FOLK HARP - International Society Of Folk Harpers And Craftsmen
Transcription
FOLK HARP - International Society Of Folk Harpers And Craftsmen
Winter 2010 • Issue no. 149 FOLK HARP r Journal e l p m a S inside this issue: ■ Learning how to play well with others ■ An interview with AnnaLee Foster ■ Why do strings buzz? ■ How to start a harp circle ■ And much, much more Promoting the tradition, beauty, and joy of the folk harp in all aspects, and to all ages. Folk Harp Journal contents IN EACH ISSUE: 2� President’s Note 7� Membership Form 24� Music Noel Nouvelet 32 � CD Reviews by Rhett Barnwell 28� Starting a Harp Circle by Barbra Bailey Bradley 48� New Music Reviews by Denise Grupp-Verbon 72� What’s the Reason? by Laurie Riley All abuzz about strings 12 78� Classifieds 80� Advertisers’ Index Contributors and How to Advertise in the FHJ 9 IN THIS ISSUE: 4� Campaign Donors 50 22 32 22� Harp Maintenance by Sharon Thormahlen 8� Music Here Comes Santa Claus 9� The Harping Business by Anne Roos 12 � Cover Story: AnnaLee Foster by Sharon Thormahlen The story behind an amazing, prize winning harper 16� Music Angels We Have Heard on High 30 � Playing Well With Others by Robin Freed 38� Children’s Wings by Barbra Bailey Bradley 40� Music Fairy Danse WINTER 2010 FOLK HARP JOURNAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Tammy Feil Editorial Assistant Mark Feil Regular Contributors Cynthia Cathcart Rhett Barnwell Laurie Riley Denise Grupp-Verbon Ad Coordinator Beth Stockdell Back Issues Jerry Brown Website Sharon Thormahlen Marg Chauvin 43� Harper’s Hall at Christmas by Verlene Schermer ISFHC OFFICERS 44� Music Ding Dong Merrily (trio) First Vice President 50� Success in The Studio by Joanna Mell Second Vice President 52� Music Ding Dong Merrily (solo) 59� Music Aura Lee 60� Music Jingle Bells 66� Music Fantasy on We Three Kings Official Publication of the International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen, Inc. ISSN: 0094-8934 The Folk Harp Journal is published four times yearly, in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, by the International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen, Inc. (ISFHC). One year of the journal (four issues) is included in ISFHC membership, obtained by a minimum contribution to the society of $30.00. Send all membership inquiries and changes of address to ISFHC, 1614 Pitman Drive, Missoula, MT 59803. Tel. (406) 5421976. E-mail to clem@in-tch.com. The purpose of the Folk Harp Journal is to assemble and distribute all information pertaining to the folk harp, its music, and techniques of its use. Unless otherwise noted, all information contained herein may be copied and used freely, provided the source is given. All services and contributions of articles to the journal must be on a voluntary basis. Direct all materials to the Editor: Tammy Feil, 2501 St. James Church Rd., Wilmington, DE, 19808, fhj@wideopenminds.com. All materials must be submitted in electronic format. Articles submitted to the Folk Harp Journal may be edited for purposes of clarity or space. Publication of all materials shall be at the sole discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. Opinions expressed by the authors in their articles are not necessarily those of the FHJ staff or of the ISFHC. The officers and members of the Board of Directors of the ISFHC and the editorial staff of the Folk Harp Journal assume no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. President David Woodworth Dave Kolacny Verlene Schermer Treasurer Barbra Bradley Bailey Secretary/Membership Director Alice Williams Directors Sharon Thormahlen Sylvia Fellows Mark Feil Chapter Coordinator Sharon Thormahlen ISFHC Founders Roland L. and Phyllis Robinson Founding Directors Sylvia Woods Linda Bruce International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen (ISFHC) 1614 Pittman Drive Missoula, MT 59803 On the cover AnnaLee Foster is an Oregon harper who records, teaches, performs, and competes on the Celtic Harp. She recently rocked Ireland by winning the Fleadh competition, one of the few Americans to do so. Read an interview with her on page 12. President’s note From the President WELCOME TO THE NEW FOLK HARP JOURNAL!! 2010 has been an eventful year for the Society. We had a great HarpCon in August in St. Louis. The workshops, the concerts, and the exhibit hall were all excellent and very well received. While we didn’t have quite the attendance that we’d hoped for, attendees had a great time, and comments were overwhelmingly positive. We’ve been asked repeatedly when the next HarpCon will be, but no decision has been made on that at this point, except that it won’t be in 2011. We’ll let you know here, in the Folk Harp Journal, when a decision is made about what’s next for HarpCon. In our efforts to keep the new high standards that we’ve set for the Journal in the last two years, we’ve had some successes and some challenges in our editorial staff. I’m happy to announce that Tammy and Mark Feil have stepped in to be our editors for this issue. The Board has a commitment to keep the FHJ up to the level of quality that you, and we, have come to expect. It’s important that it have the best articles, music, ads, and all the other great things that you’re used to seeing. In addition to enjoying the Journal, if you’d like to contribute articles, music, or other content to it, please let us know by emailing to fhj@wideopenminds.com. Our next project is to focus on increasing the membership in the Society. We’re at about 1,100 members now, which is up from just under 800 about 2 years ago, and we’re thrilled by that! With all the harp players out there, and all the harps that are sold every year, we’d like to see the Society approaching 2,000 members by the end of 2011. You can help in the following ways: 1) ask 3 of your harp-playing friends to join the society, and 2) send your ideas or suggestions on ways to increase our membership to the Board by emailing FolkHarpPresident@ gmail.com. Thanks for being a member of the ISFHC, and I hope you enjoy the new issue! Dave Woodworth Dave Woodworth ISFHC, President 2 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org : If you love If you enjoy Please join us! the folk harp in any of its various types and styles... the challenge of building harps, performing, teaching, playing for yourself on a winter day, or all of the above... Membership involves a donation in support of folk harping worldwide. Please join or renew by mailing in a membership form, or join online at: www.FolkHarpSociety.org Your Place to Connect with the Folk Harp Community FOLK HARP JOURNAL IS A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF FOLK HARPERS AND CRAFTSMEN 6 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org MEMBERSHIP FORM Our Mission • To promote the playing and enjoyment of the folk harp by all • To promote education, creation, and development in the building of the folk harp • To increase awareness of professional folk harpers • To increase public awareness of the music and joys of the folk harp Name_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________City_____________________________________________ State/Province____________________________________ZipCode__________________Country________________________________________ Phone:(_____) _________-______________ Email____________________________________________________________________________ [ ] You may include my name and address for any harp-related mailing related mailing [ ] You may include my name and address for any music- Please check any of the categories below that apply to you: [ ] Commercial [ ] Repair Membership Levels: [ ] $30/Regular [ ] $50/Sustaining [ ] Harpmaker [ ] Recordings [ ] Professional Performer [ ] Stringmaker [ ] Teacher [ ] Writings [ ] $100/Patron of the Harp (Canada and Mexico, $32. All other countries - Air Mail $38) Please make your check or money order payable to ISFHC, and mail to: ISFHC • 1614 Pittman Drive • Missoula, MT 59803 You may also submit payment online using PayPal at www.FolkHarpSociety.org Upon joining the ISFHC you will receive the upcoming issue and three more issues of the Folk Harp Journal, until your membership is up for renewal. Your mailing label will indicate when your rolling membership expires. ADDRESSES OF THE SOCIETY Editor Tammy Feil 2501 St. James Church Rd. Wilmington, DE 19808 302-633-6391 fhj@wideopenminds.com Membership & Subscriptions Alice Williams Back Issues Jerry Brown Chapter Coordinator Sharon Thormahlen Winter 2010 • issue no. 149 • FOLK HARP JOURNAL 7 Nobody Doesn't Like AnnaLee She’s a mystery and an open book. She likes Japanese freshwater eel, and when she was younger wanted to be the next Shirley Temple. She tours and teaches and loves playing the harp. I guess a good first question is what got you started on the harp and when? When I was a senior in high school, a family friend invited my family to go to a Christmas concert by a Seattle pedal harpist, Bronn Journey. As I watched him play Irish tunes on a lever harp I just sort of had a flash, ‘hmmm, I can do that’. I expressed my interest to my parents about wanting to learn how to play the harp. So for my graduation present from high school they found a teacher, rented me a William Rees Glenn Aulen harp, and said, “OK, let’s see how you do.” I took my first harp lesson with Jewel Shield and that was the beginning to the end of the story. My current harp is a Thormahlen CeiliMor, which is what I used to win the Fleadh Competition. Do you play other instruments? My mom always said that I was singing and dancing before I could talk or walk. When I was 8, I convinced my parents that I needed to learn to play the piano. I had some pretty iffy teachers back then. The first teacher didn’t seem to be much farther ahead of me in playing skills. She moved away and I got another teacher at 12 who said I was too old to start learning Mozart, which was what I wanted to learn. So, instead, I learned a lot of American folk tunes, but those lessons were nothing serious. I played clarinet in elementary and middle school band, and was active in ensemble, choir, and drama. I’ve always been around music and I’ve always loved Irish music, but not until I was in high school did I get serious about it. It took me awhile to find the right instrument. How did you get interested in Irish music? I’ve always loved Irish music and have been interested in it since I was 5 years old. In fact I listened to Thistle and Shamrock on OPB radio with Fiona Ritchie every Saturday night at 6:00. I made a pact with myself when I was 5 that I would go to Ireland and learn to speak Irish. I’ve gone to Ireland but haven’t learned how to speak the language, yet. You attended the Irish Harp Center studying with Janet Harbison. Tell us about your experience there. I got involved with Irish music on the harp and it became my passion. I learned about the Irish Harp Center in a roundabout way by attending a workshop with Grainne Hambly on one of her Northwest tours. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of the harp and I absolutely loved it. I went on- line and learned about a workshop on the east coast of Ireland called Cairde Na Cruite, which means The Friends of 12 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org the Harp. (http://www.cairdenacruite. com/Home.html ) I went there for a weeklong workshop at the end of June/ beginning of July where I had my first real immersion in learning by ear. It was a complete shock that I was learning mostly by sheet music and a little bit by listening. At this workshop, there was no such thing as sheet music until the end of the day after you already had your head crammed with 10 tunes. Coming away from that experience, I knew that I really wanted to study the harp and get serious about Irish music. I was 23 in 2005 when I went online again to see where the best place to study would be and we came upon the website for Janet Harbison (http:// www.irishharpcentre.com/). That name sounded really familiar. By coincidence later that week, I was listening to one of Grainne’s CDs and in her liner notes she happened to thank her teacher, Janet Harbison. From there I was able to connect that Janet Harbison was the director of the Belfast Harp Orchestra which was on one of my favorite CDs, Celtic Harpestry, and that she was the composer of my absolute favorite harp compositions, Earth, Water, Wind and An Interview with AnnaLee Foster by Sharon Thormahlen But this American rocked Ireland recently when she won the Fleadh competition. Her teacher, Janet Harbison, was proud, as were her parents. Sharon Thormahlen sat down with AnnaLee, now 28, to talk about the harp. Fire. It was a big circle. The person who started me on my serious quest for Irish music, Grainne, brought me back to her teacher, Janet, and when I realized that this person taught Grainne how to play like she does, I said, “I have to go to that person.” Being at the Irish Harp Center was hardest 2 years of my life, but also the best. Basically you ate, drank, and slept harp. It was very intense and other students have complained about not being able to have a life. When I hear that, I think, ‘Don’t you realize what you signed up for? This is your life for however long that you’re here. This is your life!’ Not only do you get private lessons with Janet, you also get instructed with Irish Harp History, which is tied in with Irish history, which is tied in with Irish political history. So basically, you’re learning a lot about the sociology of Irish traditional music and how it fits in with Irish culture. You’re sort of becoming a little bit of an ethno musicologist. It’s very comprehensive. You’re also being taught how to teach. I would observe Janet teaching students and I would also teach my own students, assist with group teaching, 3-4 year old music appreciation classes, and it was just so much fun. Also, we would also go once a week to the local children’s school for the handicapped to do palliative music. Then there were rehearsals for the Irish Harp Orchestra which was the professional orchestra and the National Harp Orchestra which was a training orchestra where some of the members were as young as 8 years old. These girls really knew how to play. There were a couple of boys, too, who were very, very talented. Always more girls than boys because of the way the history of the harp evolved and survived. In the ancient days, the professionals in the Irish Harp World were mostly men. There were a couple of female professionals that we know of. I’m sure there were more, but of the recorded history that we have, we know of two. After the ancient Irish wire strung harp died out and the rise of the gut-strung harp took over in the Egan era of the1800s, there were many unsuccessful tries to revive the old style of Irish harping. The nuns in the convent preserved the harps that they had, and learning to play the harp became one of the accomplishments for young, refined, marriageable women. That’s actually where Janet learned to play the harp, in a Catholic Church run school in Dublin. They had a harp room and a harp class. At that time they were mostly taught to sing and accompany their voice with the harp. Her teacher, Máirín Ní Shea, taught people like Mary O’Hara (http://www.maryohara. co.uk/) and some of the other ‘50s and ‘60s Irish Cabaret singers. When I was in the Irish Harp Orchestra, I traveled to Belgium, France, Germany Austria, Cypress, Tennessee, and Ireland with the orchestra. We also played at wedding events. So there was plenty of practical experience as well as learning. It was like an apprenticeship. I have heard you talk about the vision you have of a harp school in Portland. Tell us about that. My goal is to build, in America, something similar to what Janet has in Ireland. People from all over Ireland come to study with Janet. She’s one of the best teachers! I would one day like to aspire to be as good a teacher as Janet. I would love to foster a school of Irish traditional music, playing music on the lever harp, at such a standard that people really realize how versatile it is. I want us to be just as numerous as guitar players. Your time at the Harp Center was part of preparing for the All Ireland Championship, what did you do more currently to prepare? First of all, I had to decide what I wanted to play because unlike a lot of other competitions, they don’t dictate what your repertoire is supposed to be. They don’t tell you what to play. Winter 2010 • issue no. 149 • FOLK HARP JOURNAL 13 Harp Maintenance It’s more than an oil change T he dream of many beginning, and even seasoned harpers, is to have a new harp, But just having one brings with it a slew of responsibilities. Like a new puppy, harps must be cared for, paid attention to, and their needs must be met. Non-harpers may refer to this instrument as a piece of furniture, but we know it as much more than that. A dusting and spritz of Pledge are just not going to cut it. However, unlike a puppy, taking care of this instrument need not be a part time job. Cleaning your Harp It is always best to consult your harpmaker on this topic just to make sure that whatever you might use on your harp doesn’t combine chemically with the harp’s finish. One of the reasons that we prefer not using any product on a harp is because if your harp ever needs repair or refinishing (say if it gets a ding), the product may inhibit the harpmakers finish from being able to bind to the harp. We recommend a damp cloth followed immediately by a dry one. An old cotton diaper, T-shirt or flannel works great. If you must, a tiny dab of dish soap can be OK. If in doubt check with your harpmaker. Weather and Humidity Keeping your harp from drying out is very important. If this happens the wood could crack. Harpmakers do not include this in their warranty. Optimally the humidity should be between 4060%. Besides living in a dry climate like New Mexico or Arizona, air conditioners, wood stoves and heaters can also cause your home (and harp) to dry out. Humidifiers are one of the best methods for putting moisture back into the air. Pots of water on your wood stove or heaters, and dampits you put by Sharon Thormahlen inside your harp will also help if you keep your harp in the case. Some folks put a wet sponge in a zip lock bag with holes in one side. Just remember to keep the sponge wet. Keep your harp away from direct sunlight, heaters and drafts. All of these things will help your harp stay in tune as well as prevent cracks. If you live in an extremely moist climate like Florida or Belize, you might need to take moisture out of the air with a dehumidifier. With the use of a Hygrometer, you can measure the moisture of the air in your home. These cost about $50 at the hardware store. You can also get one where cigars are sold. When traveling, make sure your harp does not get too hot. Never leave your harp in a car that you wouldn’t leave your child or your dog in. If the harp gets too hot, the glue that holds the harp together can melt or the lacquer can melt causing the case lining to leave an imprint on the surface of your harp. Reflective solar blankets can help keep direct sun off of your harp in the car, assuming you’ve got the windows cracked. Changing Strings There are a lot of differing opinions on this. Some harpists change their strings once a year; others have left their harp strung for 10 years without ever changing them. If you think the sound quality of your harp has diminished, it could be time to change the strings. If you have a string that won’t hold it’s tuning, that can be an indication that the string is about ready to break. Some levers will degrade the strings at their point of contact so if you notice this, you should change them. I recommend that when you do 22 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org change your strings, buy a new set to put on the harp. Keep your old strings for replacements. There’s no advantage to using your old string set, buying a new set and then letting the new ones get old. If you have threaded tuning pins, you should unwind your tuning pins at least 3-4 revolutions before replacing the string. This keeps the string in line with the others. Tuning Pins Most, but not all, tuning pins are tapered. If they slip, it is generally due to low humidity causing the pin holes to dry out and thus get bigger. This is not a big problem, but one that definitely needs to be dealt with. Back the string off 1/2 to a full turn to avoid breaking the string upon retuning. Now retune the string while pushing in until it feels right. It is a push and turn action. You should be able to see the tuning pin go further thru the neck. If this doesn’t correct the situation, you may have to take the string off the pin, take the pin (Continued on p.62) Winter 2010 • issue no. 149 • FOLK HARP JOURNAL 23 Playing Well With Others by Robin Freed W hat could be more wonderful than listening to a huge stage full of harps playing music together? Being in the middle of the forest and joining in by playing your own harp! My first experience to play in a harp ensemble was a few years ago with the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Harp Society. The local group sponsored a weekend of workshops, ensemble rehearsal and concert under the direction of Dickie Fleisher, harpist with Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. The music was received only a week before the gathering with a note encouraging me to play as many notes as I can. It was an exhilarating experience to be in the middle of about 20 harps, half being pedal harps and the rest a mixture of all sizes and types of folk harps. I had the only cross strung harp there, and was curious to see if my harp could fit in and “keep up” with the others. What I learned was that it didn’t really matter if I found all the right notes, or even missed playing a few all together as the combined voices of all the harps more than made up for my own inadequacy. The concert was to a packed house, and I truly think that those of us who played enjoyed it even more than the audience. This experience gave me courage to try playing with the ensemble a few months later at the Beginning in the Middle Weekend seminar held each Spring in Williamsburg, Virginia. For two previous years I attended this excellent long weekend of workshops, group and private lessons, and concerts geared all to adult beginners. I was especially enthralled in hearing the ensembles play...first the teachers’ ensemble on the Friday evening concert to inspire us all, followed by student ensembles (one group for beginners and another for those who had played in an ensemble before), with both ensembles combined for the final piece, including dozens of harps in every shape and size on the next evening. There is a YouTube clip of the world’s largest harp ensemble with over 200 harps that played together at a recent World Harp Congress Concert. Playing in ensembles teaches new skills such as learning to watch the director also while watching the music, and the harp strings and counting all at the same time. The most important thing is for everyone to start and end at the same time. The music was available to purchase a few months ahead of time giving everyone plenty of practice and we each could choose which of the three parts we wished to play. Being unable to hear all three parts together until the rehearsal, I had no idea how wonderful it would all sound as a group. I think I enjoyed the rehearsal even more than the concert for this reason, plus there was no pressure to sound “Perfect”. In each ensemble adventure, no one was made to feel stupid or inadequate if mistakes were made. Rather it is a very affirming and encouraging experience that all would benefit greatly from. Another way to play with others is in an organized harp circle. In the membership directory for the Folk Harp Society, there is a listing of local chapters. Many have regular gatherings to get together. I joined the Harpers Hall chapter in California, which has over 70 members, many out of state, even though I have only been able to attend one of the monthly meetings which includes time to play the harp with a room full of others. I first met this group while attending Highland Games, where they set up a large tent to introduce the harp to anyone walking by. A group ensemble plays several mini-concerts on 30 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org a stage at the Games, and I have had the fun to join them a few times. Verlene Schermer does an excellent job of directing the Ensemble, and my favorite part is feeling the vibration under my feet as about 20 of us play together on a wood stage. The music is available ahead of time via downloads from the internet, so preparing is easy to do, and everyone plays at their own level. The first harp orchestra concert I attended was the Harrisburg Harp Orchestra playing their “Harp Felt Christmas”, directed by Louis Lynch. There were over 30 harps on the stage in a large auditorium, from small lap harps, to the concert pedal harps. Some played advanced solos... while others played one finger at a time with the group ensemble. All the songs were splendid. I was encouraged to see how everyone regardless of playing ability was included in the concert ensemble experience. Perhaps the easiest and most available way to play the harp with others is to get with one other harper to play a duet. Last Thanksgiving was my first time to try this with an uncle (in his eighties) who started the harp a year before I did. He arranged a duet for harps of Angels We Have Heard On High, and sent me a copy a few months before our twice a year visit. We each practiced separately our chosen part and practiced together for about 90 minutes while the Thanksgiving turkey was roasting in the oven, then recorded the video that is posted on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=fDBjjzaT4rg ). You can view the results and hear the arrangement as written. It was tremendously fun and challenging. Having numbers written on measures periodically helped to reference where we were when we needed to start again Playing Well (continued on pg. 42) CD Reviews by Rhett Barnwell Seána – Traditional Irish Harp – Seána Davey, Celtic harp Seána Davey is one of Ireland’s most accomplished and versatile young harpists. She has studied both the harp and piano with the Royal Irish Academy, holds a B.A in Music and Irish, and an M.Sc in Music Technology. She has today, this recording is essential listening for anyone with an interest in modern Irish harp playing”. I couldn’t say it any better myself! I particularly like her rendition of “Carolan’s Concerto” as well as the original composition “B’fhéidir”, which displays an incredible amount of creativity. She has enviable technique and complete control of ornamentation and style. I have a feeling we will be hearing a lot more from this talented young harpist in the future. For more information, go to www.seanadavey.com. Table For Two – Louise Trotter Louise Trotter is certainly one of the most well known and respected harpists and arrangers alive today. Her career has spanned several generations and she is equally at home with the lever and the pedal harp. Her work as an arranger has encompassed sacred, popular and folk music in different genres. She travels regularly to perform and present workshops around the country and is overall a fascinating and uniquely gifted lady! I was delighted to receive her new CD, entitled, Table for Two, as it contains many of my own personal favorites. Even though it is played on the pedal harp, we felt it should be included here, as Louise has made many contributions to the folk harp world, and this album will definitely be of interest to harpers of any persuasion! performed in Áras an Uachtarán, Dublin Castle, RDS, the National Concert Hall and all over Ireland and Northern Ireland in the main theatres. Seána plays both as a soloist and an accompanying artist for singers/other musicians. In this, her debut recording, Seána is joined by several other top Irish musicians playing flute, whistle, bodhran, piano, bass and guitar. She plays a bright and sparkly sounding Celtic harp made by Colm Ó Meachair, and also plays piano on a couple of the tracks. The CD contains 12 titles altogether, covering the gamut of Irish repertoire, from traditional O’ Carolan, to jigs, reels and airs, to an original composition, “B’fhéidir”, which loosely translated, means, “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t”. There is an immense amount of variety in this recording, and is not your run-ofthe-mill Celtic music CD. Gráinne Hambly, one of Ireland’s top harpists, said of Seána’s new recording, “From the first time I heard Seána play, some years ago as a young student and competitor at various festivals, I was struck by the individuality and precision of her playing. These features are clearly apparent on this, her debut recording. Illustrating the range of music being played on the harp in Ireland 32 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org This CD contains 16 tracks of some of the most popular standards from Broadway, movies, and the Swing Era, with a touch of Latin thrown in to spice things up. These are selections that might be heard at a fine dining establishment, hence the title, Table For Two. It is subtitled, “Romantic Favorites for Solo Harp”, and features such songs as “Tara’s Theme”, “Phantom of the Opera Medley”, “Return to Sorrento”, “Just the Way You Look Tonight”, “Days of Wine and Roses”, “Moonlight Serenade” and other timeless classics. Granted, some of these pieces may be viewed as being from an older era, but they have stood the test of time, and are still popular with many people today. I would argue that much contemporary music played today cannot hold a candle to some of these pieces from an earlier generation, but that’s a subject outside the scope of this review! The arrangements on this CD are all Louise’s own, and they are excellent settings, allowing the harp to really sound like a harp, with unabashed glissandi and other harpistic techniques. Louise plays extremely well, as always, and it is obvious that she knows and loves the music she is playing. I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who wants to take a nostalgic and romantic trip to an earlier era. It is great for general listening as well as setting the mood for a special dinner or other event. For more information, go to www. louisetrotter.com Celestial – Frank Voltz Frank Voltz is known primarily for his arrangements and performances of jazz and gospel music for the harp, although he is also a very accomplished organist, pianist, conductor and composer. To say he has a wealth of talents would be an understatement. He is in demand giving workshops around the country and is a gifted and entertaining teacher. We had the privilege of hosting him at the Atlanta Harp Center last year for several workshops and a concert. I was expecting a program of jazz and gospel music, and was pleasantly surprised when he introduced the audience to an entirely different style of music by playing selections from his new CD, Celestial. He had begun the program by playing more jazzy pieces on his Camac Big Blue pedal harp, but switched over to his Steen lever harp for the “Celestial” pieces. Now, I am quite fond of jazz, but I also very much love more quiet, meditative music on the harp. These are all original compositions by Frank and are quite different than most of his previous output. There are 13 tracks on the CD, with titles such as “Sunday Afternoon”, “Sapphire Nocturne”, “Celestial”, “Summer Rain”, and his previously published “Strolling Through the Strings”, in a solo harp and ensemble version. The pieces all have descriptive titles, such as “Abby’s Song”, which he wrote for his best friend’s first grandchild. In the liner notes, he writes, “I think of Abby on the beach, playing in the sand, building her first sand castle, smiling at the ocean, and falling asleep on a beach towel.” All of the pieces are very evocative and reading the notes helps the listener to fully appreciate the music. Overall, this CD is really beautiful, and the music is ethereal and contemplative. All of the music is available in print and is quite accessible for the intermediate lever harp player. Frank’s playing is very sensitive, and there is nothing better than hearing a composer play his own music. The Steen lever harp has a gorgeous, warm, rich sound that almost sounds like a pedal harp, which is perfect for this kind of music. This CD would be a great addition to any music library, and gives listeners a chance to hear a completely different side of Frank Voltz. For more information, go to www.FrankVoltz.com. Rhett Barnwell is the founder of Seraphim Music, which publishes and distributes music for lever and pedal harp and sponsors the biannual Liturgical Harp Conferences. He has performed as a harpist, cellist and French horn player throughout the United States, Italy, Austria and Spain. He holds a Master of Music degree from St. Louis Conservatory and is the General Manager of the Atlanta Harp Center. Website: www.SeraphimMusic.com Email: seraphmus@aol.com Winter 2010 • issue no. 149 • FOLK HARP JOURNAL 33 Harpcon 2010 Lasting Memories by Barbra Bailey Bradley 34 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org Harp Strings For Children’s Wings S by Barbra Bailey Bradley aturday night, November 20th, 2010, at the First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, Maryland, a group of harpists presented a concert to raise money for The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health. The Children’s Inn at NIH is the facility where children and their parents stay for the duration of treatment while at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. The facility is always busy. The heartwarming response to the concert raised close to $1,000.00 for the work at The Children’s Inn. The harpists consisted of the Heatherwood Harp Ensemble, the Harp Happy! Harp Ensemble, Celtic Harper Jo Morrison, and Harpist Barbra Bailey Bradley with Pianist Rosanne Conway. Also featured was recently-turned 10 year old harpist Phoebe Suh, who gave a solo pre-concert performance. She then played with the Heatherwood Harp Ensemble and the PBJ Trio, a group that began as a way of introducing her to ensemble playing. Everyone came together for the finale. The concert included Ray Pool’s Virginia Sampler, Beth Kolle’s Lass of Aughrim, Alfredo Rolando Ortiz’ Habanera Gris, Barbra Bailey Bradley’s Fantasy for Harp for harp and piano, Vignettes for harp ensemble, and Jan Jennings’ beautiful Pop Standards. In addition, two arrangers from the Heatherwood Harp Ensemble, Walt Lazear and Judith Mostyn White, presented works from many different musical genres arranged for harp: a Joplin Rag, a Bach Fugue, a Praetorius ballet excerpt, an Argentine tango, a Latvian folk tune, a Russian folk tune, and the theme from Prairie Home Companion. The finale featured one tune especially for the children at the Inn, Eency Weency Spider and Variations on Heart and Soul to thank the attendees for their kind and heartfelt donations to the Inn. The enthusiastic audience gave the group a standing ovation at the end of a rather long night of harp music, and 38 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org everyone left feeling uplifted by the beautiful music they had heard. The evening’s musicians included the Heatherwood Harp Ensemble, Barbra Bailey Bradley, David Crookston, Walt Lazear, Nancy Lentz, Mimi McNeel, Phoebe Suh, and Judith Mostyn White. It also featured the Harp Happy! Ensemble, Mary Grady, Wynne Roos, Barbara Seidman, and Judith Mostyn White. Guest Musicians were Pianist Rosanne Conway and Celtic Harper Jo Morrison. Barbra Bailey Bradley teaches piano and harp in the Washington, DC area. She directs the Heatherwood Harp Ensemble, and has written several books of harp ensembles that can be seen on her website – www.beeharp. com. She has also organized harp ensembles for other area venues, calling the group The Hearst Hall Harpists and Friends in honour of her teaching location at NCS. 40 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org Harper’s Hall at Christmastime H arpers Hall (& culinary society) is the south San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the ISFHC. We gather monthly to play, learn, eat, and rehearse if there is a performance for the ensemble coming up. This month (November) we’ll be rehearsing for our annual Christmas concert that will take place on December 23rd in downtown San Jose at the historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph. This is part of a concert series called Season of Hope that is put on every year for the two weeks prior to Christmas. Outside the cathedral the Christmas in the Park draws hundreds of people to see the holiday exhibits and Santa himself. The concert series is offered to raise funds for the The Window that serves food, medical care and shelter to as many as 200 individuals and families daily. People who attend can come for free, but they are encouraged to leave a donation in the box if they are able. Each year, Harpers Hall has performed a set of Celtic and Holiday tunes as an ensemble with various members doing solos as well. The ensemble director, Verlene Schermer, has provided a new ensemble piece arranged for beginning, intermediate, and advanced harp. This year’s new piece, Ding Dong Merrily On High, is featured on pages 44 and 45. The piece can be played three times through and to add variety, harps 1 and 2 are requested to tacit at various times. Your ensemble can follow these directions or make your own variations. Harpers Hall wishes you all a joyous holiday season! Winter 2010 • issue no. 149 • FOLK HARP JOURNAL 43 Ding Dong Merrily On High Play 3x: Intro AABB AABB Intro AABB Harp 1 6 Hp 3 Tacit RH 2nd two A's Harp 3 Hp 2 Harp 2 Hp 1 traditional arranged by Verlene Schermer Play both hands Arrangement © 2010 Verlene Schermer 44 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org Tacit RH 1st two A's Tacit RH 1st two B's New Music Review by Denise Grupp-Verbon White Christmas, by Irving Berlin, arranged for harp by RoJean Loucks. Published by RoJean Loucks, 2010, 4 ½ pages. $ 4.95. Available from: www.roharps.com. I have enjoyed RoJean’s various books of arrangements and original tunes, including “Reflections” and “Soul Dance”, among others. We have awaited a harp arrangement of “White Christmas” for a long time and here it is! RoJean is a creative arranger and uses beautiful chords through out. This early intermediate arrangement features rolled chords, quarter note triplets a few syncopated rhythms and some scattered 16th notes. It can be played on a harp tuned in Eb, C or F with no problem at all. There are a few lever changes, all marked and reasonable to accomplish (suggestions are made in case you do not want to play with any lever changes at all). There are no fingerings or chord symbols provided. You will not want to pass up the opportunity to add this to your holiday repertoire. Carols from Around the World, Volume I, for lever and pedal harp without exception, arranged by Ray Pool. Published by Ray Pool, 2010, 25 pages. $ 20.00. Available from: www.raypool.com. Ray Pool always has something delightful to contribute to the world of published harp music. Featured are 10 carols from Austria, Czechoslovakia, England, Ireland and Poland. Appropriate for intermediate players, this unique collection is designed to be played as 10 individual carols or they can be connected in pairs or even as a long medley of 10. Pool provides the appropriate modulation interlude if needed, including lever changes, leading to the key of the next piece. Pieces are in the keys of C, F and G. Special harp techniques include open left hand (thumb alone), rolled chords, P.D.L.T. (pres de la table), and thumb sliding. Helpful fingerings and placings are included and lever changes are clearly marked. The back of the volume includes a lead sheet (melody and chords) and words for each tune. This is quite handy if you have a vocalist or instrumentalist you would like to work with and Pool gives permission to copy the lead sheets for use by your colleagues. There are no chord symbols included in the harp solo arrangements. Christmas Joy, Festive Christmas Music, arranged by Joanna Mell. Published by Joanna Mell, 2010. 51 pages. $ 15.00. Available from: www.joannamell.com. This new Christmas music collection includes 11 holiday favorites. Carol of the Bells, normally challenging because of the melodic minor, is arranged so there are no lever changes during the piece, it features harmonics and is very play-able. Ding, Dong, Merrily on High has glisses and fun backwards rolled chords! Keys include A minor, G major, E minor, C major, F major, and one is in the A dorian mode. Features include harmonics, triplets, sixteenth notes, and syncopated rhythms. This book will be a nice addition to your 48 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org Do you remember Diane’s first harp mouse book, The Harp Mouse Chooses Her Home- The Adventure Begins? Well, in Book II the adventures continue! Follow the harp mouse in the place where the harp lives and as she travels with her beloved harp and harpist to a school program and a beautiful wedding reception. This brilliantly illustrated book is an ideal gift for yourself, a harpist friend, or a child in your life. Easy Classical Pieces, arranged for lever harp by Steve Hill. Published by Steve Hill. 2009. $ 15.00. Available from: www.folkharp.com. performance and background repertoire and is appropriate for intermediate and even some late beginner players. Mell tell us in her introduction that she has “purposefully not included sharping lever or pedal markings for accidentals or glissandi, so that the player may use his/her preferred system of markings.” You will have to spend a little time organizing and marking the lever changes, particularly in Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. There are no chord symbols or suggested fingerings included. This is a fun collection of sixteen arrangements for late beginner/early intermediate lever harp players. Selections are by familiar composers such as Handel, Schumann and Rameau, as well as by more un-familiar ones! I don’t believe I’ve seen many, if any, of these melodies published for harp. These arrangements are 1 to 2 pages long (no page turns!), in a variety of major and minor keys. You will find them easy to read and very pleasant to play. Suggested fingerings are clearly marked and lever changes are marked with the diamond method. Chord symbols are also included! This book is ideal for students of the harp who enjoy Classical music, as well as for a recital, wedding prelude, church job or background music. Recommended! Harp Mouse Adventures-Book II, by Diane E Dunn. Illustrated by Donna Pellegata. Published by Heart & Harp, LLC, 2010. 24 pages. $ 6.95. Available from: www. heartandharp.net Correction: The byline for the music reviews in the Fall issue said “By Rhett Barnwell”, but Denise wrote those reviews. Denise Grupp-Verbon is a full-time harpist and music instructor in Northwest Ohio. She has a busy private harp teaching studio and performs most often with her acoustic guitarist husband, Michael, in their duo, TAPESTRY. Denise is the co-founder and co-director of The Harp Gathering. Visit her blog at www.harpmatters.blogspot. com Winter 2010 • issue no. 149 • FOLK HARP JOURNAL 49 Aura Lee Visit http://hornandharp.com to obtain a version of this tutorial for harps tuned in E flat. 1861 (also known as Love Me Tender) lever harp: C tuning George R. Poulton (music) W.W. Fosdick (words) arranged by Barbara Ann Fackler Shifting levers while playing can be a challenge until you know some tricks to help you keep your place. Use this piece as an exercise in letting your RH help your LH find the proper lever at the right time. «« . « « 44 ««ˆ« œ»» œ» œ»» » œ » œ » œ «««˙ « » œ « . ˙«« » » » » œ » œ » œ « ˆ j » « ˆ j » » » » » » ß l========================= » » » » & ˆ« l l l ˙« » » » » » _««˙ =l l l _»˙» l ˙» l l _»˙»»˙ » ˙ ˙ Í l 4 ˙»» ˙ » ˙ » » ˙ » ˙ » » œ ˙ ˙ »»˙» ˙»»» ˙»» l »» l »» l »˙»» l œ»»» œ»»» »» l========================= l l l » ? 4 ˙»»» =l Dm7/F C G7sus4 G7/D C Keep your focus in m. 8, the RH moves up an octave while the LH grabs the lever. Practice this lever shift while omitting the RH chord on beat three, then add that RH chord back in when the lever shifting is comfortable. __»˙»˙» G sus G /D C ««« « ˙»» œ»»» œ» œ»»» œ»» . ««j ««ˆ« œ»» œ»» œ»» œ»»» œ»» «j . ˙«« » œ « ˆ « ˆ » #· » » ß l========================== » » » » » » & ˆ« l l l ˙« l » » l l _»˙» l ˙» l l »˙»»˙ _»˙˙»» _ » ˙ ˙ Íl ˙»»»˙ » » ˙ » ˙ w ˙»» ˙»» l ˙»»» l ˙»»» l w l ˙»»» » » » l========================== ? » l l l l » There's plenty of time in m. 8 to shift the G lever to sharp. Use the F string below it to guide your 5 Dm7/F C 7 4 7 eyes to the right spot and know that it's in between the two notes your RH has just touched. It's even easier when you shift the lever in rhythm, so try to move it on beat three. œ»»œ» .. »œ»» . Jœ»»» ˙»»» Jœ»»» ˙»˙»» œ»»œ» œ»» «««ˆ« œ»» œ»»œ.» . ««j œ»»» œ»»» » œ » œ #˙ » #ˆ « » n · « ˆ » ß l========================== » » » » » » » l & l l l »» » » l l l l l _œ»»» œ»» _ ˙ » _ » ˙ » œ » œ » » ˙ » Íl » »˙»» » ˙»»» l »» »» l »˙»» l ww l l========================== ? l l l l 9 C E7 Fmaj7 Am Fm C In m. 12 both hands are heading toward the same string, LH to the lever, RH to place on the G. You can shift a lever while your RH is placed on the string as long as you wait to play the note until the lever is completely in its new position. Try to shift the lever in m. 12 on beat two. As soon as your LH finds the lever and your RH is placed and ready to play, focus on the next measure's notes. «« « «« . «« «« «« »œ»» œ»»» œ»»»œ œ»»» » œ ˆ ˆ ˆ « « « » œ J ˆ » « « » œ Œ ” »» l ˆ« »» »œ»» «ˆ« l ˙.««˙« . ß l========================== & œ»» œ»» »» œ»» l «ˆ« ˆ« «ˆ« . l l l l ” »˙˙»» _ ˙»»» » ˙ Íl ˙»»»˙ » ˙ » ˙ » ˙ . »˙» »» l »˙»» l »» l »»˙.» Œ ”” ˙»» l========================== ? »» l » l l » 13 C F/C Dm7 G7sus4 G7 C This version is intended only for harpists tuning in the key of C. If you tune your harp in Eb and read the changes as you play, try the version for Eb tuning, even though it's more levers to move, the thought process will help you be ready to learn to read changes and grab lever changes without marking them. As soon as your hand touches the lever, move your eyes from looking at the lever to finding the next note you need to play with your left hand. Don't linger, watching something you don't need to watch. Once your hand is placed, either on a note or a lever, your eyes are no longer needed there, move on to the next thing you need to do. In most cases, a lever shift is easier to execute and less noticable to an audience if you make the shift in rhythm. © This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. © Barbara Fackler 2010 www.hornandharp.com/publications Winter 2010 • issue no. 149 • FOLK HARP JOURNAL 59 What’s the Reason? Your Questions Answered by Laurie Riley Q: A: Why are two of my harp strings making a twang when I pluck them? Possible reasons for twanging include the following: 1. If the lever is engaged when twanging happens, the lever could be rotated or twisted out of alignment. It depends on the type of lever you have. If you look at the angle of all the other levers and you see that the lever in question is not at the exact same angle, move it back into alignment and re-tighten the screw(s), or take it to your local harp technician. (By the way, levers out of alignment can also account for strings that sound plunky.) 2. If the twang is not related to levers, the bridge pin could be in too far or out too far. Be sure the bridge pin in question is the same length as all the others. If it’s not, and you don’t know how to regulate bridge pins, see your local harp technician. (If you have a newer Dusty Strings harp, the bridge pin is threaded and you must use special tools to regulate it; you can get a kit from Dusty Strings for that. Some other harpmakers may be using threaded pins as well, consult your harp maker.) 3. If none of the above, you might be plucking too hard. This can happen especially with the bass strings. 4. Some harp strings twang if you pluck outward; try plucking toward you instead. 5. Twangs are usually very easy to fix, but there are different kinds of twangs and a technician has to see and hear it happen to diagnose it. So if none of the above helps, please contact your harp maker. By the way, be careful, the warranty on your harp could be void if you try to do adjustments without knowing how. Q: What’s the difference between a recital and a concert? A: The dictionary says a recital is a musical entertainment given usually by a single performer or by a performer and one or more accompanists; a program or concert by music students to demonstrate their achievements or progress; a formal or public delivery of something memorized. A concert is a public musical performance; a recital. 72 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org So it appears the difference is unclear. The two terms are often used interchangeably. However, in general usage I’ve experienced that a concert is a formal performance where the audience attends solely for the purpose of hearing a seasoned performer(s), whereas a recital is an opportunity for one or more music students to learn how to play in a concert and the audience is there to cheer them on, with no expectation that the music will be of professional quality. On the other hand, a recital may feature one student playing a selection of pieces/skills they have learned to achieve a music degree. Occasionally a professor or teacher may give a recital to demonstrate their ability or to celebrate some achievement. Q: How do I know when I’m ready to make a CD? A: It’s simple: when people start asking you for them. You don’t have to be a professional to make a CD. But keep in mind that once you make a recording, it never goes away. No matter how much your playing progresses, those who hear that first CD will think you still play like that. So be sure you are ready to produce a product you can be proud of, because it will follow you around for the rest of your life! I still get requests for two CD’s that I made in 1985 and ’87, and often run into people who tell me their children grew up listening to them. I could cringe, but if they were enjoyed, that’s what counts, even though my playing has changed a great deal since then. There are several reasons to make a CD: 1. It’s a nice souvenir of your music for your fans, friends, family and yourself. 2. As a reference on your progress as time goes by. 3. If you seek performance opportunities, you are expected to submit a CD as a demo of your playing. 4. Sales of your CD enhance your income at gigs, as long as you can sell enough to pay for production. (It’s no longer a viable option to sell them to stores there are too many on the market, and many listeners have gone to mp3 formats anyway.) Let’s Talk About Harp Events: 2010 was a big year for harp activities. The ISFHC Conference, Somerset and several other conferences, numerous harp camps, and emerging trends in harp circles and harp ensembles brought up questions among harp students that I am sharing here. Classifieds TEACHERS/INSTRUCTION Laurie Riley teaches via Skype! Contact her at laurie.riley@live.com. Conquer Your Fears: Improve your playing and reduce performance anxiety. Marlene Satter works by phone or online, as well as in person, (732) 693-9438, msatter@erols. com, or www.harpsdesire.net. Johnson Harps with over 17 years of teaching experience with folk harp and pedal, including specialization in double/triple, and wire harp. Has private studio in IL, at Music Institute of Chicago, and through the computer. Many rental harps available. For inquiries call/email Carl Johnson at (630) 673-3308, harpcarl@ gmail.com . Ardis Cavin, Englewood, N.J. Performer/Teacher. Weddings/ receptions etc. Light Classics and Broadway. Assistance for students in harp rental or purchase. (201) 569-5363 or Cavinharpstudio.com. Stephanie Bennett teaches by SKYPE or in person in Northridge, California. All styles, with specialty in finding your own creativity. First prize winner in Pop/Jazz competition. www.harpworld.com/lessons. html. Online Video Harp Lessons , teaching cross-strung harp, lever harp, and pedal harp. Contact Elizabeth Paine at virtualharplessons@yahoo.com or at cross_harps@yahoo. com. Or in northwest Houston for personal harp lessons at 832-607-9128. Personalized Harp Lessons and Workshops via SKYPE! Email for more information: Cynthy@crystalharp.com, www.crystalharp.com Experienced, Christian Speaker/Harpist for ladies’ retreats, banquets, seminars. Will bring harp in the following states: KY, OH, IN, WV, TN. Contact: Patricia E. Elder kinggie@aol. com or (859) 485-7352 KY Holsinger Music: Lessons, rentals, performances, sheet music. www.HolsingerMusic. com (650) 326-3146 SF Bay Area, CA. Thomas Lyman; Harp Teacher and Performer, North Plainfield, New Jersey 07060. Contact harpguy7@verizon.net or (908) 757-2257. PRINT MUSIC Sharon Thormahlen has collaborated with Flautist Jessica Urey on a new duet book containing six beautiful pieces. The harp part can stand on it’s own as a piece unto itself and the flute part can be played on the harp with an improvised accompaniment. The flute part can also be played on any melody instrument in a duet with the harp. The book includes both parts together, as well as the parts separated out. The key range goes from Eb to G (Em) with 3 tunes that have easy lever changes. The tunes range from advanced beginner to advanced intermediate. The book is $20 and can be accompanied by a midi-audio CD. You can read more about this book at www.thorharp.com Online Store: HARP BOOKS and INSTRUCTIONAL DVD’S - Single course harp, doublestrung harp, beginner, intermediate and advanced instruction and music. Celtic, folk, ethnic, composing, accompaniment, and therapeutic mu- 78 FOLK HARP JOURNAL • www.FolkHarpSociety.org sic. www.laurieriley.com - click on “books” and “DVD’s”. Easy pay with PayPal or downloadable order form. “Elizabeth Volpé Bligh: Solos for Lever or Pedal Harp” original pieces and arrangements for pedal or lever harp, ranging from intermediate to advanced levels. In the new RCM harp syllabus. It is available from www.theavondalepress.com for $19 (Canadian). For further news, check www.elizabethvolpebligh.com. Arrangements of popular, classical and original music, many levels, lever and pedal harp, by Stephanie Bennett. FREE SAMPLE PAGES. www.harpworld.com/sheetmusic.html Pretty Quick Music digital publications; Skill Building Solos: performance length solos for develop skills; Short Cuts: lead sheets grouped and edited for pedal and lever harp; Multilevel Ensemble Music: flexible harp ensembles; www.hornandharp.com/publications. RENTAL HARPS Folk harps: several available for rent in New Jersey (northcentral). Please contact me directly for further information: odarka@odarka.com or (973)763-6303. Lever Harp Rentals - www. TheHarpStudio.net NYS 607-687-3410 Lever and pedal, for students and for visiting performers. Southern California only. Stephanie Bennett http://www. harpworld.com/rentals.html 818-891-1023 Lever/folk harps for sale or rent in the SE United States. A wide variety of sizes, makes, and models located in Atlanta. Please contact Beckie at heavenlyharp@comcast.net. Holsinger Music: Lessons, rentals, performances, sheet music. www.HolsingerMusic. com (650) 326-3146 SF Bay Area, CA. SOCIETIES Harpists in Rochester, NY area. Find out about Rochester Harp Network monthly meetings Sept-May, please contact SandyGia@aol.com for information by email! USED HARPS Dusty Strings, FH36B, American Black Walnut with Honduras Mahogany soundboard, full set of Loveland levers, soft shell case extra strings and key. 15 years old, $4,100.00 Contact Donna dcb13h@vom. com or 706 884 6998. GA Sandpiper Silhouette 36 string (B to b), full levers, beautiful cherry with purple heart trim with case. Asking $4000 obo. alice.williams1614@gmail. com or 406-542-1976 (Mountain time). Pat O’Laughlin, “Kestral” model, 36 string walnut folkharp. Great condition. Full set long handled Loveland levers, padded zip carrycase, full set replacement strings. Sound pickup inside soundboard for amplification. Excellent tone and string spacing, two tuning wrenches. $2995, louiseharp@comcast.net or 281497-2986, Houston Heartland Dragonheart, 38 Strings, Walnut, Truitt Levers, Strings replaced a year ago. Magnificent instrument, concert spacing, $3200, Mike Connors NC 336-899-6137