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

Harp & Vocal Duet Cover of “Royals” by Lorde – Tyné & Katie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b7bJ1vGZvs

Performed by Tyné & Katie, Dec 30, 2013. You can see more videos by harpist/singer Tyné Angela on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TyneAngela

I feel different – Chromatic harp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJem8SdbMnw

The chromatic, aka cross-strung harp, in action! Instruments include chromatic harp, djembé, keyboard, electronic drum & bass, and tin-whistle. “I feel different” composed by harpist Anne Vanschothorst, performed & arranged here by Raphaël Pinel.

The Urban Youth Harp Ensemble

I feel like I should have heard of this group before now. Such a great idea! I wish I was in a populated enough area to start something like this. The mission of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble is “to deliver quality musical instruction on the harp, develop music reading skills and musicianship to at-risk, urban youth.” You can visit their official website at http://www.urbanharp.org/.

Here are some members of the group playing “What a Wonderful World” (the sound is a bit fuzzy but it’s still way cool):