I enjoyed the letter, but now am wondering what non-harp musicians think
about harpists? I've noticed a few who seem to think it's either a
really easy instrument anyone can play, or hardly worthy of inclusion in
the orchestra. I hear things like "we had a harpist and she couldn't
keep time with the singers (oratorio society director) or "harpists
can't play with other musicians," or "why bother--you can't hear the
harp anyway." Of course I hear nice things, too, but just wondered if
there's sort of an "attitude" and if it's because for a long time the
concert harp was possibly considered a woman's plaything? The pros
don't even seem to know the Celtic/folk harp exists, and I even had a
string player ask if the pedals were for dynamics. Joyce