The Harp Blog

Back from vacation in B.C.  July is turning out to be a busy month for weddings and the like, so for now we’ve got a couple more videos, all the way from Peru!   Considering the harp is one of the oldest instruments in human history, it’s not surprising that nearly every culture has developed its own unique style of harp and harp playing.  Still, it never ceases to amaze me how different each type of harp, and its corresponding technique, can be from each other, and just how much variety there is in the harp world. 

The first one features harpist Otoniel Ccayanchira playing Peruvian Andian music, as well as some traditional dancers. Courtesy of FolkPeru21

The next one features a solo harp piece performed by Florencio Coronado,  followed by a Peruvian folk band and singer (Esmila Zevallos).  Good close-ups of the harpist’s hands at the beginning if you want to check out the traditional Peruvian technique a little more closely.

Courtesy of proansa

Another harpist enjoying the outdoors. This rendition of the Chanter’s song comes to us from Josephine on the Isle of Skye, playing a Seiriol harp.

Sorry the posts have been infrequent lately; been caught up with yard and garden prep while the sun shines. It’s spring here in Southern Ontario, which means the weather is even more fickle than usual, but still oh so tempting to be outside, away from all infernal machines.

Si Bheag Si Mhor, one of O’Carolan’s most popular tunes, played by Mark Harmer on Celtic harp.

“Flying to the fleadh”, slip jig by Patrick Davey, played by FairyHarper, with “accompaniment by the crows and birds of ireland”.

Performed by theheartrender

Harpist Mark Hammer playing the Paraguayan harp.   If you want to know more about the harp and the tune he’s playing, he includes a fairly detailed write-up about both here.

Interesting point of trivia: Apparently on Paraguayan harps the C strings are blue, and the F strings are red, the opposite of other harps. Could make things very confusing for us lever harp players!

Auld Lang Syne on harp guitar:

Rex James Bros with Mark playing Auld Lang Syne on custom built Harp Guitar, Archtop Guitar, and Octave Mandolin.

Apologies for the lack of updates recently, real life has taken over in a big way and computer activities are at a minimum right now (most harpists can relate to the craziness of the holiday concert season; add major home renovations on top of that and you get the general idea). My goal is to get the Harp Blog back into its usual swing in the new year. In the meantime, here’s a video of the incomparable Kim Robertson, who I had the honour to meet and chat with at the Northern Lights Harp Fest.

To find out more about Kim and her music, you can visit her website at www.kimrobertson.net. You can see more videos of Kim at La Crosee ‘08 via the LAXIrishFest YouTube channel (or by following the links in the video above).

Lots of new listings for used harps for sale as of Oct. 9th, check out the Celtic Harp Page’s classifieds section for more info.
(All listings on the Celtic Harp Page are free of charge.)

Just got back this morning, and what a weekend it was!  The first ever Northern Lights Harp Fest in Ottawa was a resounding success (despite the glitches with the sound system on the last day).   I had hoped to blog “live” (as it were) from the hotel, but my computer decided it didn’t like the hotel’s “plug ‘n’ play” internet hookup and refused to play along.   Turned out I didn’t really have any free time to spare, anyhow.  I only left the hotel once, and that was to walk one door over to the restaurant (which, it turns out, is accessible by a nearby escalator, so technically I could have spent the whole weekend indoors, only seeing the sky through the rain-streaked windows.)

Much too tired to write more today, but there will be full-fledged review of the event coming up, as soon as we’ve unpacked and I’ve had a chance at a real night’s sleep.  Update Dec. ‘09: Real life intervened and I never did get around to a proper review, sorry about that. Hoping to get the Blog going regularly again in January, after things calm down. – T.H.

One final note for all who are interested, the NLHF is going to be held bi-annually, so start saving now for 2011!

Courtesy of Crescendo.