Music and More

Harp music is identical to piano music. I took piano lessons for four years before I began playing the harp. This provided me with all the music theory I needed. One major difference between harp and piano is that you never use your pinkie finger to play any notes on the harp. This makes all the fingering, quite different from the piano. Harpists often mark their music with the number of the finger above the note and other signs to help themselves remember the fingering.  I have thoroughly enjoyed playing many of my piano pieces on the harp.

There are many different styles of music including Celtic, Jazz, Classical, and various other cultural styles.  The main two categories are Classical and Celtic. Someone playing classical music is typically considered a harpist. As apposed to a harper - someone who plays celtic music. The type of harp played also distinguishes harpists from harpers. Harpist use pedal harps, and harpers use lever harps. Many harpist play in the symphony or orchestra earning a steady paycheck.  They are extremely strict in their techinque, and play pedals with the largest soundboard to project the most sound and depth of tone as possible.  Harpers, on the other hand, may play as soloist, or with Celtic type group. Their harps are often much smaller and sit on their lap. Technique is not a main focus for them, and their music is much more soulful.  See the differences between this well know classical harpist and a world renowned celtic harper for yourself. Tomoko Sato has played with the Honolulu Symphony and the Pacific Symphony, and Sylvia Woods is a soloist harper who won the All-Ireland Harp Championship in 1980. 

Don't worry I haven't forgotten about jazz harpist, and harp therapy is a whole other category. I'll post some more about them soon. As for now, thanks for reading! Please leave questions and comments!

Strings and Tuning

You may have noticed that some strings on the harp are red, others a dull gray, and others a darker blue or black color. This is to help the harpist keep their orientation and find the notes more quickly and accurately.  All the C’s on the harp are red, and all the F’s are black or a dark blue. The strings in-between are not dyed, but they may vary in color due to their composition: approximately 10 of the lowest strings are steel; the majority of the strings in the middle are gut; and the top 10 or so are nylon. A typical pedal harp is tuned so that it is in C major when the pedals are in there natural position, allowing for any key signature to be played with the proper placement of the pedals.

A lever harp, on the other hand, is usually tuned to the key of E flat. All the E, A, and B, levers must be in the sharp position in order to play in the key of C major.

My Harp

This is my harp. It is a concert pedal harp from Lyon and Healy; style 85 XP Petite with extended soundboard. It has 40 strings and weighs approximately 62 pounds. My family and I drove to Chicago and toured Lyon and Healy's harp factory before purchasing one. It was amazing to see the intricacy that goes into making each harp.  They are all hand made by skilled carpenters, and decorated and finished with precision and detail. While some harps are simpler, others have unique carvings and designs, and still others are entirely gold plated with beautiful engravings. I'll tell you a bit more about my tour of the harp factory next week. Be sure to subscribe to get e-mail updates. I have an abundance of information about harps, music styles, performing, and more to share with you! Don't miss it!