string range
rolliana scheckler (rscheckler@edgewood.edu)
Sun, 12 Jan 1997 19:23:45 -0600
I've had three harps so far. The first had 19 strings with the lowest
being A below middle C. I loved that little harp and took my first lessons
on it. Great for medieval dinners and playing outdoors in our tree house
or at the beach. But after about 6 months, I found myself bored and wanting
more range both for musical expression and for hand training work. My next
harp had 33 strings, lowest being D, almost two octaves below middle C.
How I loved that first experience with low notes--hadn't realized I missed
them so much until I heard them resonating loud and true. But, lo!, there
was no low C and most of my music is tuned in C, D or G. 13 years later, I
finally got my newest harp which has 36 strings, with the lowest being low
C. How wonderful that low C sounds to me now! Harp lust--maybe. But I do
know that I'll never want anything larger--it wouldn't fit in my car. Even
my newest harp is straining my ability to carry it.
For my students just starting out I now recommend having that C one octave
below middle C as a minimum--it just makes accompanying melodies so much
more satisfying. As for the tiny, iddy-biddy, eensy-weensy high strings--I
almost never play them--can't get my huge hands in there very comfortably
and they just sound anemically tinkley anyway--so I save them only for
special effects. I'd much rather have my bass notes.
So, for beginners on a budget, a small harp, be it 19, 22, 25 or 26
strings, works well if it includes that octave below middle C. For those
with more $ and/or commitment, I think 34 string harps beginning with low C
are ideal--providing plenty of musical possibility,totally satisfying and
readily transportable. If you play as inventively and can compose/arrange
as well as our friend, Tasche, then the 26 string can be completely
satisfying, too.
Rolliana Scheckler