Wicker Harp

Nice harp, shame about the string tension!

Recently spotted in lobby of Venue Cymru whilst I was doing some work with Ensemble Cymru a few weeks back, which involved a lot of last minute learning of hard chamber music - Bax Concerto for Oboe, Flute & Harp (with string quartet) and Gareth Glyn's Gig (for same instrumentation as Ravel Septet). Great music, and a lovely bunch of musicians to work with.

The original strap on harp

Wow - that's way to go for more gigs..... tap dancing shoes!

this plus lots of really crazy harp photos - including victorian nude playing a Pleyel chromatic harp and Cary Grant playing a Lyon & Healy (yes really!!) on blog by Australian harpist here

alimandolin

One year on....

a much missed friend and musician passed away on this day; a very sad and poignant anniversary.

Over £16,000 has so far been raised for the Alison Stephens memorial fund to set up a prize in her name at her alma mater for the next generation of musicians to benefit from. A rather lovely and fitting tribute to a very special musician who touched so many lives.

Never forgotten x

David Snell

Nice little video footage from 1964 of Johnny Scott Quintet, with David Snell on harp.

I remember the very first harp recording I ever bought when I was really young (on cassette tape!!!) from Woolworths, was of David Snell playing 'hits' on the harp.

I can't remember the name of the recording now, but it had pieces like "Tie a Yellow Ribbon", and other similiar middle of the road tunes on it.

I wore that cassette tape out playing it over and over again and thought it was the best thing ever.

Does anyone else remember that recording? I think it was solo harp with orchestral backing.... mid 70's recording.... There can't have been that many harp recordings readily available in shops like Woolworths back then?

I'd love to listen to it again!

student major key & tuning charts

Just remembered I said I was going to do this for some students tomorrow.

Here goes - for lever harps tuned in E flat major

Enjoy :-)

click on image for larger view - feel free to print off and stick on the wall near the harp!

any requests?

Internal dialogue

Ah - that internal dialogue..... and internal arguing when you are trying to concentrate on playing... I know it well.

Very interesting short video by Dr Carrol McLaughlin about letting go of the internal dialogue to help with better performance.

Her book looks very interesting and well worth a read!

Rainbow harp

How exciting is this?

This isn't just an electro-accoustic harp........ it's a rainbow coloured electro-accoustic harp.

And I see Salvi have just brought out a new Iris, minus the gold. Cunningly called the Iris Natural Concert Grand it is cleverly in the price range between the Apollo and the Arianna. 

Now if only I wasn't already paying off for my wonderful gold Iris...  

Suffering serious harp lust..... a rainbow harp.... genius idea.

The Bad Tempered Flute

I'm very excited to be part of this project and there will be an official launch of the CD in November at the Forge Venue in London - details to follow. The CD is now available to buy on Amazon but not on iTunes just yet....hopefully soon!

A great line up players, flutists Paul Edmund-Davies, Clare Southworth & Andy Findon with guitarist Craig Ogden, & pianists Tim Carey and Peter Lawson all playing the flute music of Andy Scott.

Here is a flute & harp track from the CD - Paquito, which is a pretty fast and fiery salsa!

Andy Scott - Paquito by AstuteMusic

sausage fingers

Ben Creighton Griffiths is a total star, and there doesn't seem to be much he can't do... including teaching sporting legend and ex Wales Rugby captain, Gareth Thomas, to play the harp for ITV's Born to Shine programme.

I particularly liked the way Gareth said it "was hard to play the harp when you have finger's like cumberland sausages."

Above is a short trailer clip for the show, but you can see a video of Gareth and Ben playing by clicking on this link scroll down the page and click on "Gareth Thomas"

Well done Gareth & Ben !!

Ben has been doing amazing things for charity for years and is a brilliant ambassador for the harp, as well as being a really great harp player.

After a crazy summer where there has been rioting on the streets in the UK, isn't it great to see a positive role model on TV for a young male teenager?