Celtic Harp recommendations

Subject: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: Herge
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 05:13 PM

Hi
I have a friend whose niece has taken lessons in the harp and her interest has slipped. I want to get her a CD of some harp music in the more modern style of Laoise Kelly as opposed to Mary O'Hara. Any suggestions?

Herge

Subject: RE: Celtic Hap recommendations
From: Herge
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 05:14 PM

Yes I know it should read Harp!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Celtic Hap recommendations
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 05:44 PM

You might try Ann Heyman. I am not sure who Kelly and O'Hara are, but Ann plays triple strung, wire Welsh harp. Trad dance tunes mostly.

Subject: RE: Celtic Hap recommendations
From: Anniecat
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 07:17 PM

I think that you would find Harriet Earis ideal. She is young and extremely talented. She plays the 34 string Pilgrim Ashdown harp. On her CD 'Jumping Ahead' she plays with lots of her friends and includes some of her own compositions. You will find her on www.harrietearis.com

Subject: RE: Celtic Hap recommendations
From: Hawker
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 08:48 PM

I'll second Harriet Earis, very lively and good to listen to - even better to watch, absolutely captivating - the lady who made me want to play the harp in the first place!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Celtic Hap recommendations
From: harpmolly
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 09:13 PM

If she likes Laoise Kelly, she should definitely check out Gráinne Hambly, a harper from County Mayo with fingers of fire. She is a major inspiration! Another excellent harper is Cormac de Barra, and Michael Rooney of the duo Draíocht.

She might also check out some of Kim Robertson's solo harp CDs--Kim is a whiz at arranging with flair.

Cheers,

Molly

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 05:07 AM

Mairie Ni Chathasaigh is an inspirational harp player, and plays things that might just rekindle her interest.
Giok

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: Herge
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 05:22 AM

Thanks folks - I'll try a few of these names on Amazon and see what they have.

Herge

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: Barry T
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 12:02 PM

Three thumbs up to 'Celtic Harpestry' by the Belfast Harp Orchestra! This is a CD from a British Television production. I understand it is also available in video format.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: black walnut
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 01:22 PM

SHARLENE WALLACE is a wonderful Canadian harper and teacher. She's won an international award for improvization on the harp, and her music is a mix of traditional Celtic and her own beautiful more modern tunewriting.
A lovely person, too.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: black walnut
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 01:27 PM

Oops... this should work:
SHARLENE WALLACE TAKE TWO

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: GUEST,Greasemonkey
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 01:49 PM

Please explain what a 'Celtic harp' actually is.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: GUEST,Val
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 03:47 PM

From: GUEST,Greasemonkey

Please explain what a 'Celtic harp' actually is.
------------
Depending on whom you ask, it is:

1. An accurate reproduction of, or modern re-creation closely patterned after, ancient (pre-18th C or so?) harps built/played in Ireland, Scotland, or Wales. Some say the only "true" Celtic Harp must have wire strings (vs. gut/nylon/etc) and a soundbox carved from a single block of wood, and played with the nails rather than fingertips. Anne Heymann's work is largely historically researched music trying to re-create this instrument & it's sound.

2. Any harp smaller than the ones you usually see in an orchestra, which either has no sharping mechanism or else has individual levers to raise each string. No pedals. (Also called "Neo-Celtic" or "Folk" harp.) This is the most common usage of the term, at least in the US.

3. Any harp built by a Celt.

4. Any harp used to play Celtic music (however you want to define THAT!)

As for recommended performers, I fear I'm not immediately familiar with Laoise Kelly.

Herge, you did ask for music in a "more modern style". Check out Deborah Henson-Connant 's stuff. She is heavily BLUES and JAZZ influenced, but also puts her own spin on a few "traditional" tunes. Might not be the style you're looking for, but there's no questioning her talent & skill - and she might prove a good inspiration. She plays both orchestral pedal harp and a solid-body electric lever harp (yes, it can be as wild/weird as that description implies - but she also can play it very mellow & "folky". Look at some of her photos/videos for how she dances with the harp strapped onto her).

Another excellent artist who composes new pieces but is HEAVILY influenced by traditional Scottish tunes and therefore may be more appealing to the "traditional music" crowd is Billy Jackson .

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: Herge
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 05:14 PM

Hi
A lot of good players out there. And knowledgeable people!

Thanks

Herge

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: black walnut
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 05:14 PM

Good answer Val. I'd venture that most people would go for Door #2. It's usually considered a harp that is NOT the classical orchestral harp. It has levers as opposed to the foot pedal mechanism.
I'm going to hear from the South American harpers now, aren't I...

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 05:15 PM

The Poozies might appeal to her.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: Helen
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 07:00 PM

I second the Poozies, which includes Mary McMaster & Patsy Seddon, but the duo with these two talented women, called Sileas, is the top of my list for lively harps. They rock! (Gaelic/Scottish influence, that is, not pop music.)

Helen

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: Declan
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 07:19 PM

Mary and Patsy were also part of Dick Gaughan's "Super Group" Clan Alba, whos CD appears to have re-appeared on the market recently (originally on Celtic Music).

There is an album called "An tri is a riain" which features harpist Eithne Ni Dhonnaille as both an accompanist and lead tunes player. The others who appear on the album are Eithne's husband John Weir on fiddle and concrtina player Claire Keville.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: harpmolly
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 12:33 AM

Ooh, how could I forget Maire! Her "Acrobat's Jig" had the harpers falling off their chairs at the Seattle Folk Harp Symposium a few years ago.

There really are a ridiculous amount of talented harp players out there. She might check out www.harpspectrum.org for a boatload of information and resources. :)

Cheers,

Molly

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: black walnut
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 10:38 AM

Yes, the Poozies. For sure.
~b.w.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: shepherdlass
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 12:48 PM

The harp playing members of the Poozies also record as Sileas - very beautiful music. Also you could go back a few years to the seminal Alain Stivell's Renaissance of the Celtic Harp.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: shepherdlass
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 12:49 PM

Oh, almost forgot - Corinna Hewitt provides a nice, jazzy twist to the celtic harp, so may also revive her interest.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: mandotim
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 01:58 PM

I remember hearing a couple of exponents of the Welsh Triple Harp recently; one was Gwenan Gibbard here , and another was a band called Crasdant, their harper is Robin Huw Bowen. Good stuff.
Tim

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: black walnut
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 05:06 PM

I've never thought of Robin Huw Bowen as a particularly "modern" harper. Am I missing something?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: Tootler
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 06:21 PM

Corrina Hewatt.

Great singer-harpist.

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: GUEST,Jaysus
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 02:40 PM

Jaysus, has noone on this list heard of Máire Ní Chathasaigh?

Subject: RE: Celtic Harp recommendations
From: Effsee
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 03:51 PM

Already here! Date: 26 Dec 06 - 05:07 AM