Harp in Toronto

Subject: Harp in Toronto
From: hesperis
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 02:21 AM

Heya!

I made a list of all the songs I know that I could play on flute, and was very happy to find that at least 24 of them are folk favorites and public domain. So I want to do a harp/flute album with occasional voice. (I've written a few originals for harp and flute, too.)

I either need a harpist (and would prefer a mudcatter because that would be cool) or someone to donate/sell-for-very-tiny-moolah/loan a harp so that I can learn it and record.

So, who all is a harper in TO? Does anyone have a family member who has a harp sitting all alone and unplayed?

Thanks!
~*sirepseh*~

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: hesperis
Date: 19 Jul 03 - 03:46 PM

I know about Black Walnut but she's busy right now with her new CD! Anyone else?

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: Helen
Date: 19 Jul 03 - 08:03 PM

Hi hesperis,

I've posted a request for you on the international e-mail Harplist. I don't know for sure whether we have any Canadians on the list but the harping network is strong and insidious (grin).

Text of message as follows:

"Someone has posted a request on a music forum for a harp player or possibly a low cost harp for sale, loan or rent.

Quote: the enquirer says she wants '... to do a harp/flute album with occasional voice. (I've written a few originals for harp and flute, too.)

I either need a harpist (and would prefer a mudcatter because that would be cool) or someone to donate/sell-for-very-tiny-moolah/loan a harp so that I can learn it and record.

So, who all is a harper in TO? Does anyone have a family member who has a harp sitting all alone and unplayed?'

You can reply to me and I will pass the message on."

Helen

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: Helen
Date: 20 Jul 03 - 12:54 AM

hesperis,

I've had one reply already, possibly more to come. There is someone who will sell a 22 string lap harp which is near new. I'll PM you with the info.

Helen

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: hesperis
Date: 20 Jul 03 - 03:20 AM

Thanks, Helen, that's great!

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: black walnut
Date: 20 Jul 03 - 09:57 AM

Not just the CD, for the record. I also have some elbow problems that keep me from playing more than small chunks at a time right now. Etc.

All the best, Hesperis. Keep me up to date.
~b.w.

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: hesperis
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 08:42 AM

I was looking at harps online, apparently some people don't say what note their 22-string starts on, and they start on different notes. I asked the person if it started on the C below middle C and she just said that it didn't, without actually telling me what it does start on.

Yeah, this is probably going to be a longer-term project than I thought, because it's really confusing!

My voice starts on the G below middle C so I'd want something that would actually support my voice. Anyone in TO got a spare harp they could lend me for a couple of months? Have any clue where I could rent one?

(The only problem with renting is that it would take some of the money I'd saved and I'd have to earn that back and more before buying, as opposed to just earning the "and more" and buying. But I might earn more with harp, so... hmm.)

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: black walnut
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 03:22 PM

Harps are a bit on the big side. So they tend to be on the expensive side, and there are precious few around to rent or borrow. I honestly don't know how to help you. I was able to rent one from a teacher in Leaside while mine was being made for me in British Columbia, but it was big and heavy and clumsy and expensive to rent. I wouldn't recommend it, personally. Learning how to play the harp is another thing again. It's not an immediate transfer from the keyboard (the fingering patterns are different for one thing, as is the need to 'place' a position before the phrase, more than required at the piano) , but it certainly helps to feel familiar with another instrument before climbing aboard.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 05:03 PM

What about renting a good synth/sampler and using that for the harp part?

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: Helen
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 05:21 PM

Oh thou Philistine, Guest! (grin) Not the same at all, at all!

Helen

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: black walnut
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 08:06 PM

Ditto!!!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: hesperis
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 01:18 AM

Can't busk effectively with a synth... too much to pack up and set up and pack up. Would be tolerable for recording - after all, I have harp parts on my current CD!

I do have a friend who can lend me a mandolin though, so maybe I'll see if I busk better with that...

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: black walnut
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 08:25 AM

Definitely easier to carry, and quicker to tune!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: hesperis
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 09:35 AM

Heh, tuning... forgot about that.

Helen told me about a resource for very cheap beginner harps.

www.waringmusic.com/waring_harps.htm

Very unsexy shape... lol! The sound is probably ok, though. I wouldn't be confident to build one, and unfortunately you have to choose a colour if you get it premade... but, *very* cheap!

Might be worth it... especially if I paint something cool on it. It would look better if it was painted all over, not just the soundbox. The unpainted wood makes it ugly.

I might be able to raise enough for this one pretty easily.

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: Marion
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 11:39 AM

As for finding a harpist: you know that it's free to put "musicians wanted" ads in the Eye, eh?

Marion

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: Helen
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 03:13 AM

hesperis,

I hate to put a pinprick in your balloon but....I'm gonna anyway. (Grin)

I don't think that this is the one I read about on the Harplist. It was called a Harpsicle, and is made by William Rees.

The real problem with the Waring harp you linked to is that in properly designed harps the curved top of the harp follows the shape of the harmonic curve so that the strings end up being the right length to produce the right notes. A triangular harp has a high probability of not having a reasonable sound and also of not being able to keep the strings tuned properly.

The good news, however, is that there are very nicely priced harp kits (for "proper harps") and you can end up with a beautiful instrument. Kits come in various stages of preparation depending on your budget and how much know-how and/or motivation you have to do it yourself.

My 36 string harp was made from the plans I bought from Markwood, which is now available through Mountain Glenn harps. I also bought the strings, levers, and other hardware from them but a friend of mine made it for me.

Cambria harp kits and plans

This is not the only company which has kits and/or plans but I chose this one because of the way it was designed and the result is a beautiful harp with an excellent sound quality.

Helen

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: hesperis
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 06:12 AM

Helen, by all means prick my bubble about the horribly unsexy kid's harp... I didn't much like it anyway. *g*

I wouldn't be compfortable building one... although if I found someone to share the process then maybe... it is definitely within budget after I busk more. How long would it take?

Marion told me that there's another mudcatter harpist in TO, one named Olliamh? He doesn't seem to show up anymore. Anyone know how to get in touch with him?

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: Helen
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 08:43 AM

Good old Google.com - here is a list of

harp teachers in Canada

I have to tell you I managed to nip a flame war in the bud (mixed metaphors, sorry!) on the Harplist because I copied your request and posted it on the list and a couple of people got their feathers ruffled (another metaphor) because they thought you were being overly optimistic about learning the harp really quickly. Consequently, I didn't get any more replies apart from the offer of the small harp for sale. I do recognise a couple of Harplist member names from the above list, though.

There may be other sites worth looking at from a Google search. I used the search term -

Toronto harp

- so you could try other search terms as well.

Helen

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: hesperis
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 02:46 PM

Hehe, I'm not overly optimistic about learning harp... I can play pretty much anything half-decently after only a few lessons, and know my theory. With a month or two of lessons and practice I'd be somewhat decent, although of course I wouldn't be GREAT for quite a few years! That takes dedicated practice.

**Rant ahead*

The only instruments that have ever been a pain are oboe and clarinet, and that was mostly because my fingers weren't the right size for the holes and I didn't like them enough to put up with the pain of trying to get my fingers to fit. And I don't like strumming on guitar, but can fingerpick well, and even do hammer-ons and hammer-offs. (Assuming I've practiced enough for callouses!) I also learned the basics of Suzuki cello in 4 months (twinkle variations and some other pieces), and was complimented by my teacher as the fastest student she'd ever had. (Of course, I was 17-18 or something like that at the time... she usually started with the really young ones.)

Also, piano is a pain because the way I was holding my hands for that was painful, and I tend to like having medium nails, which exacerbates the problem. I don't read music fast because I am nearsighted and the music has to be exactly 12 inches from my nose... but I can play.

I've been playing flute for only two months now regularly and am getting compliments on my tone, although I can't play Swallowtail Jig as FAST as I'd like, yet. *Wink*

I pick up any musical instrument quicker than most, and have a good ear. (And that's not bragging, that's confidence born from previous experience and the opinions of others.)

**Rant off*

Maybe I will rent one, as then at least I can work out arrangements properly. It's so frustrating to just have a tiny piano and a flute and not be able to FEEL the instrument when writing parts.

As for how long it would take, I was asking about the building of it, not the learning.

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: Helen
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 05:58 PM

Hi again,

"As for how long it would take, I was asking about the building of it, not the learning."

Yes, I knew that. I was explaining why - after I had said how wonderful the Harplist is - I had had only one useful response.

This was my response to the List, and in my 3rd paragraph I pre-empted what you just said, because even though I couldn't remember what instruments you play and how well I was pretty sure that you are a bit of a wiz at picking up new instruments.



"I will not accept any nasty comments about my request. If you have
comments please keep them polite and courteous, as I always endeavour to
be polite, courteous and friendly on this list.

If you have comments which do not belong on the list then I gently
suggest that you address them to me personally via my e-mail.

You know nothing about my cyber-friend and therefore you are not in a
position to make these observations which have no basis in fact.

Gentle and kind regards from someone who has been on this list almost
from its inception and who values the international spirit of kindness,
friendliness, support and information-sharing above all else,

Helen, in Australia"

This gentle kick in the pants worked well.

As to how long it takes to make a kit harp - I'm not sure, and it depends mostly on how motivated you are to get it done quickly, too. I'm not sure who to ask about that. The friend who made mine was busy with other things as well so it took maybe a couple of months, but the main time delay if you were trying to do it to a deadline would be waiting for the glue to dry, but also there is about a week's worth of daily tuning up to get the strings up to pitch and then get them to stay there - they need to be reeducated to stay at that particular amount of "stretch".

Helen

Subject: RE: Harp in Toronto
From: hesperis
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 09:06 PM

Well, if I sell about 100 CDs I'll have money for a full harp, maybe even a wirestrung one, and I won't have to bother with a kit. Maybe I should go for that instead, as I haven't ever really done woodworking even...

The only problem is that it'll take a while to sell that many.