As the story goes, I wanted a harp at the tender age of 7yrs but my Mother, who could only envisage the grand orchestral harps, decided a guitar was much more suitable for a small girl. Needless to say I only learned a few plucked tunes and soon gave it up altogether.
My 50th birthday was fast approaching and my husband happened to see a TV documentary about a Welsh harp maker and I jokingly said, "That's what I'll have for my birthday!" It was sort of a whim, but we searched the internet and came up with this Welsh Folk Harp page and my husband bought me a harp from there.
My harp has no levers and no pedals, just 19 plain strings from 'F to C''. It has a round back, it is beautiful to look at, soft to the touch, and most definitely "Much Loved".
With the help of some tunes from the supplies webpage I can just about play "Heno Heno" and "All Through The Night". My husband recorded me playing these after a week with my harp. He has changed them slightly (I wasn't actually in a church!) removing the pauses as I found the next chord but essentially it's me. There is also a Glissando too (you'll know when you hear it). Enjoy
Glissando ; HenoHeno ; AllThroughTheNight
Although I haven't successfully found a harp teacher yet, I have found various harp teachers on the internet, Chris Caswell being the first I came across on YouTube. My most recent acquisition is "Teach Yourself to Play The Folk Harp" book by Sylvia Woods.
Other tunes I am working on are, "Frere Jacques", "Be Thou My Vision", "Twinkle Twinkle" and most recently "Brian Boru's March", or this version.
I'm happy to sit of an evening learning to read music and practicing and the time just flies by, certainly a wonderful Birthday Present.
9 comments:
Hi BJ, love photos and post - you are clearly enjoying your lovely harp and I can see how time can run away when you are having so much fun. I love the sound of a harp and remember particularly enjoying listening to Mary O'Hara's performances back in the 1960s/70s. Those photos will make a great scrap page :) Elizabeth xx
Oh my dear, Harpie is so beautiful to listen to! Thank you so so much for sharing your playing, I really enjoyed it, HUGS xxx
Oh and welcome to the 50's club :-D xxx
Wow, that sounds amazing...well done you! I want to have a go now!! Great pics btw :-)
Pretty to look at and a lovely sound. I love the pics. Have fun with your birthday present.
WOW such a beautiful post sweetie. Such a soothing sound the hap has, stunning job my lovely.
Huge hugs x x x x
Lovely to see your beautiful photos BJ - and hear you playing your harp too - I loved your 'all through the night'.
Seems like it'll be a birthday to remember xx
Well done you, and I love the photo of you with the harp! Good going after only a week!
Fab post BJ...lovely photo of you and your Harpie :)... and so lovely to listen to...Sounds amazing...well done you! x
Wow,am impressed BJ,you played that lovely x
Post a Comment