Some lovely playing here:
Voices of Music
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Category Archives: Historical Harps
Konghou (Chinese Harp), Xiang Fei Bamboo
According to the Harp Spectrum,
“In the 20th century, a new demand arose for a national instrument rooted in ancient times, yet still contemporary. In 1964, Konghou was revived in Shenyang, China, and during the 1980s several musical instrument factories in China began to design and produce a new type of Konghou combining the Guzhang (koto, like a movable-bridge zither), Pipa (lute) and Qin (mandolin), and utilizing the modern technology of the pedal harp.”
The Flood: Recreating ancient music for lyre and voice
http://vimeo.com/109768756
According to Stef Conner’s website:
“The Flood’ is a creative collaboration between Stef Conner, Andy Lowings (instrument-builder, harpist and creator of the Gold Lyre of Ur Project) and Mark Harmer (sound engineer, producer and harpist). Based on Mesopotamian texts from as early as the 4th millennium BC and composed for voice and the Lyre of Ur (a reconstructed 4500-year-old instrument excavated in the early 20th century from the Royal Graves at Ur), the album is the first ever CD of new music sung entirely in Sumerian and Babylonian.”
You can find out more about the Lyre Ensemble and the Gold Lyre of Ur Project here: www.stefconner.com/the-lyre-ensemble
Hurly Burly Spring Concert, May 25 in Peterborough, ON
Hurly Burly (Peterborough’s early music ensemble) will be revisiting the animal theme in their upcoming spring concert on Sunday, May 25th. As the Facebook event page says, “Hurly Burly’s annual Spring concert goes to the dogs… and fleas… not to mention birds and a missing sheep!” We’re having lots of fun with the songs, and hope you will enjoy them too! It will be our trademark blend of early and late period pieces, with mixed instruments and voices.
Animal, Vegetable, Madrigal: an Afternoon of “Beastly” Songs and Dances
Sunday May 25th, 2:30 p.m.
St. John’s Anglican Church in the Guild Hall
99 Brock Street (just east of Water Street in Peterborough)
Tickets available at the door
(And yes, there will be the usual home-made refreshments during the intermission!)
Hurly Burly main group site: http://hurlyburlyensemble.wordpress.com/
May 25 Concert Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/544264745688966/
Early Music Concert (with Arianna Savall on period harp)
Top-notch performances by Jordi Savall, Rolf Lisevand, Perdo Estevan, and Arianna Savall. I instantly fell in love with the larger of Arianna’s two period replica harps. It’s not easy to find video of medieval harps in concert where the sound mix does them justice, but the balance is perfect in this one.
The Harp Consort – Purcell Fairest isle & Rondo
The Harp Consort, with Andrew Lawrence King on harp, performing in York in 2011. And yes, he is indeed using the pinkie of his left hand when he plays! First time I’ve seen that technique in action. For more on the Harp Consort and early harps, you can visit their website: www.theharpconsort.com/
The Harp – BBC Documentary
"Harpist Catrin Finch takes a musical journey to discover the ancient and fascinating history of the harp in Wales and the world, with interviews and performances from internationally-renowned guests including Alan Stivell, Carlos Orosco, Alemu Aga, Isabelle Perrin and Elinor Bennett." (courtesy of BBC4 and SkitlerRemix).
May 29 Medieval Concert, Peterborough
Hurly Burly Early Music Ensemble Presents
The Vigorous Impulse: Music from the 12th Century Renaissance
This Sunday, May 29 · 2:30pm – 5:30pm
The Guild Hall, St. John’s Anglican Church, Peterborough, ON
The 12th century was a time of musical innovation and fervent. Our concert features some of the first recognizable names in Western composers: Abelard, Hildegard, the Comtessa de Dia, and many troubadours and trouveres.
Featured instruments this time out include multiple harps, citoles, recorders, vielle, rebec, hurdy gurdy, and percussion.
Take a break from the gardening and join us for a lively and melodic afternoon!
For those of you on Facebook, we now have a group page (search for “Hurly Burly Music Ensemble”).
The page for this Sunday’s event can be found here.
Group website: celticharper.com/hurlyburly
Therese Honey – Branle de la Torche
Therese is playing a reproduction of the 17th C. “Boston Harp”, currently in the collection of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The replica was built by Catherine Campbell, Port Townsend, Washington.
This arrangement of the popular Torche Branle by Praetorius can be found in Therese’s book “The Royale Harpist”. You can watch more of Therese’s performances (of both early and Celtic music) here.