Chiff and Fipple Forums

I've been working on these tunes too. I try to articulate the notes mentioned by lightly tonguing the notes. Using something like "dee-doo" to make all of the notes speak. I don't know if this would be considered proper technique but it seems to work pretty well. All of the notes come out...

Ted wrote:BTW... the title is harper rather than harpist, sort of like piper rather than pipist.

I don't mind being called either, both are in use by traditional harp players. I would tend to refer to myself as a 'harper', however, as I associate the term 'harpist' with pedal harpists.

Hallo a Chlairseoir! Tha Gàidhlig aig duine neo dithis an seo. Thòisich mi-fhìn 'ga dh'ionnsachadh bho chionn 25 bliadhna, ged nach eil mi air a bhith 'ga cleachdadh gu tric ann an iomadh bliadhna. 'S ann an Ceap Breatainn a dh'ionnsaich mi i ach tha mi air a bhith ann an Albainn turas neo dhà cuid...

Siobhan's a good friend and mentor of mine, too. She's just lovely.. Great playing too, particularly if you're interested in baroque styles!

Well, I suggest they should have a look at these then: I believe you have missed a bit of, tongue in cheek, irony or whatever you may want to call it in my remark. I am not completely ignorant of Irish harping. I know Paul D. too, from tunes and children going to same school and all that sort of lo...

That's correct. Not meaning to be pedantic here, but Irish Gaelic would tend to be referred to as simply 'Irish' in Ireland (Gaeilge in the language itself); Gaelic more often than not actually refers to Scots Gaelic (Gàidhlig) - the equivalents of cláirseach and cláirseoir in Gaelic are clàrsach a...

I am simply gagging to try the harp. Trouble is, there now, is an instrument that is going to be a costly investment. I might have found someone within 45 mins who teaches though, which is a plus. And I'll maybe hire one for three months and see how it goes. Meantime, loved your playing, jeebus, yo...

Hi Claire and welcome. BTW. I wish to know play whistle as well as you :-). Cheers, kmarty! :) Also, thanks for that lovely compliment! All I can say is that my playing (which can certainly still be improved :P ) is the result of a lot of work and practising, but equally as much of listening to a l...

No worries, mate. :) I was saying I wasn't too fluent in Gaelic either and asking you where you'd learned yours, or if you were still studying Gaelic, just like myself. Julie Fowlis is a great singer. If you like her, I'd also recommend that you have a listen to Griogair Labhruidh. To me he is the m...

Here are my beauties.. Mostly harps!

If you're by any chance thinking of taking lessons with someone, my friend, Ann Heymann (from Minnesota), offers Skype lessons that are excellent value for money. Nobody in the world of the wire-strung harp has managed to pull of a style as exquisite and sophisticated as hers, at least in my humble ...

Chan eil mise fhìn ro fhileanta fhathast! Càit an do dh'ionnsaich thu do Ghàidhlig? No a bheil thu ga h-ionnsachadh fhathast, dìreach mar mi fhìn?

Bejaysus, haha, this makes me think of Claire Dunphy I reckon it is better than harpy, though

Hi,

Congratulations! Another wire harper out there now. What metal are the strings made of?

I play a copy of the Downhill harp with brass strings (Dennis Hampson's harp, probably better known as the harp that's on display at the Guinness store house in Dublin).

Thanks for the friendly everyone! :) @MTGuru: I suppose you can't help but be influenced by how people around you play ;). You are, by the way, completely right regarding the Maids! I've learnt the tune off a Comhaltas recording - just listened to it again, and indeed, they do play |dB G B A3|. Than...