Harp Fest Day 3

The final day began with a health and fitness session with Danielle Perrett where we worked out our aching muscles becoming aware and concentrating on muscles particularly affected by harp playing. I won't say I enjoyed it as it made me painfully aware of how tense I had become but it was very interesting and we did feel a little more relaxed afterwards.


During the break Robyn tried out one of the Pilgrim pedal harps that was on display and I bought yet more music. I then chatted to Nicholas a little further about his research into the tuning of harp strings. He had his laptop with him and showed me how plucking strings in different places and in different ways affects the overtones produced which changes the tone quality. Many players realise this and instinctively play in the way that produces the best, or required sound but it was fascinating seeing the proof as the different overtones were displayed on the computer screen. He did say there is software readily available that can be downloaded so I might look into this further purely for my own amusement.

Robyn tries out Pilgrim's latest pedal harp

Nancy then led us in an ensemble session playing two of her folk arrangements. Now that we all really knew each other we were all a lot more relaxed and after Nancy had explained the features to look out for in Butterfly we had a clear aim of what the music required. Once we had mastered the notes and fingerings of course! After some rehearsing we got through the whole piece pretty well so Nancy set us a much faster tempo and we had another go. This time the music really flowed and it felt a lot better, and almost easier, at the quicker tempo. Next up was The Aran Boat Song, an Irish/Scottish traditional tune. Nancy explained how the opening was to sound like the water glistening and my part had high spread chords to represent the shimmer in the water. The tune had to be imagined as a journey across the water with the boat rocking. It had just started raining outside and we were all glued to Nancy as she continued with her depiction. Nancy is a fabulous story teller and as her bright eyes told us about the island the boat was headed to a clap of thunder sounded. It was beautifully timed and gave us further inspiration. The piece was well arranged with interesting parts for all players and manageable I think for all with a short practise.

Nancy Hurrell leading an ensemble workshop

During lunch I learnt that the final concert would be introduced by Sioned Williams. This was exciting for me as I had been hoping to meet her since starting the harp. We had passed brief messages through our mutual friend Caroline but I had not spoken to her directly. Sioned is the president of the UK Harp Association who had organised the final concert of the Clarsach Society's Festival. The first half featured two student harpists, Cecilia Sultana de Maria and Rosanna Rolton both at the Royal College of Music and between them they presented a fantastic programme of recital repertoire to a very high standard. Both have had many competition successes and have performed orchestrally and as soloists. Highlights were a Grandjany Rhapsodie from Cecilia, two movements from Tournier's Sonatine from Rosanna then they both teamed up to give a duo arrangement of Schubert's Ave Maria. In the second half harpist Frances Kelly was joined by other members of the London Harp Trio and they played a varied programme for flute, viola and harp finishing with the Debussy Sonata. Again it was a super performance and a lovely way to finish the weekend. I managed to catch a few words with Sioned and she remembered my name and the Grade-1-a-thon and she was really sweet.

Sioned Williams introduces the London Harp Trio

A fantastic weekend which has given me many ideas, influences and introduced me to a new world of players. The tutors were excellent and many thanks to Anne from the Clarsach Society (London & South East branch), Danielle for organising the weekend and Sue, Nancy and Robin for being a fabulous mixture of erudition, encouragement and friendly critique not to mention demonstrating some wonderful musicianship.