Dona Nobis Pacem is now up on the Chubby Sparrow site, you can download and listen to it here.
Along with Ode to Joy (below), we’ll be playing this at the Peterborough-Kawarthas harp circle in honour of Peace Day on Sept. 11th. For those who can’t make it, we’ll be playing with you in spirit!
All music in the Chubby Sparrow free music section is available for anyone to download and use free of charge. We just ask that you include all headers and footers in your print copies.
I’ve uploaded the first harp circle tune, Ode to Joy (for multiple harps), to the Chubby Sparrow Music site:
http://www.celticharper.com/springpeeper/freemusic.html
Everyone is welcome to download the music and play with us in spirit, even if you won’t be able to attend the Peterborough-Kawarthas harp circle in person. I would just ask that you include all acknowledgements, headers and footers in the print-outs.
Music for Dona Nobis Pacem to follow shortly.
The Peterborough-Kawarthas harpists will be joining in the spirit of Peace Hour by holding a harp circle on Sunday, Sept. 11th, starting at 1:30 p.m (location TBA). All harpists welcome.
Official Facebook page for Peace Hour (an all-day international event): http://on.fb.me/o5NCe3
Peterborough Harp Circle Event page: http://on.fb.me/osT3VJ
Updates will be posted here and on our Facebook page.
Harpo Marx performing Guardian Angels (a piece he wrote) in 1945, from the movie War Bond Drive. The sound is a bit muddy, but still worth it for the rare chance to hear Harpo playing something he composed himself.
One of the most frequently asked questions on the Celtic Harp Page is what makes for a good beginner harp. First-time players are often baffled by the abundance of choice, and usually hampered by a limited budget. They want a harp that is inexpensive, but still has a nice sound and a decent range.
With that in mind, I’ve outlined a few basic things that will help when looking for a beginner harp.
For more on all the different types and styles of harp available to choose from, you can browse the “What Type of Harp Should I Get?” section on the CHP.
For anyone who, like me, was still going through the old Hobgoblin site to get to the Stoney End Harps section, they have their own website now, all new and spiffed up, which should make browsing and the like easier:
Update: The links on the Celtic Harp Page are now up-to-date; we have also begun the process of revising the list of sample harp costs in the “What Harp Should I Get?” section of the FAQ, to reflect 2011 pricing.
Calling all Ontario harp players!
I’ve expanded our Peterborough-Kawarthas Facebook page to include all of Ontario, since there didn’t seem to be another spot like it on FB. Everyone is welcome to drop by and post upcoming events, harp tips &etc. or just say hi. The name was so obvious that I’m sure someone else has thought of it before me, but I just couldn’t resist.
Here’s a condensed link (since links to FB pages are impossibly long):
http://on.fb.me/km8Jst
Hope to see you over there!
More on the Southeastern Harp Weekend, which will be taking place this October (2011). Thanks to Carolyn Deal for the udpates.
Southeastern Harp Weekend October 7-8-9, Asheville, NC.
A mountain retreat weekend of world-class workshops and concerts, plus a huge and varied vendor hall! This year’s clinicians include Cheryl Ann Fulton, Maeve Gilchrist, Frank Voltz, Joanna Mell, Mary Radspinner, Christina Tourin, Jan Jennings, Rhett Barnwell, Jerry Brown, Sharon Thormahlen, Nancy Clark, Analee Foster, Dee Sweeny, and more.
Topics include Welsh Aires, Scottish harp, speed playing, conquering harmonics, conquering Irish trebles, hymn arranging, therapeutic music, classical music, overcoming fears, NLP and memorizing music, the Astral Harp Experience, chord recognition, Pop music, medieval modes, injury prevention, touch for tone, Taize, exercises for beginners, improvisation, keeping up with the tempo, sight-reading, fun innovations for beginners, celtic tunes to love, harp roundabouts for technique, left hand heaven, French technique, tunes for the seasons, the liquid lever, jazz, rhythm, advanced classes with Maeve Gilchrist and more for all levels. Most comprehensive lever harp vendor halls in the Southeast!
www.southeasternharps.com
smilingharp@gmail.com, 828-649-3016
The force is indeed strong with this one. Benjamin is now a teenager, performing internationally. You can visit his channel here.
From The Raw Story:
NEW YORK — Few instruments can be gentler than the harp, but authorities in New York’s Central Park have branded street musicians like harpist Meta Epstein a public disturbance and want them driven out.
A new campaign to enforce eight “quiet zones,” including in some of the city’s most hallowed spots for street performers, is turning virtuosos like Epstein into outlaws.
After years of being left in peace to perform her baroque repertoire on the beautiful, golden instrument, Epstein, 59, says she’s suddenly being treated as a menace.