Steen harps and Anamchara
ArdenMare@aol.com
Fri, 10 Jan 1997 20:04:53 -0500 (EST)
Saw the post about Steen harps-they are wonderful! My teacher, Janet Biely,
owns an incredibly beautiful Birdseye Maple Minstrel 40 (my harp lust is
showing, drool drool) which she uses professionally. She let me play it
during one of my lessons and I was mesmerized by the feel of it. The sound is
incredible, the lightest touch on the strings produces a mellow but powerful
sound that goes right through you. If you want to become one with your harp
and you have the money (about $3000), IMHO this is the one to have.
However, I am extremely happy with my newly named harp Anamchara (Gaelic for
friend of the soul). It was built by a wonderful gentleman ( a retired
woodworker) who builds harps in his home for the sheer joy of it. I found
his workmanship to have a very personal and caring touch, as professional if
not better than most harpmakers I had seen out there. And the icing on the
cake- his price was about a third of what the Steen would have run me!
Anamchara is a beautiful 29 string cherrywood floor harp with an incredible
sound for its size. I just haven't figured out if it's male or female (I
suspect it's male). But as lousy as my beginner's playing is, I always feel
it's patience and warmth. For my birthday, I came home and found waiting next
to it a 22 string cherry lap harp! My fiance had ordered it from the same
gentleman when he saw my despair at not being able to fit Anamchara in the
car with all the luggage for the trip home at Thanksgiving. I am very
grateful to these two men, to Jack, for his understanding of harpbuilding
and his magical touch with wood, but especially to Marc for understanding
what the harp means to me.
Happy harping all!
P.S. does anyone know the Gaelic word for Golden Rose? (possibly the small
harp's name)