-
MusicMakers Sonnet Lap Harp
So, on Aug 3rd, I ordered a little Triplett Zephyr. I was told yesterday that it’s “still in the line” and that “it would be months.” I cancelled my order today. Be aware – because I wasn’t – that harp companies will charge you a cancellation fee. I was shocked because “it would be months” means to me that they haven’t started working on it yet. So, anyway, I agreed to pay the “bank fees” that were deducted from my credit card payment, and I will have the rest refunded.
In its place, I just ordered a MusicMakers Sonnet Lap Harp. I have seen so many videos of it being played, by Stephanie Claussen (associated with MusicMakers) and by Tracie Lin. I think the sound is just beautiful. I wanted a lap harp, and that’s what this is. It’s portable, and it has 29 strings (C-C).
Here is a video of Tracie Lin playing hers. Hers is made of maple (mine will be cherry wood), and hers is strung A-A (mine will be C-C). Hers is purple, mine will look like normal wood. Oh, and I will get it in 6-8 weeks. https://youtu.be/Zeb9FJM4YZs
-
5 Replies
-
And Stephanie Claussen. https://youtu.be/SsMvyIaIb58
-
Hi Eileen, Thank you so much for sharing! I’m close to ordering one myself. I am elderly, and learned on a pedal harp, but need to find something smaller/lighter now. One question I had was if there is a book or guide to altering pieces that require more strings? Hope you receive your new harp soon, and wishing you many blessings with it!
-
I thought I would have it by now, but they had a problem getting Camac levers and so many of their orders got delayed. This harp is unusual in that it is a 29-string lap harp. Most lap harps are smaller with fewer strings.
I think that four octaves from C to C will cover a lot of music. However, it won’t cover everything as many pieces are written for 34 strings. The first thing I would say if you have music that goes down below C3 (the C on the bass clef) is to look at how high it goes. Most music doesn’t span more than four octaves, and so even if it is low, it can usually be played an octave higher and still fit on the harp.
If the music does span more that four octaves, then you have to know something about arranging music so that you can make the harmony fit. There is a workshop on this website addressing this issue. If you look at the workshops, you should find one that is about arranging for small harps, or just on arranging. Something like that. This harp, the Sonnet, a 29-string harp, is not considered a small harp, but rather a mid-sized harp. Still, learning to arrange music, or make music fit on your harp, is a very good skill to learn.
Beyond the workshop on this website, there are courses out there on how to arrange for harps given by such teachers as Heather Downie, Samantha Ballard, and Deborah Henson Conant. Maybe even others. Samantha Ballard’s course has registration this weekend. Deborah’s course can be taken at any time, I believe (not sure). And Heather’s class just finished and she will probably run another one next fall.
Good luck with it all. It is an exciting journey learning new skills.
-
Thank you so much, Eileen!
-
-
Log in to reply.