A revolution in the
world of harp-making has meant that now everyone can afford a quality
instrument
- there
are a score of factories making harps in the one city of Sialkot,
Pakistan: some people have spoken of quality problems with some
manufacturers, but the ones I have and show here are from Mid-East
Mfg. Co, and I judge them as being of excellent quality considering
the price, both technically and musically: for some things I actually
prefer the Pixie model in particular to my beloved companion of
30 years' standing, my hand-made Gildas Jaffrennou harp, the one
beside the hearth here
-
these harps are offered at prices from US $45 (summer 2009) from
web-sites such as Mid-East
Mfg Co, and World
Musical Instruments,
-
in Sweden www.folkharpa.se/
and Fredmans
Musik offer prices from 400,- SKr.
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- you can buy one
to explore your interest without having to invest a fortune
- they're suitable
for both adults and children
- you can use them
for music-making at home, playing alone, playing with others, folk music,
early music, accompanying singing, music as a therapeutic experience
This presentation has
been made by a harper who has a dream of a harp at every hearth, since
for many people the harp is more friendly - ergonomically, acoustically,
socially - than, for instance a recorder, violin or piano.
- These
web-movies play under QuickTime 7, which you can download
free here;
for those who can't download QuickTime (e.g. at work), there are
also lower-quality versions of many of the clips in YouTube's
'Flash' format
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- There
is a combined video- and computer-DVD version available
with a total of 165 minutes of video and sound
- You
can have just the music on an audio-CD, 66 minutes
-
Each disc costs just 10 euros/100 SEK/$15/£8 inc. postage
read
more |
- If
you'd like just the sounds of the music as mp3 files, you can
download or listen to these in your web-browser here
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