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HARPMYTHS 8 Edition 201 From the Church of St. Mary in Kraków, by Jan Matejko in 1895. The Facts About Lever Harps Unlearning Myths By William Rees and Pamela Rees In all aspects of the arts, there are The same is true for all kinds of endemic misunderstandings about myths and superstitions. It is why myths related to the harp and harp the harp and to empower harp theater people say “break a leg” to construction. Over time, harp players with a factual basis for one another. They aren’t actually teachers, players and even some understanding their instrument. wishing such a fate on their friend, builders fell into these belief Much more information is available in fact, quite the opposite. Still, the systems and while belief is on our website, ReesHarps.com in power of the superstition has powerful, it is not necessarily the “Elements” and in the “General continued to this day crossing time aligned with fact. “Harp Myths” Harp Info” sections. and generations. seeks to explain some of the most Bigger is Better (Hint: it’s not.) Everyone understands that while the violin and cello music is simply incorrect just as is the belief that the are both members of the violin family, they are two technique appropriate for a pedal harp is equally different instruments and a player does not advance applicable to a lever harp. EDITION 2018 from a violin to a cello. No one ever said, “Gosh, that Itzhak Pearlman, he’s so incredible on the violin. It’s Because of the mechanical weight and stress of the too bad he never moved up to the cello.” pedal mechanism, when it comes to voice, a pedal harp MYTHS forfeits subtlety. It simply cannot be as sensitive to a Within the harp family there are pedal harps, lever vibration as a lever harp. Equally, a lever harp cannot HARP harps, Paraguayan harps, fulfill the vibrant role in an Chinese harps, various orchestra to which a pedal harp is African harps, wire harps, so wonderfully suited. double harps, triple harps, cross harps and on and on. In terms of harp lutheries, distinct All of these types of harps emphasis, skills and specialities are are discrete instruments involved for the craftsmen of just as are the violin, viola, various kinds of harps. It is not a cello and double bass. As coincidence that the finest lever with the violin family, one “Gosh, that Itzhak Pearlman, he’s so harp lutheries do not build pedal does not move up from a incredible on the violin. It’s too bad he harps and that the famous pedal wire harp to a Paraguayan never moved up to the cello.” harp lutheries are not known for - said No one…EVER harp or from a lever harp to building concert-quality lever a pedal harp. harps. Many harpers play more than one kind of harp but if In summary, there are many members of the harp they are doing it properly they are changing their family. They are different instruments, intended for technique to accommodate the differences in tradition different purposes, played using different techniques, and musicality for that instrument. The belief that the usually playing different music and built by different pedal harp is the most effective harp for all types of artisans–and all of that difference is a good thing. How to Find a Harp Teacher (Hint: they love lever harps too!) So how does a novice find the right teacher? First, it versus a student with a lever harp who wants to learn is important to know that just because a teacher to play for their own enjoyment. If a teacher does not teaches pedal harp they must not immediately be ask these basic questions, they generally are teaching excluded. There are many versatile pedal harpists who only one technique. Keep looking! A good lever harp have a clear understanding of the diversity of the harp teacher should be able to mold their lessons around family. A good sign is if a teacher asks you what type your goals. They should be able to teach you as an of harp you play and what kind or style of music you individual. want to learn. They should also ask you your goals for learning to play the harp. Any well informed, broadly The really good news is that some of the best teachers skilled harp teacher will teach very differently to a in the world are now offering individual, real-time student who has a Troubadour and wants to play with lessons over the internet via Skype. We hear over and the youth symphony versus a student who has a lever over how well this is working for students and it is a harp and would like to be able to play at weddings truly exciting development in the harp community. 8 “Light” Strings and Harps (Hint: definitions matter.) The latest of buzz word in harp construction is "light." tension is not. It is not rubbery, floppy, spaghetti-like This applies both to the overall weight of the strings. No well-made harp with light string tension Edition 201 instrument and to the string tension. The term “light” has this string feel. However, many a fine harp has definitely confers some positive characteristics been accused of having this problem because it is however, clear definitions are important. being incorrectly overplayed by the harpist. Often, a MYTHS player who usually plays pre-pedal or pedal harps is A lightweight harp is "light" in comparison to what? used to having to work very hard to actuate the strings Any lever harp is light when compared to a pedal harp. on their "home" harp so they make the assumption HARP Virtually any Latin harp is light when compared to a that this is the case for all harps. Of course, this is a lever harp. A smaller harp can be heavier than a larger technique error and must be adjusted. No acoustic harp depending upon construction. The same model of (wire strung) guitar player would ever use the same harp made from different woods can weigh markedly technique when playing a nylon-strung guitar. The less. Furthermore, what is light for a twenty year old player adjusts. The same is true for skilled harpists. If man may not be light for a fifty year old woman. In the string feel of a harp is rubber no matter how other words, "light" is always relative. lightly you play than the problem is the harp. If the string feel is solid when you adjust and play If the overall weight of your harp is of particular appropriately, than the issue is technique. concern to you than be clear on why this is so and on your limits. Also, be aware that the balance of a harp One last comment: while there are those for whom will effect the feel of the weight. If a harp is not well weight or string tension are of primary importance, balanced, your body will have to work harder to this is not the case for many. No harp is the right harp stabilize it and the instrument will feel heavier over a for everyone. No harp is the only harp that can or period of time while you are playing. Find what works should play a certain kind of music. Look for what for you. If weight is your most important criteria, than works for you and use weight as your guide but be aware that there are, what is comfortable as in all things, trade-offs to be made. for you, because, really, nothing else Light string tension is another whole issue when it is as important. comes to definition. Let's start with what light string For additional String Spacing detail on these (Hint: there is no “standard”.) topics and so Harps have no standard in string spacing. What is Beyond ease of play, many more, visit mistakenly referred to as "standard" is generally Lyon the major advantage our website, & Healy "concert spacing” and “concert spacing” is not of graduated a design parameter necessitated by the physics of the spacing is that the ReesHarps.com. instrument itself. Both harpers and harpists attack the harmonic arch does strings utilizing a small surface: the finger tip, edge or not have to be as nail. It becomes obvious then, when you think about it, long. A shorter harmonic arch decreases the overall that the shorter the distance a finger has to move, the depth of the harp. This eases shoulder strain by faster it can be operated. minimizing the amount of reach and the accompanying shoulder rotation. A shorter harmonic arch also Harps which are built to best accommodate the human generally means a comparatively smaller, lighter hand have graduated spacing. Graduated spacing instrument. In these days of carpal tunnel syndrome means that shorter strings are spaced somewhat closer and common back ailments, ergonomic design is together than longer strings. increasingly important. How to Buy a Harp (Hint: buy one you love!) In buying a harp there are four basic things to absolutely not the fault of any specific person or Edition 2018 consider and one huge guiding principle. harp teacher. They believe, because they played a pre-pedal harp while they were learning, they First Basic Thing: what do you want to do with understand lever harps. Additionally, most of MYTHS your harp? Someone who intends to play in an them were very focused on their pedal harp goal to orchestra looks for an utterly different harp than the exclusion of the lever harp.

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