Celtic Harp Page Reviews - Books, CDs and Music Software

Celtic Harp Page Reviews 2006-2007
Reviews of All Things Harp-Related (Books, Music, CD's, Concerts, Magazines, etc.)

Welcome to our reviews section, revised and updated for 2007. While we can no longer guarantee that all material that gets submitted to the Celtic Harp Page will be reviewed, we are still happy to accept music and CD's for review (please read the guidelines below first!). For past reviews of various harp-related books, music, CD's, magazines, & music software, see our archives section below.

If you would like to submit your own review of something harp-related, e-mail us with a short synopsis of the review, and/or the review in plain text in the body of the message. We would really prefer that you do not send attachments, but if you must please make sure that it's either in plain text, rich text, or Microsoft Word, and no more than 500 words long. More details on submitting reviews here; please read this before sending us stuff.

Sections: New & Upcoming / Current Reviews 2007 / 2006 Reviews / Archives List
"Guest Reviews" are reviews by anyone other than the editor/webmaster (i.e. me.) - T.H.

What's New February 2007

CD Review: "Aros" by Delyth Jenkins
Music for small harp arr. by Maryjean Zarick: "Welsh Ground with 24 variations for 22 string lap harp", and "Essential Duets for small harp and violin or flute"

Current Reviews 2007: CD by Delyth Jenkins: Aros; Ar Y Ffin (book) by Delyth Jenkins, Harp Music Arr. Maryjean Zarick; CD by Julia Cunningham: Peaceful Night

Reviews from 2006: Harp Carts; Harpsicles; Books & CD's by: Alison Vardy, Alys Howe, Kim Robertson, Star Edwards, Cyndi Bickel

Harp CD Review - Feb. 20 '07
Aros by Delyth Jenkins
What a nice surprise, after recently reviewing Ms. Jenkin's book of Welsh tunes, to get one of her CD's in the mail. I've listened to it through several times now, and have thoroughly enjoyed it each time. Like her book, the CD is a blend of traditional Welsh tunes and original compositions by Delyth. This a harp CD that really features the harp playing; the recording is clear, no muddiness, and the playing is light and deft. Like any good harp playing, depending on the track it can be both relaxing and enlivening. I especially like her set of original compositions "A Veritable Feast / Digestif", where she is joined by several excellent musicians (including her own daughter) on fiddle, tenor sax, and darabuka. The accompaniment by other instruments on the album is done with subtlety and grace, and the fiddle parts in particular are lovely. Delyth is also joined by her other daughter on flute for Mil Harddach Wyt (track 6), making this a truly family affair. Other musicians featured are Angharad Jenkins, Peter Stacey, Branwen Jenkins, and Dylan Fowler. For more information on Delyth Jenkins and her recordings you can visit her website at www.delyth-jenkins.co.uk.

Harp & ensemble repertoire review - Feb. 20 '07
Music for small harp arr. Maryjean Zarick: "Welsh Ground with 24 variations for 22 string lap harp", and "Essential Duets for small harp and violin or flute"
This review was delayed for over a month because I just haven't had a chance to try out the duets yet; so I thought I'd better put up a little plug for them in the meantime. It's always nice to see music arranged specifically for lap harp, which, while more common nowadays, is not always easy to find. "Welsh Ground with 24 variations" comes with a CD, on which all the variations are played at a relatively slow pace, so they are quite easy to follow. I was struck by the similarity in feel between the Welsh Ground and the famous Pachelbel's Canon in D; perhaps the two composers were visited by the same muse. Note that there are lever flips in several of the variations, for which you will need levers on F, G, B, and D. The range for this arrangement is low C one octave below middle C, to high C two octaves above middle. "Essential Duets" comes with separate parts for flute (or violin) and harp, and covers the same range for lap harp as Welsh Ground. It contains a mix of well-known traditional and popular pieces: Ash Grove, Hie-ey Ma Tov, Gymnopedie No. 1 by Satie, the above-mentioned Pachelbel's Canon in D, How Can I Keep from Singing, two TV themes: Nadia's Theme from The Young and the Restless and Brian's Song, and Longer by Dave Fogelberg. More information on these publications can be found at www.ParadiseHarpMusic.com.

Welsh harp music book review - Jan. 6 2007
Ar Y Ffin by Delyth Jenkins
Traditional and original tunes arranged for Celtic harp (many of which can be found on the CD of the same name.)

I was delighted to receive this book just before I went on holiday, since I've always liked Welsh music, and had been wanting to try out some new tunes on my little double-strung harp (to which Welsh music is particularly suited, given the prominent role the triple harp has played in Welsh music). So over the holidays I tried all the tunes on my double-strung lap harp, and then got to re-discover them again on my 34-string Celtic harp when I got home. Some of the tunes sounded just perfect on my double harp (22 strings x2courses =44). In Yr Hen Don, the dotted rhythms of the tune set against the regular beat in the bass hand sounded great on the double-strung, as did the sweet, bouncy nature of Y Corgi Bach, with its little offbeat moments and perky jumps. However, some pieces really did need the full two bass octaves of the larger harp, such as the original piece Land of Lost Content. Also the simpler, shorter pieces such as the two Bourrées at the beginning definitely gained a bit more of a grounded feeling when played in the range they were originally written in.

There is quite a diverse selection of pieces in this book, from quick upbeat tunes to slower melodies like Castle Hill, that you can really let breathe. As Jenkins says in her introduction, the pieces can be played as written (which requires a harp with a full two octaves below middle C to play all the pieces), or they can be used as a springboard for the player's own interpretations. Since the bass hand parts are mostly based on simple broken chords (although the chord sequences often have a modern feel to them), these pieces are ideal for experimenting with variations.

Land of Lost Content is a good example of the kinds of things you could try with the other melodies, since it takes you through a series of variations that seem to fit the traditional Welsh model of varying the melody. When I took a workshop with Robin Huw Bowen in Godderich we followed a number of variations such as these, and I also came to know how much Welsh music really is fond of nice, round chords with thirds, especially all those little jigs that are really just a bunch of quick broken chords and arpeggios (which I suspect are mostly an excuse to start people dancing!). All in all, an enjoyable book, from which I intend to grab at least a few pieces to add to my repertoire for sure. - T.H.

For more information on Delyth Jenkins and her arrangements of Welsh and original music you can visit her website at www.delyth-jenkins.co.uk.

CD Review - Jan. 7 2007
"Peaceful Night" by Julia

I always like to support independent artists, and it's great to see CD's of entirely original work. That said, I have to admit it took until the second or third track for me to warm up to this album. Personally, when I reach for harp CD's, the new-age kind of mellow style isn't the first thing I'd go for. The first track didn't do much for me; I thought the harp was a little lost under all the synth sounds. However, the second track made me perk up my ears a bit; it started with an unaccompanied harp intro (aha - there's the harp, I thought), and it was a little more upbeat; the synth had a bit more of a jazzy feel to it, and it felt like something that would be good meditative music. By the third track, I found I was actually tapping my foot along to the rhythm.

From there the album alternates between what I came to think of as a kind of retro light jazz, and pleasant ambient, with the other instruments (including flute, piano and various strings) contributing some interesting texture - there's some good guitar work on track 4 (Saskatchewan Sunset), for instance. On track 7 (Reflections), the harp came to the fore again, which was nice. My favourite track of all was the "bonus" track (#11, Night Market on the Adriatic), which was a great little upbeat, mid-east marketplace feeling tune. If Julia were to put out an album where most of the music was like the last track, I'd definitely want to check it out. All told, I would have liked to hear the harp featured more prominently; but if you're mainly looking for a mellow album to chill out to, this should do the trick (although the last track might wake you up!) - T.H.

For more information on Julia Cunningham's musical endeavours, you can visit www.soulharp.com.

Harp Cart Review - Aug. 29 '06
Kart-a-Bag harp cart
This review was originally posted on the Harp Blog.

I thought I would give the harp cart I use a little plug, since it saved my sanity several times last weekend, and the two gigs where I was without it I sorely regretted it. The one I use is the "Kart-a-Bag" folk harp cart, which I got through Sylvia Woods. You can find out more about it here. I picked mine up at the Somerset harp conference several years ago, so I didn't have to pay for shipping to Canada (which would have probably been dreadful, especially when you add in customs). However, even if I had to pay shipping, it's definitely worth it. It just perfectly fits my 34-string Gerhard Wanney harp in its case; the bungee cords that come attached to it just barely stretch far enough, so if you have a bigger harp you might need extensions. However, although they're just long enough, due to the shape of the harp there's still a fair bit of give, so I can slip in a few extra things like a folding chair, a little battery-powered amp, and/or book bag and a water bottle snugged up next to the harp. It can apparently handle up to a 300 lb load, but I've never come close to that.

Things I like about it:

It collapses down to a managable shape and size, and even comes with a carry bag (although the wheels on mine are usually so dirty that I tend to leave it out of its case most of the time).
It is really easy to set up (once you've practiced a couple of times), and even easier to collapse again. You can do a lot of the functions one-handed if absolutely necessary.
It handles off-road terrain with surprising ease. Most of the time I've needed to lug my harp the equivalent of a couple city blocks, it's been down a dirt road (e.g. at the local pioneer village), through a park complete with mud (this past weekend's folk festival), or up and down grassy or pebbly slopes (some of the resorts I play at).
Even when pushing one-handed, it's relatively easy to control, even at a brisk walking pace. This is very important when trying to wend your way through unruly crowds of festival goers who will completely ignore you and your heavy burden, no matter what you might think about the love-the-earth granola types being kinder and gentler. I suspect they're just distracted by all the lovely, interesting, colourful things going on around them; being one of that sort myself this is no means meant as a slur against.... oooh, look, shiny! I'll be right back...

Ahem. Okay, back on topic. If you do a lot of regular gigging, or if you think you might ever be called upon to play somewhere without car access (which happens far, far more often than you might think), get a trolley/cart /dolly - whatever you want to call it. It might just save your life (or at least, your shoulders and your sanity). - T.H.

Guest Review May 11 '06

Harpsicles/Sharpsicles and Learning on a Lap Harp - by Cynthia Zutavern

Are you a beginner harper, planning to learn on a lap harp? Here are some considerations.

I had never played an instrument of any kind so purchasing a harp vs. renting was a big deal....would I/ could I play a Harp!?! Where I live there are no harps to rent....I drove 5 hours (one way) to Wm Rees in Rising Sun, Indiana and met with the staff and toured their factory....(The town is great, the shop is nice, the factory is interesting , the staff is helpful and the resident dog is delightful.) They offered rentals or purchase of their fine instruments, though no rentals on the Harpsicle/Sharpsicles. Darlene recommended I try the Harpsicle/Sharpsicle for the price ($295/$495) it would be about the same as renting for an extended period. She mentioned I could either keep it as a travel harp if I wanted to add a floor harp or sell it.

That sounded reasonable to me so I bought one.... And this is what I discovered.

Learning on a small travel harp is HARD....I was struggling to learn to read the music...find the strings...play the strings and try to hang onto a tiny harp....ALL AT THE SAME TIME... Yikes!!!! So after about a month of struggling I purchased a LAPSTICK...a very useful feature....the harp no longer felt like it was going to fall off my lap and I was able to relax my wrists to play properly. That made a tremendous improvement.

As for the actual harp....Rees does a lovely job in craftsmanship...excellent finish and attention to the details....My harp is a year old this month and looks as nice as it did when new. It took a while for the strings to adjust... as a novice I didn't understand to tune several times each day, though I probably was told....and it most likely appeared in the informational booklet that comes with the harp. Now.... the sound is wonderful and consistent...holds tune nicely...I had a harp teacher play mine so I could really hear and appreciate what a master could do...the sound is light and sweet. The touch of the strings is lighter than a floor harp... but the spacing is similar if not exactly the same...I really can't tell a difference. The harp has a one year guarantee and the folks at Rees Instruments are very nice to deal with. You get a lot of harp for your money and it is made in Indiana.

As for a recommendation....I think an experienced harpist looking for a light weight small portable harp would enjoy playing the sharpsicle.... and a beginner should purchase a LAPSTICK.....that does add to the initial cost but it is worth it. My friend's 1st grader played it with no difficulty with it propped up on a stool and lapstick in place...so a great harp for kids, too.

All in all...since I wasn't even sure I would have any aptitude in music...the Sharpsicle served me well, fit my budget and I just sold it recovering 75% of my investment. Overall, cheaper than renting.

Editor's note: Harpsicle prices are included in our sample list of harp prices, if you want to compare, and more information on this line of harps can be found on the company's website at www.traditionalharps.com/HarpsicleHarpsMenu.html - T.H.

CD Review March 7 '06

Island Suite by Alison Vardy. The last time I got to listen to a CD by Alison was back in 2001, so I was pleasantly surprised to find her most recent CD, Island Suite, in my mailbox, mere days after our reviews section had become active again. Island Suite is an engaging blend of different cultural influences and original compositions. The same upbeat, cheerful nature that suffused Alison's first two CD's is just as present here. The unique sound of the Paraguayan harp lends an interesting texture to the music, which flows seamlessly from one melody to the next, despite all the tunes being distinct from one another. I especially liked the changes in tone that occur in "From the Shadows" (Alison's own composition). Along with the Paraguayan harp that Alison built herself in a harp-building workshop in Australia, Alison also plays a synthetic-gut-strung Celtic lever harp. For more info on Alison and her recordings you can visit her website at www.alisonvardy.com. - T.H.

Guest CD Review Feb. 22 '06

Alys Howe's CD, Phosphorescence, is an absolutely delightful recording, with dazzling harp playing, innovative arrangements and some of Alys's original compositions. Her clear, lovely voice is also featured on a couple of tracks, such as "Ca' the Yowes", and there are also tracks with other instruments. My personal favourite is her marvelous take on "Musical Priest". Her CD can be ordered from www.alyshowe.com.
- Elizabeth Volpé , Principal Harp, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; Harp Instructor, University of British Columbia

Book & CD reviews Feb. 20 '06
Listed below are some short editor reviews and contact info for all the people we had listed under "coming soon" back in 2004.

Arranging for Folk Harp by Kim Robertson (Mel Bay). Kim is renowned for her arranging as well as her playing, and often gives workshops on the subject. This book is a good concise primer for those who already play the harp, but would like to start doing their own arranging, and gain some freedom from the printed page. While not quite as packed with information as Syliva Wood's similar book, it does cover all the basics, and should help get you over that initial hump of being tied to the sheet music. While especially helpful for players of Celtic and folk music, this book is basic enough to be relevant to all styles of harp music. More info on Kim Robertson can be found on her website, www.kimrobertson.net. Kim's books can be found in almost all harp-related stores. - T.H.

Two's Company by Star Edwards. Music from the Colorado Celtic Harp Orchestra arranged for two harps. Beginning and Intermediate level. Published by Enoch Productions. Contents: Christmas in Killarney, Christmas Day Ida Moarnin', Eileen Aroon, Eleanor Plunkett, Gentle Maiden, Mo Ghile Mear, Taladh Chriosta, Thugamar Fein an Samhradh Linn
While I never got a chance to personally try out this duet book by Star, I did review several of her other books, which can be found in our Harp Books Section: Easy Celtic Harp Solos, Learn to Play the Celtic Harp, and Play Celtic by Ear. More information about Star Edwards and her music books can be found on her website, www.starharp.com. - T.H.

CD and Book by Cyndi Bickel: Be Still & Healers of the Heart. Both worth checking out. I was pleasantly surprised by Cyndi's CD, since I'm not particularly a fan of spiritual or religious music myself. However, her harp playing and singing are both soothing and pleasant, and this CD makes for nice meditative background music. Unlike some similar CD's I did not find it either sappy or pretentious, but heartfelt and genuine. Among other places, you can find stuff by Cyndi through Southwind Dulcimer Online and Melody's Traditional Music (note: Melody's is currently in the midst of reorganizing their print music, so you might have trouble finding stuff initially.) Cyndi is currently a certified Music Practitioner at St. Mary's Medical Centre. - T.H.

Review Archives

For reviews of Harp books & Music, see our extensive Harp Books section.
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