Anyone else here into harps?

butterbobbin · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2012 1:11 pm

I'm currently saving up for one to replace my shoddy starter one. Currently have a whopping $21.35 in my jar :-). Just curious to know if anyone else here plays, has played, enjoys listening, saw one once...

seitanicverses · **Joined:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 3871

I don't play but I've always been intrigued. Harps are fraught with symbolism, more than other instruments, to me.

starrynight87 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:47 pm

I've played in Celtic music ensembles. I think they're lovely.

Mars · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:53 pm

No, but I'm really into tympani. Let's start a band.

solipsistnation · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:01 pm

Always used to hate harps...

(Warning: Straight-up smut, textual.)

missdelaney · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:06 pm

I actually work for a company that manufactures folk harps and sells internationally. I work in the retail storefront, but I sell them, tune them, take care of them...the only thing I don't do is play them!

So, if you're into folk harps, I cannot recommend ours enough:
http://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/i ... fault.aspx
The FH series is absolutely stunning.

eta: And you live in Oregon! zomg! If you're in the market, come up and look at ours when you want a mini vacation!

choirqueer · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:12 am

solipsistnation wrote:

Always used to hate harps...

(Warning: Straight-up smut, textual.)

Whoa! A sexual activity I've never even heard of! Wow.

choirqueer · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:13 am

As for actual harps, I have never played one, but I think they are lovely! How much does the one you want cost? I am totally cheering for you to get it!!

almiratanner · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 1:36 am

i love joanna newsom! does that count?

solipsistnation · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 2:58 am

choirqueer wrote:

solipsistnation wrote:

Always used to hate harps...

(Warning: Straight-up smut, textual.)

Whoa! A sexual activity I've never even heard of! Wow.

Should I be proud? 'cause I kinda am.

butterbobbin · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:08 pm

Ah missdelany, I would *looooove* to get my hands on a Dusty Strings. I'm kind of fixated currently on this one, though: http://www.blevinsharps.com/index.php?m ... th=283_259 (In walnut, because walnut=awesome) The only Dusty in my price range is the Ravenna and I just... don't like the way it looks. (Shallow, I know, but nonetheless true...)

At this point, it remains to be seen if I can even acquire anything decent, but we'll see. :-) I want a full set of levers, so I have $2337 (ish) left to save up. I figure I have to hem 241 pairs of pants or thereabouts to get that much... hehe.

There is a lot of symbolism in harps for me too. It's kind of like an extension of myself or something.

missdelaney · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:16 pm

Oh, that's gorgeous. I've heard good things about Blevin harps...and walnut! Second favorite harp wood next to bubinga.

Also, coughcoughifyoulikedusties. If you want a smaller harp, we do have a big sale at our store front every May...so a walnut FH26 would be close to your price range...

starrynight87 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:42 pm

Mars wrote:

No, but I'm really into tympani. Let's start a band.

Best band ever.

pandacookie · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:44 pm

I just realized the cat in your avatar is probably eating your harp.

jessica · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 11:33 pm

I'm really into Marx Brothers movies, and Harpo Marx always plays the harp in them. He was a badass harp player.

allularpunk · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:11 am

Growing up, there was this girl a few years older than me that used to play the harp during special masses at our church (think midnight mass and the easter vigil). I always thought it was lovely.

orangeluna · **Joined:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:45 pm **Posts:** 285

I rented my friend's lever harp during high school and took some lessons. Unfortunately, I moved away from the harp and the teacher and at that point had progressed enough that I should ideally move up to a pedal harp anyhow. If I ever had enough money to purchase a harp and take lessons, I would love to play again.

butterbobbin · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2012 12:05 pm

jessica wrote:

I'm really into Marx Brothers movies, and Harpo Marx always plays the harp in them. He was a badass harp player.

Self-taught, no less. *honk honk* I love him too.

pandacookie wrote:

I just realized the cat in your avatar is probably eating your harp.

Yes. He also likes to sit on her.

missdelaney · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:29 pm

orangeluna wrote:

I rented my friend's lever harp during high school and took some lessons. Unfortunately, I moved away from the harp and the teacher and at that point had progressed enough that I should ideally move up to a pedal harp anyhow. If I ever had enough money to purchase a harp and take lessons, I would love to play again.

Can I make a (very nice!) comment that most folk harpists would take what you said very, ah...offensively? The two types of harps are very different, and, yes, while pedal harps are (very very very) expensive and praised, the folk harp is just as legitimate. Look up Maeve Gilchrist, Molly Bauckham, Laurie Riley, Laurie Rasmussen...these people play the folk harp, and it isn't a beginner instrument or a starter to bigger and better things. They're very, very nice instruments that are used frequently by professionals.
There is a huge stigma in the harp community against folk harps, and, as someone who works for a company who makes high end ones, I must speak up!

orangeluna · **Joined:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:45 pm **Posts:** 285

missdelaney wrote:

orangeluna wrote:

I rented my friend's lever harp during high school and took some lessons. Unfortunately, I moved away from the harp and the teacher and at that point had progressed enough that I should ideally move up to a pedal harp anyhow. If I ever had enough money to purchase a harp and take lessons, I would love to play again.

Can I make a (very nice!) comment that most folk harpists would take what you said very, ah...offensively? The two types of harps are very different, and, yes, while pedal harps are (very very very) expensive and praised, the folk harp is just as legitimate. Look up Maeve Gilchrist, Molly Bauckham, Laurie Riley, Laurie Rasmussen...these people play the folk harp, and it isn't a beginner instrument or a starter to bigger and better things. They're very, very nice instruments that are used frequently by professionals.
There is a huge stigma in the harp community against folk harps, and, as someone who works for a company who makes high end ones, I must speak up!

Point taken! I'm sorry for the insensitivity of my remarks and hope that all the kick a harpists out there will forgive my noob comment.

Rhizopus Oligosporus · **Joined:** Tue Oct 19, 2010 9:39 pm **Posts:** 4588

Harps are lovely instruments. I love the way they sound and look. But you know what cracks me up? Harp covers! You walk into a room where a harp has it's cover on and it looks like this giant oven hit is standing there! It's sooo funny!

butterbobbin · **Posted:** Mon Dec 31, 2012 2:16 pm

Yes. YES! I saw a listing on Craigslist for a pedal harp ensconced in oven mitt case. I laughed so hard. It was late at night and therefore even more hilarious. My husband thought I had gone crazy.

missdelaney · **Posted:** Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:59 pm

orangeluna wrote:

missdelaney wrote:

orangeluna wrote:

I rented my friend's lever harp during high school and took some lessons. Unfortunately, I moved away from the harp and the teacher and at that point had progressed enough that I should ideally move up to a pedal harp anyhow. If I ever had enough money to purchase a harp and take lessons, I would love to play again.

Can I make a (very nice!) comment that most folk harpists would take what you said very, ah...offensively? The two types of harps are very different, and, yes, while pedal harps are (very very very) expensive and praised, the folk harp is just as legitimate. Look up Maeve Gilchrist, Molly Bauckham, Laurie Riley, Laurie Rasmussen...these people play the folk harp, and it isn't a beginner instrument or a starter to bigger and better things. They're very, very nice instruments that are used frequently by professionals.
There is a huge stigma in the harp community against folk harps, and, as someone who works for a company who makes high end ones, I must speak up!

Point taken! I'm sorry for the insensitivity of my remarks and hope that all the kick a harpists out there will forgive my noob comment.

I atone thee! Three hail seitans and a dozen cookies for you!

quagga · **Joined:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:02 pm **Posts:** 634

I keep reading this lovely thread title as "Anyone else here into herps?" As in lizards, salamanders, and frogs! I come from a biology background and not a musical one, though I really do like harp music, both folk and classical.

Carry on!

I love the variety of folks on the PPK forum.

butterbobbin · **Posted:** Mon Dec 31, 2012 11:49 pm

quagga wrote:

I love the variety of folks on the PPK forum.

Me too! Diversity is awesome.

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