I am amazed that you point out the strengths of the 8-string harp. Unfortunately, most ridicule cheap instruments and, with that, the people who choose the cheaper instruments. It discourages aspiring beginners to even begin when all they could afford is a 'cheap' instrument.
Thank you so much Jan for your appreciation. I wish I could make music more easily accessible for more people! My very first music memories come from a toy piano with small keys which my little fingers could easily reach, it’s on that cheap instrument that I started playing by ear and developing a strong sense of musicality as a kid! It played a key part in my music journey. So I believe every instrument has merit really. The 8 string harp may not meet everybody’s needs, but everyone’s different!
@@mariannebouvettemusicWow! A great mission to help spread music. May I ask if you do harp tutorials? Or maybe even free tutorials for that 8-string harp?
I havent found the time to make tutorials but the idea has been in my head for some time... hopefully I can get round to it some time soon. For the moment all I have is free sheet music for the 8 string harp, check out Happy Villagers on my website www.celticizemeandjazzmeup.com/sheet-music
@@mariannebouvettemusic Thank you very much. I do hope I'd be able to get a teacher bec I'm having a hard time locating one in our city. I think the only the rich has access to such a wonderful instrument and to these amazing teachers. I'm looking forward to your contents. Again, thank you very much.
Jan Wary I hope you find a teacher and you can make your harp dreams true! Face to face classes are always best but if you’re desperate, I give Skype lessons, don’t hesitate to ask! Good luck with your search!
I love your positive attitude, re making the most of each harp, not trashing them. When I was young ANY harp would have been welcome. Almost none in my area of Western Australia at that time.
Its always fascinated me that the price point with harps is, particularly when they are played in sequence as here, so very clear. As the instrument gets more expensive the sound gets richer and more resonant. Im not much of an elitist about anything really, but it has to be said that you really do get what you pay for with a harp, with the less expensive instruments sounding positively tinny and plunky next to the more expensive ones. Thats not to say that there isnt a place for the less expensive instruments. There is and there will always be....harps have never been cheap, and far better to have a less expensive instrument than none at all, and most people once they have been bitten by the harping bug will save to get a better quality instrument. And i have to say there is nothing like the resonant tones of a good harp. It makes even a beginners practice sound lovely. I hired a harp when i first started playing and my neighbor used to come outside to listen when i practiced on the deck outside, and trust me, i was no Turlough O' Carolan LOL.
It is the same with all instruments. I’m a musician and my first flute was about $2000. Silver. My current flute is $14,000 and solid gold. There’s a huge difference in sound from silver to gold, a lot of that is preference. Gold has a more woody rich tone, silver has a brighter tone. My cheap flute was more difficult to play so I sold it. It’s the same with clarinets, sax, trumpets, violins/ all string instruments pianos etc etc. most people do not realize how much a good instrument costs. I could go up to $65,000 on a flute. A Lorenzo Carcassi violin is about $80,000, but a Stratavarius is about $12,000.
What I did with my cheap lyre is I tuned down a step so that it sounds more earthy. I wonder once I venture to buy a har p in the future, if drop tuning would work or be appropriate to do ( integrity to the structure of the instrument)
wow, what a great thing to provide the side by side comparison of so many harps. they all offered surprises. the Respighi is so beautiful and gives dignity to even the tiniest harp! Thank you very much!
I love the way you describe how Respighi "dignifies" the simplest instrument 😊 I absolutely love it too, it is one of the first pieces I wanted to learn on harp ❤️
isn't it wonderful how certain pieces of music can mean so much, right from the first moment? Borodin's Nocturne, that's another one, instantly so moving!
Hi!! Thank you, very very much, for this awesome video! I'm a (mostly retired) professional harpist in the US. I LOVED hearing all these harps compared, and I'm DEEPLY IMPRESSED with your skills! You play beautifully, and you write BEAUTIFUL music! I was STUNNED that you made that tiny harp sound good and played real music on it! BRAVA!!!!
I am very impressed by how you play the 8 strings harp haha, I had the prejudice that even pulling out a 2 handed melody out of it would be near impossible!
This is a nice little comparison of harps. I just wanted to point out the newer "#7 Rosewood harps"/pakistan harps have adjustable sharping levers. All you need is a screwdriver. As some others mentioned I like that you respect all harps, even the smallest ones, pointing out how you can use them even for something as simple as keeping finger strength while on vacation
I have new speakers on my computer . The sound from the more expensive harps really makes my head ring ! I'm not expressing my self well . What I was trying to say how wonderful they sound ! To me it's always interesting to hear an expert talk about their subject . Your explanations are so clear and thorough . Thank you for posting !
What a great video. 2 years ago this video helped me pick my very first in life ever Music Instrument, a Lyre harp! Im still a complete beginner to reading music but ive played like 200 hours just finger strumming and its been such a great addition to my life so thank you for this video. I wish I knew what the next steps were, "Learning" music is kind of hard, i think i will just save up some money and get lessons or music classes it seems like its better than trying to learn how to play and read music as a complete beginner from UA-cam. Do you have any recommendations or starting books?? Once again thanks for the video! I hope to get a big real Harp one day. Must be so fun to play that!
I feel as if I have just made a new friend. Thank you for taking the time to make this candid comparison of harps. I hope it will be very helpful to anyone nervously trying to decide what to buy.
Just recently got a 16 string lyre harp, and I have to admit, I'm pretty happy with my purchase. I don't know how much, if any, skills will transfer to traditional harps, but it's certainly the most strings and probably the best sounding instrument for the price ($89) Will certainly be referring back to this once I have some proficiency with this instrument (I am able to play "Song of Storms" at least)
Lovely video and so good of you to put this together. But am I the only one who gasped at the sight of the tuning key balanced on the neck of the harp at 1:15? I think my heart skipped a beat!
Thank you for such a great job comparing and contrasting the instruments. That gives some of us an opportunity to get to know a bit about that beautiful ancient instrument. Thank you for your time. We're looking forward to more videos 📹 . Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with us. Ginette Lubin
2:22 I was tabbed out when I heard her loudly drag the piano bench across the floor and I thought she accidentally knocked over the whole row of harps!! LMAO!! I totally cringed XD
I've been in your shoes: loved the harp, always wanted to play it. Start with a lap harp like the first few she showed. They're pretty easy to learn and fun!
And my husband called me crazy the other day because I told him that I need a travel harp. He‘s like “you’ve got one already, so why get another?!”. Better not mention that the list of “want to buy” harps is pretty long 😂🙊
In the past few years I have been lucky enough to see and hear three examples of the Camac harp, all three of them manufactured to the specifications of renowned Irish harp player and composer Janet Harbison. Here among Nova Scotia's Gaelic community, fiddle and Highland pipes are the most common type of instrument one would encounter, so it was a pleasant surprise to come across three identical models of the Camac.
If you're having fun on a harp, keep going. I feel like that matters more than it being "proper" to other players. Do what you love :) And I love the accessibility of these different designs and types. Thank you! Edit: Haha, it's fun you said the same thing right after I typed this! I agree. I'm not a harpist, but I feel like love and spirit and joy is more important than technique for technique's sake.
I agree! I stared very late in life and know I'll never be a virtuosa but I love playing my harp and surprisingly, others love hearing my poor attempts. Improving slowly, but improving none the less, I feel encouraged so will play on.
I kept watching, I was learning as you played but I play piano. Very similar. I liked the sound of the carbon fiber one best..Thankyou for this time spent.
Thank you so much for watching! Indeed there are lots of similarities between harp and piano technique, hand coordination is definitely similar. Glad you like the sound of the carbonfiber harp, it’s a great instrument indeed!
I have the 22 string Rosewood harp. I bought it secondhand for £80 about 12 years ago. The levers are terrible. Some work, some don't. I hadn't played it for a long time after badly breaking my wrist (left permanently weak) and the death of my husband. I decided to try to play it again last night but noticed it's starting to crack in a line with the strings - tension probably. It did tune up well (tuned it against the piano) and despite this cracking, does keep tune well. The harp I would really like is a Dusty Strings Ravenna 34. I tried it some years ago and loved its sound and resonance. The current price is £2200 - unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, out of my price range. It is top of my wish list though.
@@cwli1 Yes, I did - last year. A slightly damaged one came up for sale from a reputable harp shop within driving distance from where I live. It had got water damaged during the first lockdown - had been rented to a school. The soundboard is slightly warped but it doesn't affect the sound of the harp and it stays in tune. The harp is only 3 years old now. Absolutely love it. Wonderful harp to play. I paid £1200 for it so was very happy. The price of them now is £3000 so I'm glad I got my one when I did.
Thank you so much for this review. I really value these kind of reviews, especially ones that cover the whole spectrum! I actually own one that I believe may be the exact same as #7, and have the same problems with the levers, but I never knew the tension wasn't great for proper technique! I'm very glad to know now.
Thank you so much for your comment, I’m so glad you found this helpful! Indeed if you get used to playing on low string tension, it may become a problem when you move to a regular tension harp as your technique won’t be adapted for it. But that’s not to say you cannot play beautifully with the technique and the harp you currently have. If that’s your main instrument and you enjoy it, you shouldn’t feel bad about it! It’s probably like riding a tricycle vs a bicycle... you can have loads of fun with both, but technically it’s hard to transition from the former to the latter! :)
Every inclusion of your broad info presentation served greatly in answering the many specific questions I had stored. The "show and tell" method employed was well received, especially coming from a professional harpist. And . . . thanks for the concert. T'was such a pleasure! Hope to soon let you know which type of harp I finally purchased. . . Be blessed as you continue in the expansion of your art.
Thank you so much for your kind words Ramona - this is so nice to read! I wish you the best in your music journey, hope you find the harp of your dreams soon! To guide you further in your choice you might be interested in my latest harp reviews, I am attaching the links here for your convenience: ua-cam.com/video/MO_R1BPHEWo/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/9acyRH-vvc8/v-deo.html. All the best, Marianne
thank you for taking time to make this video. I love your musical instruments. That ebony piano in the background is totally awesome. That little harp reminds in sound of the instrument The Japanese Geisha play. interesting how harps and similar instruments exist in different countries and how much people love the sound they make. I hope someday to be able to buy a nice leaver harp. That would be beautiful.
Thank you Donna for your lovely comment! Glad you liked this video. My musical instruments are like my babies and they bring me so much joy, I love them all! I hope your dream of a harp will come true soon. Harps are truly magical instruments, they have transformed my life and my relationship to music after years of playing the piano. The way they resonate is very unique and soothing. I will try to make another video soon about harps from all around the world, I also have harps from Asia and from Eastern Europe and they are fascinating in their similarities and differences. All the best to you!
My 19-stringer looks similar to the 22-string harp on here. I've had to keep it in storage due to circumstances beyond my control, but boy do I miss it!
I love all stringed instruments. This one has been a mystery to me, you have really answered a lot of my questions. Excellent job! And now I also have that tune stuck in my head. :)
I am looking into Harps and this was an amazing video. Finally some clarity on their sound. I would love to get a harp but I have listened to a lot of small ones that have such a sharp and not mellow sound. When I bought my best ukulele I chose it for it's mellow and echoy sound. It was a 120 euro hand made Duke of Uke. So I wondered why can't I find a harp on a budget that sounds magical? This video was very helpful! I assume a harp is a much more elaborate instrument to build. Therefore the price difference, but now at least I know which sound I like. Definitely a Derwent or Camao... once I can afford it. Thanks for the great video!
Thanks a lot for your lovely comment Angelina and so nice to hear this video was useful! More recently I published another review focusing on mid-size starter harps which may also help you with your search (ua-cam.com/video/M09seMKjkuU/v-deo.html) - some mid size instruments (ranging from 26 to 28 strings) really do sound magical! Good luck with your harp adventures ❤️
Wao. I am a cello player, but watching your video on the harp I think I may also try Harp as well. I learned the Rochan lament cello song from your video. So, Thank you!
Good video Marianne. Love your playing. Along with the harps your familiar with in the UK I would have you to take a look at the Harpsicle Harp company from here in the lower 48 (USA). They make a very basic instrument that is very popular among newbey's that can only afford around $600 to $1000. Highest price for their Fullsicle that features all the levers in adverse to a few or none. Very plain rectangular sounding board but a quality instrument ,many think ,for an affordable price. Of course you are way out of their league but may find it musing to add to your collection.
Thanks for your video I just realized that there are so many types of the harp. In my country, not many people know about it. I only see they sell the harp same your number 3, but it has 8,16, or 19 strings. Through your video, I like it more, and hope can save enough money to buy 1. I can open my mind about the sound, and learn English too. Thank you. And please forgive if I use the wrong words.
The sound level is very low, I can barley hear you.. but thanks for the video.. I always wanted to learn the harp.. I am nearing my 40's but I guess it's never too late to learn.. I always want to take singing lessons too :) the tiny baby harps are very cute!
Thank you for your comment and sorry for the sound level, not sure what went wrong here. It is never too late to learn indeed! Music is very intuitive and it is the very first language we all learnt to speak! Singing and/or harp are great for adult beginners as you can make wonderful music quickly. And I am partial to the beautiful shape of any harp big or small :) thanks again!
I have the good fortune to own a one in a million Heartland custom 36 string with levers. It is made from Hawaii Koa wood, which is no longer legal to use, and it is the only harp they ever used gold on the levers for due to the salt air there. It somehow ended up in an antique shop in California with some condition issues. A man who was considering buying it called Pam to ask if the price asked was a fair price for one of their harps. They so loved the harp that they bought it and fixed it up again. I heard it against their new top of the line harps and it put those high quality harps to shame. I am so blessed to have “David’s harp”, but now I have cancer and I may not make it. I payed 4,000$, but I would consider selling for less to the right special person. Do you have any advice on how to find that special person? I’m not going to just run an ad and sell to just anyone with the cash. I want it to be someone who really appreciates the unique quality and sound of the Heartland custom harp.
I am so terribly sorry about your illness 🙏 thank you for sharing this, there are very active groups on Facebook with passionate US-based harpists who may be able to help, I would definitely recommend to check out the Celtic Harp group and the Learning the Harp group. Sending you my best wishes for recovery 🙏
Thank you for your video. This is really helpful. I have two questions. 1. Is it possible to play Jazz music with celtic harp? Jazz music has many kinds of tensions... 2. Can you recommand for me some harp which has 34 or 36 harp? How about selvi’s?
Thanks! It is not impossible to play Jazz music on a Celtic harp, but you will definitely prefer a Celtic harp WITH levers for that (to give you more flexibility with accidentals), and you need to realize that the jazz repertoire for Celtic harp will be more limited than the jazz repertoire for pedal harp. If you look for a 34 or 36 string harp, Salvi is definitely a reputable brand (like Camac or Lyon & Healy), but as for any harp, you need to try it first and hear for yourself if you like its sound - every instrument is different, even within the same brand! It may also be a good idea to ask a harpist friend to come along and play it for you so you can judge. Good luck!
I'm ecstatic to be getting my first harp. I haven't seen it and don't know much about it since my husband found and arranged the sale but it is like an "official" student harp. I've been impatiently waiting all week for it but listening to the various instruments you have has helped see where I might go. But I did want to give you a tip I learned watching another video about harp playing because you were having issues with the lyre. And I agree that you ought not mess with the instrument too much because it could be an expensive mistake BUT you can use a bit of polish on the strings themselves if you ever need or want to change ot back, you just need a new pack of strings rather than having to mess with the rest of the instrument. But I actually really liked the fullness of sound the lyre gave. And the melody is so cute. I look forward to at least trying to copy it. Thank you for sharing your instruments and skills!
Thanks for your nice comment and congratulations on your new harp! There is something magic about this instrument... Wishing you lots of happiness and beautiful music discoveries with it ❤️
Thank you so much that was enlightening. I bought a kora a few years ago and love it - that is my only “harp” playing experience. I’d love to know if you’ve played one and any thoughts you might have.
Thank you so much for your kind words! Kora sounds lovely indeed, such a beautiful instrument, I did try it but i’m definitely not an expert! personally I find it less intuitive to play than the diatonic Western harps, just because of the layout of the strings - on a Western harp it is easy to visualise the scale on the instrument in the same way you see the scale on a piano keyboard, so it’s really straightforward to find your way through the strings when you’re used to playing following western scales. But I believe the Kora’s string layout is most intuitive to play African tunes and accompany singing.
Thank you, this is a very well done video and helpful when wanting to know more about the harp and which one we might have a preference for since it’s such a significant investment. I enjoy your gentle nature also 💐
Do you know about Dusty Strings' Universal Tuning Wrench which can adjust to ANY size tuning pin? I have one, and it's amazing to use on all my different harps! It can't be used on zither pins, however, such as on Harpsicles.
Thank you very much, I'm just looking to buy myself A harp .❤ My question is, is it possible to order from the websites mentioned in this video to Slovakia?
@KaylaKayla-py1rg hello Kayla! You’d have to double-check the most recent shipping information on each harpmaker website, but large retailers typically ship internationally so I don’t think Slovakia would be a problem. The only exception might be UK-based retailers (like e.g. Derwent) for which Brexit has made the export process more complicated. Also this video was made a few years back already and meanwhile some manufacturers have completely updated their line up (e.g. Camac has stopped producing their wonderful 27 string Bardic, which they replaced with the new Odyssey). If you are looking for a good value starter harp I can also recommend a recent model that was released by Dublin-based Muzikkon a couple of years after I made this video (see video here : ua-cam.com/video/4pgfL_tjbwY/v-deo.htmlsi=Gfy-w4w-8ODwYPSW), very compact affordable harp with a beautiful sound - and they definitely ship to Slovakia. Good luck with your search!❤️
I confirm the Infinity is a technical prowess with a lovely resonance that doesn’t sound like “plastic” at all. Amazing design and great quality of execution by Heartland, whom I find incredibly competent and reliable. Thanks for watching!
And another thought for your lyre metal strings...use mechinist layout fluid (red or blue). It will not last forever of course but fairly long; I use it on my clarseachs.
hi, thanks for this, I have two 22 string harps and one sounds so much weaker than my other one.... btw, what scale are you playing your lovely song in?
Hello! Do you have advice for someone coming from pedal harp, for playing a 19 strings harp without levers? I would like to get one of these for travelling, like you said in your video (thank you for the inspiration by the way 🙈), but I am afraid to not enjoy playing as much? Most music that I saw for those little harps looks very slow (beginner-type), and I like faster things? What do you like to play on it? Thank you in advance ❤❤
Hi Anne-Katherine! If I were you I would seriously consider the Muzikkon Ceilidh 19 (ua-cam.com/video/4pgfL_tjbwY/v-deo.htmlsi=1uH-MYqDymsgLjwf) - very affordable, great sound and punches above its weight! The fact it is fully levered allows you to play a surprisingly broad repertoire (from celtic to classical or iazz), I am writing a music book especially for this harp which I should be releasing soon!
That is a wonderful idea Marianne - to show a wide variety, One thought for you: you can make (or buy) a universal key; the only peg it might not fit would be a largest pedal peg. Here's all it is: a 1/4-0 tap wrench fitted with a handle. Take a look at those sold by Dusty Strings if for an picture (or if you just want to buy one).
my daughter started to take lessons (and i decided to learn myself), we have a mid east rosewood harp :-D it's a first harp i bought and i was so happy when it arrived, now after half a year i know we deffinitely need something else.. we're quite lucky because our levers are good and tuning is OK, but the lowest strings are so loose that i almost can't use them.. but still I love it and don't want to give it away :-D
Very nice! During these demonstrations, are you playing the treble clef notes with your right hand, and the bass clef notes with your left hand, or are you playing the chords in the treble clef with your left hand? Since I only read music in the treble clef when I play the piano, for example, I play the melody with my right hand and the chords with my left all in the treble clef. 😊 🎼 ♫
Christopher Tsiliacos thanks! On large harps the set up is very similar to piano - typically the left hand will play bass clef notes, but 1 there can be exceptions with pieces written in the higher register (especially on small harps with higher note range) and 2 you can get away with playing left hand chords without reading bass clef like you are doing on the piano. But not reading the bass clef will limit your repertoire - you may want to practice with tools such as notationtraining.com/bass-clef-practice. It’s not that difficult you will see! Good luck!
@@mariannebouvettemusic Thanks! I don't play the harp yet. But when I do decide to do so, I plan to start with the 12-string harp. BTW: I have to hand it to piano players who know both clefs. They not only have to read two clefs, but they have to read them at the same time. This would be true for harp players, too. 😊
Hi, Its such a beautiful instrumen! Can you give me some reccommendation online shop to buy a lever harp? Because its so hard to search this amazing instrument!
Hi Mirzani Herfina, it’s a beautiful instrument indeed and it’s hard not to fall in love with it! Not sure where you live but in Europe, thomann.de has a good range of Salvi and Lyon & Healy harps (very reputable). The Early Music Store in the UK also has an excellent selection including Camac harps (my personal favorite). Both stores have fantastic customer service and ship internationally. Good luck with your search!
Loved the video so much! I want to start playing the harp or lyre and I loved the 12 string lyre you played here. Can you please tell me where I can get the same model as yours? Thank you
Thanks so much Kalilair! Here is where I bought the lyre: m.thomann.de/gb/aeolis_klangspiele_mandala_harp.htm. Good luck with your future music discoveries ❤️
Picked up (a month ago) a water damaged 7 string Lyre/case at a pawn shop and have bleached out the rust and water stains, refinished, rebuilt (replaced pegs, rusted strings) and it plays wonderfully (for the simple thing it is) and looks like new again. Its one more for the music room. Your video was very entertaining and easy to hear. Perhaps I will find another lost harp like instrument to play with/work on... passed on a Autoharp due to price that was falling apart (chord bars falling off) at a flee market. Very nice collection you have... i would be worried about all the bright light on the wood finish if you keep the blinds open all the time. Awesome video!
Thank you for your lovely comment Brian and congratulations on giving your little lyre a second life, it must be so satisfying! Good luck with your instrument treasure hunt, I hope you will rescue many abandoned strings longing for a new loving owner :) PS you are right, I try to avoid direct sunlight on my instruments and I do keep the shutters closed most of the time!
If you're looking for a great portable lyre you should check out _Marini Made Harps_ . Their lyres are slightly larger, but sounds exactly like a normal harp, is color coded and can even come with levers.
I actually love the sound form #7 the most, its so soothing, but you dont recommend learning from that harp, right? Do you think it would be good for learning the very basics and practicing?
Hi Justin! I do love its sound too. The standard recommendation you will hear from 95% of harp teachers is “stay away from this, it’s not a real harp, it’s nothing like the real deal” but I have a different opinion. I really think it all depends on your long term goals and budget possibilities. If your goal is to play a standard high-tension harp eventually or if you’re planning to enrol a music academy, then this is not the best starter instrument - save up for or rent a high tension model. But if it’s the only instrument you can afford and that’s the only way you’ll ever get started with harp, why not? You can still play very enjoyable music with it. You just need to be aware of all the restrictions I mention in the video (heavy weight, non functional levers...). But if you’re ok with that I think it’s fine to get an instrument the sound of which you love and which you will want to play. I often go back to this harp and am always delighted by its soothing sound, it is very pleasant to play (see this video:ua-cam.com/video/XrdrexYgfVY/v-deo.html). It’s also lovely for singing (ua-cam.com/video/FKW36me56JU/v-deo.html)
Hi there, imI am researching how to build a harp. I was wondering if any of your harps are 2 pieces or 1 piece. As in does the string tension hold the neck onto the body?
Hi, the lyre I am showing in the video is a 12 string Äolis Mandala (you can find it at thomann.de), it has a wonderfully clear and soothing sound. It is great for improvising in pentatonic scale and is perfectly suited for therapy.
I don't play, but I really learned a lot from you.. The Clio sounds wonderful, I wonder if a 30,000$ harp sounds even better ?.. Naomi SV (YT), plays a Harpsicle (Rees Harps, USA, Indiana),, is this electronic ?.. How does it compare ?
Gary Tanger so nice of you, thank you! I love the Clio too, it’s so compact, so convenient and so much more affordable than a larger concert harp. Compared to a 30K harp you will miss the sound projection/volume/intensity, plus you are missing 3 bass strings which can be limiting for advanced professional repertoire. But if you accept those trade offs it’s an absolutely wonderful instrument which does have what I call the “signature Camac sound” - a very unique voice that is typical of Camac harps. Personally I prefer the sound of this Clio over the sound of some more expensive Salvi I’ve tried but that’s just a matter of taste really! I never got a chance to try a Harpsicle ( they are more common in North America I think) and only heard recordings, but their “voice” didn’t “speak to my soul”, I found the sound a bit thin... I’m sure their quality is very reliable and with amplification (especially for the electric they have) they must sound fine though. Like all instruments it’s all a matter of personal taste!
Sorry about this! I think I’m due for an update of this video, not only with better audio but also because there’s new harps I’d love to present! Will try and shoot as soon as I can!
Thank you - I would love to see it. Strangely enough, when I watched the video on my iPhone - it sounds much clearer - soft but very clear. Many blessings to you and yours
Ah, la voilà donc la famille Harpe de Marianne. Maman comblée par tous ces beaux enfants 🤗 👏 . Bravo et merci pour cette présentation si complète des différents type de Harpe et de leur utilisation pour tel ou tel type de musique. Un guide interactif qui ne peut que satisfaire les futurs acquéreurs selon leur niveau, leur style et leur propre sensibilité. Une présentation à faire tourner en boucle même pour moi qui suis très nul en Anglais !! J'ai en rêve de me mettre un jour à la Harpe et selon mon budget, me tournerais certainement vers un modèle 27 cordes. Encore merci pour cette belle et très pédagogique présentation. Amitiés musicales Phil
Bonjour Daniel, j'en profite également pour vous faire passer les liens vers cette vidéo collaborative avec Marianne: ua-cam.com/video/I3GRtKWfepU/v-deo.html et ua-cam.com/video/x8nE7nvWdfU/v-deo.html Musicalement Phil
Thanks Damiano! I would personally stick to steel strings rather than nylon strings as I love the clear sound they give - my Mandala lyre strings have been lasting forever and I never had to change them, if I ever needed to I would stick to the same ones (Romana brand):m.thomann.de/be/aeolis_klangspiele_mandala_set_of_strings_pt.htm
Would a package of 12 strings for the harp work on the lily harp since it only has 8? I could cut them down or something or only use some of them or will this not work?
Hi Melissa Marie! I suspects 12 string package would include strings from F above Middle C to High C. So for your 8 string harp you would simply pick the 8 smallest/highest strings from Middle C to High C, and simply leave out the 4 longest/lowest strings (which you can always keep to replace higher strings in the future by simply cutting them to the right size!). I don’t think there will be a difference in string thickness for those packs so it’s really just a matter of fitting the right length and making sure you use red for Cs and blue for Fs. That’s pretty much it! Good luck with your baby harp :)
I found it on amazon.de. It comes in and out of stock so you have to look out for it! There is a similar one available at the earlymusicshop.com but slightly more expensive
Hello, I need help on finding an affordable harp! I’m 13 and I would love to get a bigger harp for my birthday. I would like strings at least 22-32 string harp under $900 if you could help. I know that’s a hard request.
controversy Unfortunately Camac has discontinued their Bardic line which were very affordable small harps (22-27 strings) made by a reputable company. Other options might be Dusty strings and Triplett, they both have relatively affordable harps in stock (Ravenna 26 or Christina comes to mind). However, every good harp has its price, so you basically get what you paid for. A cheap harp will always sound cheap and might be made from exotic woods, whereas reputable companies use woods from sustainable sources. A local harp manufacturer might also be a good option. They are usually highly experienced but can craft a harp to your liking and you wouldn’t have to pay for shipping or import tax depending on where you live. Another great option are second hand harps. Some people must sell their harp because their moving house or children who used to start on a lever harp move on to a concert harp. However, in this case, I’d recommend that you never buy blindly from eBay or another source. Always inspect the instrument yourself and, if possible, ask a harp teacher, harpist or a person who is familiar with the instrument to come with you. Some scratches and cuffs don’t affect the harp itself but others might need to be repaired which can become expensive. That said, I always wanted to play the harp but my parents made me play the piano for many years, so I bought my first harp when I was in my 20s and had my first full-time job after uni. I’m glad that I’ve waited for so long since I was able to afford a good quality harp (Camac Celtic Isolde). I know it’s though to wait for a long time, but saving money and buying the best harp you can afford is worth the wait and you will be rewarded with countless hours of joy (as soon as your fingers stop hurting and blistering xD)
I am amazed that you point out the strengths of the 8-string harp. Unfortunately, most ridicule cheap instruments and, with that, the people who choose the cheaper instruments. It discourages aspiring beginners to even begin when all they could afford is a 'cheap' instrument.
Thank you so much Jan for your appreciation. I wish I could make music more easily accessible for more people! My very first music memories come from a toy piano with small keys which my little fingers could easily reach, it’s on that cheap instrument that I started playing by ear and developing a strong sense of musicality as a kid! It played a key part in my music journey. So I believe every instrument has merit really. The 8 string harp may not meet everybody’s needs, but everyone’s different!
@@mariannebouvettemusicWow! A great mission to help spread music. May I ask if you do harp tutorials? Or maybe even free tutorials for that 8-string harp?
I havent found the time to make tutorials but the idea has been in my head for some time... hopefully I can get round to it some time soon. For the moment all I have is free sheet music for the 8 string harp, check out Happy Villagers on my website www.celticizemeandjazzmeup.com/sheet-music
@@mariannebouvettemusic Thank you very much. I do hope I'd be able to get a teacher bec I'm having a hard time locating one in our city. I think the only the rich has access to such a wonderful instrument and to these amazing teachers. I'm looking forward to your contents. Again, thank you very much.
Jan Wary I hope you find a teacher and you can make your harp dreams true! Face to face classes are always best but if you’re desperate, I give Skype lessons, don’t hesitate to ask! Good luck with your search!
I love your positive attitude, re making the most of each harp, not trashing them. When I was young ANY harp would have been welcome. Almost none in my area of Western Australia at that time.
Its always fascinated me that the price point with harps is, particularly when they are played in sequence as here, so very clear. As the instrument gets more expensive the sound gets richer and more resonant. Im not much of an elitist about anything really, but it has to be said that you really do get what you pay for with a harp, with the less expensive instruments sounding positively tinny and plunky next to the more expensive ones. Thats not to say that there isnt a place for the less expensive instruments. There is and there will always be....harps have never been cheap, and far better to have a less expensive instrument than none at all, and most people once they have been bitten by the harping bug will save to get a better quality instrument. And i have to say there is nothing like the resonant tones of a good harp. It makes even a beginners practice sound lovely. I hired a harp when i first started playing and my neighbor used to come outside to listen when i practiced on the deck outside, and trust me, i was no Turlough O' Carolan LOL.
100% agree! And your neighbour is very lucky to have you 😀
It is the same with all instruments. I’m a musician and my first flute was about $2000. Silver. My current flute is $14,000 and solid gold. There’s a huge difference in sound from silver to gold, a lot of that is preference. Gold has a more woody rich tone, silver has a brighter tone. My cheap flute was more difficult to play so I sold it. It’s the same with clarinets, sax, trumpets, violins/ all string instruments pianos etc etc. most people do not realize how much a good instrument costs. I could go up to $65,000 on a flute. A Lorenzo Carcassi violin is about $80,000, but a Stratavarius is about $12,000.
I doubt the Celtic people paid 1000s for a harp.
@@elmore707 the sound quality, er, varied
What I did with my cheap lyre is I tuned down a step so that it sounds more earthy. I wonder once I venture to buy a har p in the future, if drop tuning would work or be appropriate to do ( integrity to the structure of the instrument)
wow, what a great thing to provide the side by side comparison of so many harps. they all offered surprises. the Respighi is so beautiful and gives dignity to even the tiniest harp! Thank you very much!
I love the way you describe how Respighi "dignifies" the simplest instrument 😊 I absolutely love it too, it is one of the first pieces I wanted to learn on harp ❤️
isn't it wonderful how certain pieces of music can mean so much, right from the first moment? Borodin's Nocturne, that's another one, instantly so moving!
Fantastic review - thank you!
As a lyre player, it always amazes me how aggressively harp players pluck the strings
Hahaha I can imagine! I recently took lyre lessons and trying to softly glide on the strings is quite an adjustment :)
Hi!! Thank you, very very much, for this awesome video! I'm a (mostly retired) professional harpist in the US. I LOVED hearing all these harps compared, and I'm DEEPLY IMPRESSED with your skills! You play beautifully, and you write BEAUTIFUL music! I was STUNNED that you made that tiny harp sound good and played real music on it! BRAVA!!!!
I am very impressed by how you play the 8 strings harp haha, I had the prejudice that even pulling out a 2 handed melody out of it would be near impossible!
This is a nice little comparison of harps. I just wanted to point out the newer "#7 Rosewood harps"/pakistan harps have adjustable sharping levers. All you need is a screwdriver.
As some others mentioned I like that you respect all harps, even the smallest ones, pointing out how you can use them even for something as simple as keeping finger strength while on vacation
love youre unbiased approach to harps
You really know your harps! I loved the detailed reviews and explanations
I have new speakers on my computer . The sound from the more expensive harps really makes my head ring ! I'm not expressing my self well . What I was trying to say how wonderful they sound ! To me it's always interesting to hear an expert talk about their subject . Your explanations are so clear and thorough . Thank you for posting !
Learned so much during this video! You have a very genuine personality as well
What a great video. 2 years ago this video helped me pick my very first in life ever Music Instrument, a Lyre harp! Im still a complete beginner to reading music but ive played like 200 hours just finger strumming and its been such a great addition to my life so thank you for this video. I wish I knew what the next steps were, "Learning" music is kind of hard, i think i will just save up some money and get lessons or music classes it seems like its better than trying to learn how to play and read music as a complete beginner from UA-cam. Do you have any recommendations or starting books??
Once again thanks for the video! I hope to get a big real Harp one day. Must be so fun to play that!
Thank you so much for a truly very good review of harps & comparison.
I feel as if I have just made a new friend. Thank you for taking the time to make this candid comparison of harps. I hope it will be very helpful to anyone nervously trying to decide what to buy.
Just recently got a 16 string lyre harp, and I have to admit, I'm pretty happy with my purchase. I don't know how much, if any, skills will transfer to traditional harps, but it's certainly the most strings and probably the best sounding instrument for the price ($89)
Will certainly be referring back to this once I have some proficiency with this instrument (I am able to play "Song of Storms" at least)
link?
@@Abrilaveryluce www.amazon.com/AKLOT-Strings-Mahogany-Tuning-Wrench/dp/B07VPV6HPQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=lyre&qid=1626332207&sr=8-4
Very interesting, thank you. I only wonder why you haven't tuned the instruments before recording...
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Lovely video and so good of you to put this together. But am I the only one who gasped at the sight of the tuning key balanced on the neck of the harp at 1:15? I think my heart skipped a beat!
You are just amazing!! Everything about you is so calming, so relaxing, i really enjoy it, thanks.
Oh, this is so nice to hear! Very kind of you, thank you 🙏
Thanks for sharing all those insights to the diffrent Harps in your collection.🎶😉🎶
Thanks so much, very comprehensive overview for someone looking into this instrument for the first time
Love the Camac. Such a pure tone.
Thank you for such a great job comparing and contrasting the instruments. That gives some of us an opportunity to get to know a bit about that beautiful ancient instrument. Thank you for your time. We're looking forward to more videos 📹 . Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with us.
Ginette Lubin
❤ Thank you so much for this lovely and informative presentation! Brava!
well the big dady really does worth the money. Thank you very much for the video, I ll check this lyre for sure! :)
cdave2006 thanks! You can find the lyre I'm showing in the video at www.thomann.de/gb/aeolis_klangspiele_mandala_harp.htm
Thank you for such a huge help!
Gorgeous!!! Thank you.
2:22 I was tabbed out when I heard her loudly drag the piano bench across the floor and I thought she accidentally knocked over the whole row of harps!! LMAO!! I totally cringed XD
I’ve always wanted to play the harp
I hope your dream comes true soon ❣
I've been in your shoes: loved the harp, always wanted to play it. Start with a lap harp like the first few she showed. They're pretty easy to learn and fun!
Nice comparison! Thank you for posting this!!
Thanks Melissa, glad you found this useful ❤️
And my husband called me crazy the other day because I told him that I need a travel harp. He‘s like “you’ve got one already, so why get another?!”. Better not mention that the list of “want to buy” harps is pretty long 😂🙊
In the past few years I have been lucky enough to see and hear three examples of the Camac harp, all three of them manufactured to the specifications of renowned Irish harp player and composer Janet Harbison. Here among Nova Scotia's Gaelic community, fiddle and Highland pipes are the most common type of instrument one would encounter, so it was a pleasant surprise to come across three identical models of the Camac.
If you're having fun on a harp, keep going. I feel like that matters more than it being "proper" to other players. Do what you love :) And I love the accessibility of these different designs and types. Thank you! Edit: Haha, it's fun you said the same thing right after I typed this! I agree. I'm not a harpist, but I feel like love and spirit and joy is more important than technique for technique's sake.
You absolutely nailed it! 👍 thanks!
I agree! I stared very late in life and know I'll never be a virtuosa but I love playing my harp and surprisingly, others love hearing my poor attempts. Improving slowly, but improving none the less, I feel encouraged so will play on.
Your voice is so lovely and pleasant.... I could listen to you talk all day! Very knowledgeable and beautiful playing too!
I kept watching, I was learning as you played but I play piano. Very similar. I liked the sound of the carbon fiber one best..Thankyou for this time spent.
Thank you so much for watching! Indeed there are lots of similarities between harp and piano technique, hand coordination is definitely similar. Glad you like the sound of the carbonfiber harp, it’s a great instrument indeed!
I have the 22 string Rosewood harp. I bought it secondhand for £80 about 12 years ago. The levers are terrible. Some work, some don't. I hadn't played it for a long time after badly breaking my wrist (left permanently weak) and the death of my husband. I decided to try to play it again last night but noticed it's starting to crack in a line with the strings - tension probably. It did tune up well (tuned it against the piano) and despite this cracking, does keep tune well. The harp I would really like is a Dusty Strings Ravenna 34. I tried it some years ago and loved its sound and resonance. The current price is £2200 - unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, out of my price range. It is top of my wish list though.
Did you get that Dusty Strings Ravenna 34?
@@cwli1 Yes, I did - last year. A slightly damaged one came up for sale from a reputable harp shop within driving distance from where I live. It had got water damaged during the first lockdown - had been rented to a school. The soundboard is slightly warped but it doesn't affect the sound of the harp and it stays in tune. The harp is only 3 years old now. Absolutely love it. Wonderful harp to play. I paid £1200 for it so was very happy. The price of them now is £3000 so I'm glad I got my one when I did.
Thank you so much for this review. I really value these kind of reviews, especially ones that cover the whole spectrum!
I actually own one that I believe may be the exact same as #7, and have the same problems with the levers, but I never knew the tension wasn't great for proper technique! I'm very glad to know now.
Thank you so much for your comment, I’m so glad you found this helpful! Indeed if you get used to playing on low string tension, it may become a problem when you move to a regular tension harp as your technique won’t be adapted for it. But that’s not to say you cannot play beautifully with the technique and the harp you currently have. If that’s your main instrument and you enjoy it, you shouldn’t feel bad about it! It’s probably like riding a tricycle vs a bicycle... you can have loads of fun with both, but technically it’s hard to transition from the former to the latter! :)
Every inclusion of your broad info presentation served greatly in answering the many specific questions I had stored. The "show and tell" method employed was well received, especially coming from a professional harpist. And . . . thanks for the concert. T'was such a pleasure! Hope to soon let you know which type of harp I finally purchased. . . Be blessed as you continue in the expansion of your art.
Thank you so much for your kind words Ramona - this is so nice to read! I wish you the best in your music journey, hope you find the harp of your dreams soon! To guide you further in your choice you might be interested in my latest harp reviews, I am attaching the links here for your convenience: ua-cam.com/video/MO_R1BPHEWo/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/9acyRH-vvc8/v-deo.html. All the best, Marianne
thank you for taking time to make this video. I love your musical instruments. That ebony piano in the background is totally awesome. That little harp reminds in sound of the instrument The Japanese Geisha play. interesting how harps and similar instruments exist in different countries and how much people love the sound they make. I hope someday to be able to buy a nice leaver harp. That would be beautiful.
Thank you Donna for your lovely comment! Glad you liked this video. My musical instruments are like my babies and they bring me so much joy, I love them all! I hope your dream of a harp will come true soon. Harps are truly magical instruments, they have transformed my life and my relationship to music after years of playing the piano. The way they resonate is very unique and soothing. I will try to make another video soon about harps from all around the world, I also have harps from Asia and from Eastern Europe and they are fascinating in their similarities and differences. All the best to you!
My 19-stringer looks similar to the 22-string harp on here. I've had to keep it in storage due to circumstances beyond my control, but boy do I miss it!
I love all stringed instruments. This one has been a mystery to me, you have really answered a lot of my questions. Excellent job! And now I also have that tune stuck in my head. :)
Thanks a lot Adam, so nice to read you found this review helpful ❤️ and isn’t it a lovely tube indeed :) all the best, Marianne
Très intéressant et instructif. Merci beaucoup !
Salutations depuis la Suisse.
Un immense merci Patrick! Salutations musicales de Belgique!
I am looking into Harps and this was an amazing video. Finally some clarity on their sound. I would love to get a harp but I have listened to a lot of small ones that have such a sharp and not mellow sound. When I bought my best ukulele I chose it for it's mellow and echoy sound. It was a 120 euro hand made Duke of Uke. So I wondered why can't I find a harp on a budget that sounds magical? This video was very helpful! I assume a harp is a much more elaborate instrument to build. Therefore the price difference, but now at least I know which sound I like. Definitely a Derwent or Camao... once I can afford it. Thanks for the great video!
Thanks a lot for your lovely comment Angelina and so nice to hear this video was useful! More recently I published another review focusing on mid-size starter harps which may also help you with your search (ua-cam.com/video/M09seMKjkuU/v-deo.html) - some mid size instruments (ranging from 26 to 28 strings) really do sound magical! Good luck with your harp adventures ❤️
Wao. I am a cello player, but watching your video on the harp I think I may also try Harp as well. I learned the Rochan lament cello song from your video. So, Thank you!
Very nice to hear the difference
I loved hearing the side by side. Thank you.
Thanks so much Elissa Artist
Good video Marianne. Love your playing. Along with the harps your familiar with in the UK I would have you to take a look at the Harpsicle Harp company from here in the lower 48 (USA). They make a very basic instrument that is very popular among newbey's that can only afford around $600 to $1000. Highest price for their Fullsicle that features all the levers in adverse to a few or none. Very plain rectangular sounding board but a quality instrument ,many think ,for an affordable price. Of course you are way out of their league but may find it musing to add to your collection.
Did you change the strings on your lyre? They sounded like nylon strings and not the pretty sound given with metal strings.
No, they’re the original metal strings
Thanks for your video I just realized that there are so many types of the harp. In my country, not many people know about it. I only see they sell the harp same your number 3, but it has 8,16, or 19 strings. Through your video, I like it more, and hope can save enough money to buy 1. I can open my mind about the sound, and learn English too. Thank you. And please forgive if I use the wrong words.
The sound level is very low, I can barley hear you.. but thanks for the video.. I always wanted to learn the
harp.. I am nearing my 40's but I guess it's never too late to learn.. I always want to take singing
lessons too :) the tiny baby harps are very cute!
Thank you for your comment and sorry for the sound level, not sure what went wrong here. It is never too late to learn indeed! Music is very intuitive and it is the very first language we all learnt to speak! Singing and/or harp are great for adult beginners as you can make wonderful music quickly. And I am partial to the beautiful shape of any harp big or small :) thanks again!
I have the good fortune to own a one in a million Heartland custom 36 string with levers. It is made from Hawaii Koa wood, which is no longer legal to use, and it is the only harp they ever used gold on the levers for due to the salt air there. It somehow ended up in an antique shop in California with some condition issues. A man who was considering buying it called Pam to ask if the price asked was a fair price for one of their harps. They so loved the harp that they bought it and fixed it up again. I heard it against their new top of the line harps and it put those high quality harps to shame. I am so blessed to have “David’s harp”, but now I have cancer and I may not make it. I payed 4,000$, but I would consider selling for less to the right special person. Do you have any advice on how to find that special person? I’m not going to just run an ad and sell to just anyone with the cash. I want it to be someone who really appreciates the unique quality and sound of the Heartland custom harp.
I am so terribly sorry about your illness 🙏 thank you for sharing this, there are very active groups on Facebook with passionate US-based harpists who may be able to help, I would definitely recommend to check out the Celtic Harp group and the Learning the Harp group. Sending you my best wishes for recovery 🙏
Thank you for your video. This is really helpful. I have two questions. 1. Is it possible to play Jazz music with celtic harp? Jazz music has many kinds of tensions... 2. Can you recommand for me some harp which has 34 or 36 harp? How about selvi’s?
Thanks! It is not impossible to play Jazz music on a Celtic harp, but you will definitely prefer a Celtic harp WITH levers for that (to give you more flexibility with accidentals), and you need to realize that the jazz repertoire for Celtic harp will be more limited than the jazz repertoire for pedal harp. If you look for a 34 or 36 string harp, Salvi is definitely a reputable brand (like Camac or Lyon & Healy), but as for any harp, you need to try it first and hear for yourself if you like its sound - every instrument is different, even within the same brand! It may also be a good idea to ask a harpist friend to come along and play it for you so you can judge. Good luck!
Celticize Me And Jazz Me Up by Marianne Thank you for your detailed mention.. It’s very helpful for me. I got it!
I'm ecstatic to be getting my first harp. I haven't seen it and don't know much about it since my husband found and arranged the sale but it is like an "official" student harp. I've been impatiently waiting all week for it but listening to the various instruments you have has helped see where I might go.
But I did want to give you a tip I learned watching another video about harp playing because you were having issues with the lyre. And I agree that you ought not mess with the instrument too much because it could be an expensive mistake BUT you can use a bit of polish on the strings themselves if you ever need or want to change ot back, you just need a new pack of strings rather than having to mess with the rest of the instrument. But I actually really liked the fullness of sound the lyre gave. And the melody is so cute. I look forward to at least trying to copy it.
Thank you for sharing your instruments and skills!
Thanks for your nice comment and congratulations on your new harp! There is something magic about this instrument... Wishing you lots of happiness and beautiful music discoveries with it ❤️
33:00 Heartland Harp. Now we’re up into the price range of my bass guitars. 😬 Worth every dollar tho.
Thank you so much that was enlightening. I bought a kora a few years ago and love it - that is my only “harp” playing experience. I’d love to know if you’ve played one and any thoughts you might have.
Thank you so much for your kind words! Kora sounds lovely indeed, such a beautiful instrument, I did try it but i’m definitely not an expert! personally I find it less intuitive to play than the diatonic Western harps, just because of the layout of the strings - on a Western harp it is easy to visualise the scale on the instrument in the same way you see the scale on a piano keyboard, so it’s really straightforward to find your way through the strings when you’re used to playing following western scales. But I believe the Kora’s string layout is most intuitive to play African tunes and accompany singing.
Thank you, this is a very well done video and helpful when wanting to know more about the harp and which one we might have a preference for since it’s such a significant investment. I enjoy your gentle nature also 💐
Listening Bird thank you so much for your very kind words, and I am so glad you found this helpful! ❤️ warm musical greetings
Do you have a link where you got your lyre and which make or price?
What is the name of the tune you are playing on all of the harps?
Do you know about Dusty Strings' Universal Tuning Wrench which can adjust to ANY size tuning pin? I have one, and it's amazing to use on all my different harps! It can't be used on zither pins, however, such as on Harpsicles.
@@organist1982 thanks for the tip - very helpful!
Thank you very much, I'm just looking to buy myself A harp .❤
My question is, is it possible to order from the websites mentioned in this video to Slovakia?
@KaylaKayla-py1rg hello Kayla! You’d have to double-check the most recent shipping information on each harpmaker website, but large retailers typically ship internationally so I don’t think Slovakia would be a problem. The only exception might be UK-based retailers (like e.g. Derwent) for which Brexit has made the export process more complicated. Also this video was made a few years back already and meanwhile some manufacturers have completely updated their line up (e.g. Camac has stopped producing their wonderful 27 string Bardic, which they replaced with the new Odyssey). If you are looking for a good value starter harp I can also recommend a recent model that was released by Dublin-based Muzikkon a couple of years after I made this video (see video here : ua-cam.com/video/4pgfL_tjbwY/v-deo.htmlsi=Gfy-w4w-8ODwYPSW), very compact affordable harp with a beautiful sound - and they definitely ship to Slovakia. Good luck with your search!❤️
I'm actually pleasantly surprised with Heartland Infinity, it was better than I expected.
I confirm the Infinity is a technical prowess with a lovely resonance that doesn’t sound like “plastic” at all. Amazing design and great quality of execution by Heartland, whom I find incredibly competent and reliable. Thanks for watching!
And another thought for your lyre metal strings...use mechinist layout fluid (red or blue). It will not last forever of course but fairly long; I use it on my clarseachs.
very valuable sharing real, personal experiance.
hi, thanks for this, I have two 22 string harps and one sounds so much weaker than my other one.... btw, what scale are you playing your lovely song in?
Very beautiful sound! You play very well.
Thank you so much ❤️
Hello! Do you have advice for someone coming from pedal harp, for playing a 19 strings harp without levers? I would like to get one of these for travelling, like you said in your video (thank you for the inspiration by the way 🙈), but I am afraid to not enjoy playing as much? Most music that I saw for those little harps looks very slow (beginner-type), and I like faster things? What do you like to play on it? Thank you in advance ❤❤
Hi Anne-Katherine! If I were you I would seriously consider the Muzikkon Ceilidh 19 (ua-cam.com/video/4pgfL_tjbwY/v-deo.htmlsi=1uH-MYqDymsgLjwf) - very affordable, great sound and punches above its weight! The fact it is fully levered allows you to play a surprisingly broad repertoire (from celtic to classical or iazz), I am writing a music book especially for this harp which I should be releasing soon!
@@mariannebouvettemusic thank you so much for this advice!!
wonderful video, and just what I was looking for in a comparison. I'm curious what make / model the 12 string Lyre is?
Thank you Allison! The lyre is this one: www.thomannmusic.com/aeolis_klangspiele_mandala_harp.htm
i am full in LOVE
I order now my first HARP for MY new Live see You
Congratulations on your first harp :) enjoy!
That is a wonderful idea Marianne - to show a wide variety, One thought for you: you can make (or buy) a universal key; the only peg it might not fit would be a largest pedal peg. Here's all it is: a 1/4-0 tap wrench fitted with a handle. Take a look at those sold by Dusty Strings if for an picture (or if you just want to buy one).
Thanks so much Biagio for the tip, this is awesome!
my daughter started to take lessons (and i decided to learn myself), we have a mid east rosewood harp :-D it's a first harp i bought and i was so happy when it arrived, now after half a year i know we deffinitely need something else.. we're quite lucky because our levers are good and tuning is OK, but the lowest strings are so loose that i almost can't use them.. but still I love it and don't want to give it away :-D
Thank you very much ! Very interesting ! I can easily choose my harp now 😃🌈
Very nice! During these demonstrations, are you playing the treble clef notes with your right hand, and the bass clef notes with your left hand, or are you playing the chords in the treble clef with your left hand? Since I only read music in the treble clef when I play the piano, for example, I play the melody with my right hand and the chords with my left all in the treble clef. 😊 🎼 ♫
Christopher Tsiliacos thanks! On large harps the set up is very similar to piano - typically the left hand will play bass clef notes, but 1 there can be exceptions with pieces written in the higher register (especially on small harps with higher note range) and 2 you can get away with playing left hand chords without reading bass clef like you are doing on the piano. But not reading the bass clef will limit your repertoire - you may want to practice with tools such as notationtraining.com/bass-clef-practice. It’s not that difficult you will see! Good luck!
@@mariannebouvettemusic Thanks! I don't play the harp yet. But when I do decide to do so, I plan to start with the 12-string harp. BTW: I have to hand it to piano players who know both clefs. They not only have to read two clefs, but they have to read them at the same time. This would be true for harp players, too. 😊
Nice sharing!
Hi, Its such a beautiful instrumen! Can you give me some reccommendation online shop to buy a lever harp? Because its so hard to search this amazing instrument!
Hi Mirzani Herfina, it’s a beautiful instrument indeed and it’s hard not to fall in love with it! Not sure where you live but in Europe, thomann.de has a good range of Salvi and Lyon & Healy harps (very reputable). The Early Music Store in the UK also has an excellent selection including Camac harps (my personal favorite). Both stores have fantastic customer service and ship internationally. Good luck with your search!
All unique and beautiful instruments. And you are very talented and beautiful
So nice of you - thank you ❤️ I just love what I do :))))
Celticize Me And Jazz Me Up by Marianne De rien!! That’s the key - love what you do - it shows! And you will excel!!
Loved the video so much! I want to start playing the harp or lyre and I loved the 12 string lyre you played here. Can you please tell me where I can get the same model as yours? Thank you
Thanks so much Kalilair! Here is where I bought the lyre: m.thomann.de/gb/aeolis_klangspiele_mandala_harp.htm. Good luck with your future music discoveries ❤️
i really like the model of lyre you showed do you know where i can find it? i love the sound
Hey, I got it here:m.thomann.de/be/aeolis_klangspiele_mandala_harp.htm
Please can you review the Rainbow harp for dyslexics?
I’ve never heard about it, sounds really intriguing, will check it out!
The video sound is not loud enough to hear whatever adjustments i make...
Picked up (a month ago) a water damaged 7 string Lyre/case at a pawn shop and have bleached out the rust and water stains, refinished, rebuilt (replaced pegs, rusted strings) and it plays wonderfully (for the simple thing it is) and looks like new again. Its one more for the music room. Your video was very entertaining and easy to hear. Perhaps I will find another lost harp like instrument to play with/work on... passed on a Autoharp due to price that was falling apart (chord bars falling off) at a flee market. Very nice collection you have... i would be worried about all the bright light on the wood finish if you keep the blinds open all the time. Awesome video!
Thank you for your lovely comment Brian and congratulations on giving your little lyre a second life, it must be so satisfying! Good luck with your instrument treasure hunt, I hope you will rescue many abandoned strings longing for a new loving owner :) PS you are right, I try to avoid direct sunlight on my instruments and I do keep the shutters closed most of the time!
Have you tried the Rees Harpsicle Harps? I’m a beginner and am considering possibly getting one…
I am planning to publish a Harpsicle review in the coming weeks! Keep you posted ❤️
If you're looking for a great portable lyre you should check out _Marini Made Harps_ . Their lyres are slightly larger, but sounds exactly like a normal harp, is color coded and can even come with levers.
Thanks for the fantastic tip, I will check it out!
I actually love the sound form #7 the most, its so soothing, but you dont recommend learning from that harp, right? Do you think it would be good for learning the very basics and practicing?
Hi Justin! I do love its sound too. The standard recommendation you will hear from 95% of harp teachers is “stay away from this, it’s not a real harp, it’s nothing like the real deal” but I have a different opinion. I really think it all depends on your long term goals and budget possibilities. If your goal is to play a standard high-tension harp eventually or if you’re planning to enrol a music academy, then this is not the best starter instrument - save up for or rent a high tension model. But if it’s the only instrument you can afford and that’s the only way you’ll ever get started with harp, why not? You can still play very enjoyable music with it. You just need to be aware of all the restrictions I mention in the video (heavy weight, non functional levers...). But if you’re ok with that I think it’s fine to get an instrument the sound of which you love and which you will want to play. I often go back to this harp and am always delighted by its soothing sound, it is very pleasant to play (see this video:ua-cam.com/video/XrdrexYgfVY/v-deo.html). It’s also lovely for singing (ua-cam.com/video/FKW36me56JU/v-deo.html)
Thanks for the info! Ive always been attracted to playing the Harp and I think I might finally just take the plunge!@@mariannebouvettemusic
Have you tried a cross-strung harp for Jazz? I started on one about a half year ago, and it’s absolutely perfect for the genre.
Hi there, imI am researching how to build a harp. I was wondering if any of your harps are 2 pieces or 1 piece. As in does the string tension hold the neck onto the body?
Just asking is it good to use lever harp if you want to bring it for travel? I like the carbon fibre one.
Thank you!it is so helpful!
Which brand do you recommend for the lyre?
Hi, the lyre I am showing in the video is a 12 string Äolis Mandala (you can find it at thomann.de), it has a wonderfully clear and soothing sound. It is great for improvising in pentatonic scale and is perfectly suited for therapy.
I don't play, but I really learned a lot from you.. The Clio sounds wonderful, I wonder if a 30,000$ harp sounds even better ?.. Naomi SV (YT), plays a Harpsicle (Rees Harps, USA, Indiana),, is this electronic ?.. How does it compare ?
Gary Tanger so nice of you, thank you! I love the Clio too, it’s so compact, so convenient and so much more affordable than a larger concert harp. Compared to a 30K harp you will miss the sound projection/volume/intensity, plus you are missing 3 bass strings which can be limiting for advanced professional repertoire. But if you accept those trade offs it’s an absolutely wonderful instrument which does have what I call the “signature Camac sound” - a very unique voice that is typical of Camac harps. Personally I prefer the sound of this Clio over the sound of some more expensive Salvi I’ve tried but that’s just a matter of taste really! I never got a chance to try a Harpsicle ( they are more common in North America I think) and only heard recordings, but their “voice” didn’t “speak to my soul”, I found the sound a bit thin... I’m sure their quality is very reliable and with amplification (especially for the electric they have) they must sound fine though. Like all instruments it’s all a matter of personal taste!
Very hard to record the sound of a harp.
I had difficulties even with my Zoom H4n
Great video but the sound is very soft and hard to hear even on full volume Can you fix the volume for us, so we can hear the great comparison?
Sorry about this! I think I’m due for an update of this video, not only with better audio but also because there’s new harps I’d love to present! Will try and shoot as soon as I can!
Thank you - I would love to see it. Strangely enough, when I watched the video on my iPhone - it sounds much clearer - soft but very clear. Many blessings to you and yours
Ah, la voilà donc la famille Harpe de Marianne. Maman comblée par tous ces beaux enfants 🤗 👏 . Bravo et merci pour cette présentation si complète des différents type de Harpe et de leur utilisation pour tel ou tel type de musique. Un guide interactif qui ne peut que satisfaire les futurs acquéreurs selon leur niveau, leur style et leur propre sensibilité.
Une présentation à faire tourner en boucle même pour moi qui suis très nul en Anglais !! J'ai en rêve de me mettre un jour à la Harpe et selon mon budget, me tournerais certainement vers un modèle 27 cordes.
Encore merci pour cette belle et très pédagogique présentation.
Amitiés musicales
Phil
Très belle collaboration Daniel, bravo à vous deux.
Amistad
Phil
Bonjour Daniel,
j'en profite également pour vous faire passer les liens vers cette vidéo collaborative avec Marianne:
ua-cam.com/video/I3GRtKWfepU/v-deo.html
et
ua-cam.com/video/x8nE7nvWdfU/v-deo.html
Musicalement
Phil
Hi, where did you buy the Lyre from and what brand is it? please. It looks and sounds good.
Here is where I bought the lyre: m.thomann.de/gb/aeolis_klangspiele_mandala_harp.htm. Good luck with your future music discoveries ❤️
Hello, thanks for your video; may I ask you what strings can you recommend for the lyre?
Thanks Damiano! I would personally stick to steel strings rather than nylon strings as I love the clear sound they give - my Mandala lyre strings have been lasting forever and I never had to change them, if I ever needed to I would stick to the same ones (Romana brand):m.thomann.de/be/aeolis_klangspiele_mandala_set_of_strings_pt.htm
@@mariannebouvettemusic thank you for your kindness
Take care
Would a package of 12 strings for the harp work on the lily harp since it only has 8? I could cut them down or something or only use some of them or will this not work?
Hi Melissa Marie! I suspects 12 string package would include strings from F above Middle C to High C. So for your 8 string harp you would simply pick the 8 smallest/highest strings from Middle C to High C, and simply leave out the 4 longest/lowest strings (which you can always keep to replace higher strings in the future by simply cutting them to the right size!). I don’t think there will be a difference in string thickness for those packs so it’s really just a matter of fitting the right length and making sure you use red for Cs and blue for Fs. That’s pretty much it! Good luck with your baby harp :)
Where did you get the 50$ one
I found it on amazon.de. It comes in and out of stock so you have to look out for it! There is a similar one available at the earlymusicshop.com but slightly more expensive
Hello, I need help on finding an affordable harp! I’m 13 and I would love to get a bigger harp for my birthday. I would like strings at least 22-32 string harp under $900 if you could help. I know that’s a hard request.
controversy Unfortunately Camac has discontinued their Bardic line which were very affordable small harps (22-27 strings) made by a reputable company. Other options might be Dusty strings and Triplett, they both have relatively affordable harps in stock (Ravenna 26 or Christina comes to mind). However, every good harp has its price, so you basically get what you paid for. A cheap harp will always sound cheap and might be made from exotic woods, whereas reputable companies use woods from sustainable sources. A local harp manufacturer might also be a good option. They are usually highly experienced but can craft a harp to your liking and you wouldn’t have to pay for shipping or import tax depending on where you live.
Another great option are second hand harps. Some people must sell their harp because their moving house or children who used to start on a lever harp move on to a concert harp. However, in this case, I’d recommend that you never buy blindly from eBay or another source. Always inspect the instrument yourself and, if possible, ask a harp teacher, harpist or a person who is familiar with the instrument to come with you. Some scratches and cuffs don’t affect the harp itself but others might need to be repaired which can become expensive.
That said, I always wanted to play the harp but my parents made me play the piano for many years, so I bought my first harp when I was in my 20s and had my first full-time job after uni. I’m glad that I’ve waited for so long since I was able to afford a good quality harp (Camac Celtic Isolde). I know it’s though to wait for a long time, but saving money and buying the best harp you can afford is worth the wait and you will be rewarded with countless hours of joy (as soon as your fingers stop hurting and blistering xD)
What type of lyre is that in #3? I'm looking at getting a lyre. Thank you for your time.
m.thomannmusic.com/aeolis_klangspiele_mandala_harp.htm