal with the opening at the top, which was for putting the dry-cleaning item on a hanger, in some way; perhaps with clear tape after a bit of trimming. I use such a clear cover on a 1/2 size cello which rests in a nice wooden box lined with velvet (sold by SHAR) upright in my studio. I agree; the beauty of a music instrument should be enjoyed, besides the sound.
Catherine, have you tried this link?
http://finale.en.softonic.com/mac
Since apparently they are a developer of Finale, they might know the answer you are looking for. Hope this helps. If not, you may need to first upgrade your Mac version; and then upgrade your Finale version. Technology changes too quickly for a lot of us! Find a professional who uses both recent versions and see if he/she is satisfied with upgrades they have recently made. Because Clinton F. Nieweg recently posted in the Repertoire category here, in reply to Books on Composing, the very interesting link to the site: http://www.musicprep.com that leads to the company RPMSeattle, we know there is a very knowledgeable team that is used to doing highly technical work combining use of Mac and Finale. It is way beyond a lot of us but it could be they have the perfect answer for you! Good luck!
Suggestions:
Harp Scoring by the late Stanley Chaloupka (long Principal Harp, Los Angeles Philharmonic). This is excellent,written because he found so many poorly written harp parts he had to revise!
The ABC of Harp Playing by Lucile Lawrence (p.41 to p.69) pub.G.Schirmer
The Harp in the Orchestra by Beatrice Schroeder Rose 2002
Principal Harp: A guidebook for the Orchestra Harpist, by Sarah Bullen 1998
Writing for the Pedal Harp by Inglefield and Neill 1985
Standardized Chord Symbol Notation by Brandt and Roemer 1976
Complete Method for Harp, by Henriette Renie Book 2: Syntax-Appendix, translated to English by Geraldine Ruegg. Pub. Alphonse Leduc, Paris 1966.p.205-224.
Master Glossary of Symbols and Special Effects for harp, by Faith Carman.1992
Writing for the Modern Harp by Lucille H. Jennings 1974, School of Music, Ohio University at Athens, Ohio.
How to Write for The Harp in the Commercial Orchestra by Lisa Coffey, 1983
The Art of Modulating by L. Lawrence and C. Salzedo 1950. pub. G.Schirmer
New Harmony for Harp by Verlye Mills 1977
Rhythm for Harp by V. Mills and S. Castellucci 1973
Harp With a Beat by Verlye Mills. pub. MCA/Mills
An Approach to Jazz and Popular Music for the Harp by Stella Castellucci 1983
pub. Miranda Publications (ASCAP) Santa Monica, California. 363 pages.
Some on this list include a recording.Before buying a book, have a conversation with other harp players about names of pieces to look for. Then go to several web sites of professional harpists who often have lists of their repertoire in sections, and even allow you to listen to short excerpts of some in their “wedding” section. Start your own list for those pieces that appeal to you for: Preludes, Processionals for Bridesmaids and for the Bride; Meditation (if there is Communion at the altar); Recessional March, and Postludes (The congregation leaves to joyful music). If you are asked to play for the Reception afterwards, the bride may have her own ideas, often more secular and contemporary than sacred. Can you go to a local music store and visit their piano section that is likely to give you actual collections of music for weddings to look through? No two brides are alike, and if they suggest pieces that are truly dated or not suited to the harp, you need to diplomatically remind them that better, more lasting ones are a wiser choice, that they will still enjoy re-hearing on countless anniversary dates in the future! Hopefully as you play for more weddings you will gain skills in making even modest arrangements for your growing repertoire.
What worked for me was the escrow system: the buyer asks the seller to request an officer at the seller’s bank to receive a check from the buyer for the agreed full price after a shipping cost(often split between buyer and seller)has been determined. The buyer then sends the check to that bank officer, who then notifies the seller that it has arrived at the bank, but holds it in custody. The seller then ships the harp to the buyer. When the buyer has received the shipment and feels it is as advertised, and wants to keep it, the buyer notifies the bank officer to that effect so the funds can be released to the seller. If for some reason the buyer is not satisfied with the instrument, buyer ships back the harp to the seller and the check is returned to the buyer by that bank. This satisfies both parties but clearly by telephone or other means, there needs to be friendly discussion about which party pays for the rejected harp if this happens. These days there may be a more efficient way to sell a harp long distance; I did this more than 20 years ago. Perhaps someone with better knowledge will chime in and post here.
Hannah, In 1993 at the World Harp Congress event in Copenhagen, a harp-and-flute duo performed the Sonata Opus 135 by Erkki Melartin (Finland, 1875-1937) and its beauty was so immediately apparent I ordered it when I returned to the U.S. from International Music Services (now distributed by Vanderbilt Music Inc.) in Indiana. It is wonderful for violin and harp and I have performed it on violin with another harpist (I am professional on both instruments).
Another suggestion is a tango by Carlos Gardel (d. 1925) that was used in several movies such as the Hollywood one “The Scent of a Woman” starring Al Pacino. I arranged it for violin accompanied by harp and Por Una Cabeza can be ordered ($5.) from Vanderbilt Music and other harp music specialist dealers in England, Germany, and Australia.
In a recent harp workshop given in my city by a virtuoso harpist from a South American country, we learned that a performance there of 420 folk harp players came together recently to play a concert, and are listed in the Guiness Book of Records, as the largest harp performance so far. If you go to: 420 Harps on http://www.youtube.com, you will see there are no music stands needed since the players, of all ages, mostly from rural areas of low income, learned to play in groups from a teacher with no printed music involved. You will enjoy their music, all memorized.
If you click on http://www.reigningharps.com you will arrive at the site of the monthly online newsletter of Puget Sound Folk Harp Society, in the State of Washington in the northwest corner of the USA. There on the left side of the home page, one of the options is to choose Harps For Sale. If you click on that, you will find an amazing ten-and-a-half pages listing harps that individuals are eager to sell, including many with 34 strings. Telephone and e-mail addresses are given. Good luck!
Julianna, a few years ago I was asked to play background music for a well known travel writer and speaker for his presentation on France. I compiled a list of pieces and arranged the keys so that they were mixed, using my own arrangements, so help yourself to this list, if you wish:
C: The River Seine. F: Plaisir D’Amour. Cm to CM: I Love Paris. G: Dominique. C: La Vie en Rose. Dm-DM: Les Bicyclettes de Belsize. C: J’Attendrai. G: Parlez-Moi d’Amour. C: Pigalle. DM7-EM7: A Man and a Woman. em: Domino. C: Aupres de ma Blonde. Eb: Moulin Rouge. C: Symphonie. Dm_DM: Forbidden Games. C: Mamselle. D-G-D: La Ronde. C: Hi Lili,Hi Lo. F: Beyond The Sea. C or Ab: If You Love Me, Truly Love Me. Dm-M: Love is Blue. C: Rondeau by Mouret. Am: Charade. C: Gigi.F: Alouette. C: Au Clair de la Lune. F: Frere Jacques. C: April in Paris. Eb: The Poor People of Paris. C: The Petite Waltz. C: Ebb Tide. F: Under the Bridges of Paris. Fm: Under Paris Skies.C: All I Ask of You.
