Pin-barrel Harp

Subject: Pin-barrel Harp
From: GUEST,Chris J Brady
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 01:39 AM

Members and others might like to see (and hear) a preview of a unique musical instrument - a pin-barrel harp - commissioned by the EFDSS to commemorate Cecil Sharp. Comments may be also be viewed (and added to) in the Forum.

See:

http://www.folkradio.co.uk/index.php/music-news/417-video-chris-wood-and-the-pin-barrel-harp

http://tinyurl.com/n5l5zt

Enjoy - CJB.

Subject: RE: Pin-barrel Harp
From: Splott Man
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 03:44 AM

That is magnificent.

Subject: RE: Pin-barrel Harp
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 03:48 AM

Wow - a gigantic musical box with strings instead of tongues! Amazing - how long does it take to create the pin barrels for each song?

Subject: RE: Pin-barrel Harp
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 04:07 AM

It struck me that if they'd put hammers instead of... um, plucking things... on the end of the levers, they would basically have reinvented the pianola, in a less programmable form. Also, how it could function as "a public-access acoustic composing machine" escapes me. It's a beautiful contraption, mind you.

Subject: RE: Pin-barrel Harp
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 04:14 AM

I don't get it. What's the point? And at what cost? Surely the money could have went on something better than this? Forgive me, I instinctively recoil from naff arts projects - especially naff arts projects in the name of Folk.

Meanwhile, here's Nancarrow's Study #11 for Player Piano to show you how it's really done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPdX85cv_D8

Subject: RE: Pin-barrel Harp
From: Surreysinger
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 04:54 AM

I have to admit that on the basis of the couple of videos I've seen I was somewhat aghast at this. It neither looks nor sounds a thing of beauty ... and I can't really imagine that it's going to enhance the premises at C# House. However, that is, of course, a purely personal viewpoint, and I haven't seen or heard the thing in real life, so I suppose judgement should be reserved until the reality is encountered!! :-)

Subject: RE: Pin-barrel Harp
From: GUEST,Jack Campin (in Transylvania)
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 07:33 AM

That URL gives me "A kiszolgáló nem található", which I presume is Hungarian for "that URL's buggered".