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I tried out the first three harps Carl made and brought to New York to show. I greatly preferred the La Scuola which had a notably warm and bright tone. The Empire harps were to me exceedingly dark, but others really liked that.
Hi Everybody!
Thank you so much to everybody who contributed an answer! I have heard nothing but good things about Swanson Harps!!! If i could only find one for sale in CA or surrounding areas:(
Finally a product that works!
I have been searching for 3 years and tried 3 different steriods from my dematoglist along with every product on this message center—all to no avail!!
Finally a product that works–but does not cure–but stops the cracking and bleeding!!!
It is called Ultra-Mide 25.
I’ve been taking lessons on a Swanson La Scoula for about 2 months, and while the Swanson brand is smaller and lesser known than LH/Salvi, I’m impressed every time I sit down to play it.
One thing about Swasons that strikes me as MUCH better than LH/Salvi is the fact that there is so much room in the uppermost octaves. I’ve done some work with Contemplation by Renie, and in that twinkly section in the really high octaves, I’ve found I just can’t do it on my Salvi CG. On the La Scoula I’m comfortable playing it, even with my long fingers.
I don’t know the first thing about finances and resale values, but I can tell you that (sound wise and structurally speaking) Swanson harps are right up there with the big boys.
For the past decade I’ve owned a Swanson Semi-Gilded Empire and can report unconditional delight with the instrument. In the words of a colleague who performed on it a few years ago, “it is a revelation!” Virtually every orchestra and choral conductor who has heard the harp praises its clarity and brilliance, its depth of tone, stability of pitch, and physical beauty. This is especially remarkable considering the chaotic nature of New England weather conditions and the antiquated state of heating/air conditioning systems in our ancient performing facilities. The harp is aging magnificently, remaining entirely stable, maintenance-free (with only routine regulations and string changes), and with ever-deepening tonal color. The workmanship is of the finest quality and often commented on by knowledgeable colleagues and artisans. My husband and sons greatly appreciate the relative lighter weight of the instrument when hefting it up the many stairs in elevator-impaired Boston facilities. As a performer I’m especially grateful for the added space in the top octaves and the stability of the Swanson Harp in holding pitch. Harpists in New England are extremely fortunate to have Carl Swanson, who provides impeccable technical service, and to have the Swanson instruments so close at hand. I recommend not only his pedal harps, but also his folk harps, several of which my students have purchased with unqualified satisfaction.
My Scuola is now 4-5 years old, and I’ve been very happy with it from the first week, when I had to use it unexpectedly on the Brahms op.17 songs. (The darker sound of my gold 23 was being swallowed up by the weird acoustic of the church we were in).
I chose the Scuola for its brighter sound, clarity, and focused projection in orchestral playing. Since I started using it, I’ve never had a conductor ask for “More Harp!,” even in an opera or show pit. I regularly use it with the Boston Philharmonic (all the Mahler symphonies with those great low-register parts), the Portland (Maine) Symphony, several opera companies, theater companies, many choral societies, etc., etc.)
There’s much more room at the the top than there is on my 1982 23, which is a pleasure.
heyy que tal, ya tenia mucho ke no dejaba mensajes, que bien que mas y mas gente se esta conectando,
eyy yeseniaa, sabes toke ese concierto, el mismo de peters y se me iso que no estaba tan chafa, te voy a mandar como lo arreglo mi profe, y a la mejor te agradaa
eyy pues va a ver un concurso de arpa aki en mexico, en marzo y pienso ir hahaha
alrrato genteHola a todos, desde Buenos Aires, mi nombre es Soledad, y queria agradecer a Amanda por ensenarme este site.
Saludos para todos, Mucho amor, y mil kilos de musica, ji.
SoleAmanda!!! Gracias por contestarme. Bueno, aunque lo del consejo de preguntarle a Ruth no creo que me sirva. Si se entera que estoy tocando ese concierto me puede matar. Ella cree que los conciertos son solo para estudiantes de nivel avanzado…as? que mejor no le digo nada. Voy a ver que tal me va.
Gracias y suerte!!I just purchased Alec Templeton’s Rigaudon and Sicilenne, and they would be perfect pieces for your program.
I would posit that a finger where the knuckle is bent inward will present a bit of inertia that must be overcome to close the finger into the hand, thus slowing down the movement at least slightly. I knew a good professional harpist who bent in each finger’s knuckle and had noticably limited speed.
First, just because they had their photo taken together did not make Sassoli and Salzedo an item. His first wife was Viola Gramm, his second Lucile Lawrence, his third Marjorie Call. That’s all. Wives, that is. Lucile Johnson was a student of his for a time and a member of his first harp ensemble. They may have had an affair as the L-u-c-i-l-e motif in all of his Five Poetical Studies was for her, not Lucile Lawrence; so he had some kind of passion for her, artistically at least. She was later in a relationship with Marcela Kozikova, whom she promoted vigorously for a while. They made a strange duo-harp recording of the Debussy Danses, sent out on floppy plastic lps.
I don’t think there was much on Sassoli in the Salzedo biography. You can find more in back issues of the American Harp Journal and such periodicals. Try a periodical index search at the library.Para empezar, quiero dar un saludo y un abrazo fuerte a mi amigo Marcos Molina. Te agradezco los buenos ratos que pasamos compartiendo m?sica en Zaragoza. Seguir? estudiando arpa crioya y otras modalidades porque me gusta aprender un poc de cada cultura. El sabado pasado estren? una versi?n propia de “El Manisero”.Tiene ese esp?ritu de Habanera con elementos de m?sica crioya, elementos ritmicos que fui a?adiendo con los a?os.Espero plasmarla algun dia en una partitura porque de momento la tengo en mi cabeza. Marcos pudo escucharla y parecio gustarle jejejeje. Me atraen mucho los ritmos latinos, el Jazz y toda esa m?sica que te llena el alma de alegr?a. Hac?a mucho que no escrib?a unas l?neas aqu?. Deseo conocer arpistas del globo. Tambi?n quiero dar las gracias a Phamie Gow que tiene una m?sica bell?sima. Tu disco me ha encantado y eres una persona muy dulce. Ella toca arpa celta-el?ctrica. Nada m?s espero que me escriban con sus inquietudes. Un saludo desde Espa?a ( Zaragoza).
