Harp effects in action

Ever wonder why your teacher insisted you learn things like harmonics, tremolo, trills, près de la table, and all those other harpy effects? This arrangement is a good example. And yes, all the effects she uses are also perfectly doable on lever harp.

The piece is Sweet Blues by Bernard Andres, performed by Ruth Boyajian during a Focus on Youth concert at the 11th World Harp Congress in Vancouver.

‘Summertime/Why Don’t You Do Right’, performed by Tamsin Dearnley

Great arrangement, stellar playing. And she flips levers like a boss. I won’t be buying a newsprint dress anytime soon (awesome though hers is), but this has definitely inspired me to get back to some of my more jazzy repertoire.

You can find out more about Tamsin via her website: http://www.tamsindearnley.co.uk/

Starter/Beginner Harps Part Two: Harps on a Budget

Of all the questions we get asked via the CHP, how to get a harp on a limited budget tops the list. From the renaissance of the folk harp that began in the 1960’s, to now nearly seven decades later, the breadth and depth of choice for harp players in terms of instruments and music has expanded dramatically. Unfortunately, a good harp is still not a cheap harp, no matter how you look at it. Good instruments require time, careful worksmanship and decent quality materials, and the harp is no exception.

Thankfully, there are ways to get a good working instrument on just about any budget, with enough patience and dedication.

READ MORE…

July Workshop in Tobermory, Ontario

Creative Harp Collective International 2013
July 16-20, 2013
Summer Harp Workshop
Tobermory, Canada

Classes include: Harp Solo Performance Coaching, Body Awareness at the Harp, Use of Harp in Therapeutic ways, Vibro-Acoustic Harp Therapy, Music Theory related to the Harp, Improvisation, Studies in Rhythm, Yoga, NIA Dance, Meditation Techniques, Basics of learning to play

Website: http://kerstinallvin.com/chci2013/

Hurly Burly Spring Concerts, with Special Guest

Hurly Burly in 2010 at St. John'sWow, time does whizz by. Sorry for not posting in April, the weather was too nice here to stay indoors! – T.H.

We’re happy to announce that Hurly Burly will be joined by Hazina Bellydance for both our Sat. May 18 concert in Oshawa, ON, and our Sun. May 26 concert in Peterborough, ON.

More info on the official Hurly Burly site: http://hurlyburlyensemble.wordpress.com/

 

2013 Earth Day Harp Circle Tunes

The 2013 Earth Day (Peace Day) Harp Circle tunes are up on Chubby Sparrow. The first is a duet version of Come Give Me Your Hand, with chords and notes for lever harp. The second is a slow air based on The Bays of Harris, with lyrics modified from Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem “Evensong” (also with chords).

Everything in the “Free Music” section of the Chubby Sparrow site is free to download, print and/or listen to (please remember to include all acknowledgements and copyrights when printing).  Feel free to photocopy and/or share any of the tunes (non-commercial use only please).

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend!

Early Music Concert (with Arianna Savall on period harp)

Top-notch performances by Jordi Savall, Rolf Lisevand, Perdo Estevan, and Arianna Savall. I instantly fell in love with the larger of Arianna’s two period replica harps. It’s not easy to find video of medieval harps in concert where the sound mix does them justice, but the balance is perfect in this one.