The Instrumentalists Thread

[Rían]

Well, you're busy - do what you can

I'm proud of myself - I just changed my very first string! My A-string popped -again- and before I had a teacher change it for me. When it popped out here, we drove 30 minutes to the nearest harp teacher and had her change it for me (plus give me a lesson). But I decided, enough is enough! I need to be a (wo)man and do this! (I never could tie that dratted harpists' knot right). And I did it!!!! The string immediately recognized my change in attitude and meekly went right into the knot, and I strung it and brought it up to pitch, and had a wonderful time playing for an hour.

Plus my inventive husband made me a nice music stand - I'll have to get a picture of it. It really helps to have a music stand, and I was just improvising one and it wasn't working well. So I had an idea about how I wanted it (didn't want to buy one - they're just kinda ugly) and he got out his wood and table saw and made it for me and it works great!!!!! I love it!! It really helps to have a stand.

So how is the Cardboard Harp of Gondor holding its tuning now? You must have tied mucho harpists' knots stringing that baby! or did they have little dealies on the end?

[Tessar]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

I'm proud of myself - I just changed my very first string!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

The string immediately recognized my change in attitude and meekly went right into the knot, and I strung it and brought it up to pitch, and had a wonderful time playing for an hour.

Plus my inventive husband made me a nice music stand - I'll have to get a picture of it.

I would -love- to see that! Photos are a must. I love my music stand... really can't get by without it.

So how is the Cardboard Harp of Gondor holding its tuning now? You must have tied mucho harpists' knots stringing that baby! or did they have little dealies on the end?

I did 22 knots, and actually had to redo a few of them later because I realized they were slipping. So more like 25? No dealies on the end of mine, although (as per the instructions) I did feed a little piece of the thicker gauge string through the knots of the thinner gauge string so that the knots wouldn't just pop through the holes!

The tuning is holding nicely! Still waiting to get it on the body (busy weekend with driving up to the concert with my sister, and then cleaning ALL of the things ) which my sister needs to finish painting. Hopefully this Friday or Saturday the Cardboard Harp of Gondor will be complete!

[Rían]

I don't know why they don't put little stopper dealies on the end of the string, like guitar strings. Maybe because you can usually get several strings out of one length. But probably mostly because it's just traditional.

Waiting to get it on the body? What does that mean?

[Tessar]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

I don't know why they don't put little stopper dealies on the end of the string, like guitar strings. Maybe because you can usually get several strings out of one length. But probably mostly because it's just traditional.

That would be my best guess, aside from the fact that it would probably increase the cost of manufacturing them.

Waiting to get it on the body? What does that mean?

The cardboard soundbox is not yet complete.

[Tessar]

Oh, forgot: Today I ordered her book of O'Carolan tunes and her theory/arranging book.

Rian, when I start arranging would you be willing to trade arrangements with me? I don't know if you take the time to notate yours (either with chord symbols/outlines) but I usually do, and if you do too we could have a lot of fun trading tunes.

[Midge]

On a violin note, I have a new aspiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fHT4kT0C_M

And apparently a LOT of violin players are pretty big nerds:
Gerudo Valley
Song of Storms

And then one guy just decided to do them all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Trgiz1sDek

[Tessar]

Ben Chan is one of my absolute faves.

[Rían]

Originally Posted by Tessar

The cardboard soundbox is not yet complete.

But how are you playing, then? Or did you stop playing for now?

Originally Posted by Tessar

Oh, forgot: Today I ordered her book of O'Carolan tunes and her theory/arranging book.

Let me know how you like the O'Carolan book - I don't have that one. I have the Teach Yourself to Play book, the Theory and Arranging book, the 50 Irish melodies book, the Hymns and Wedding Music book (inherited from my mom, but I just opened it up the other day and her arrangements are quite nice, and it's one of those books that have two arrangements - a basic one and a harder one) and the Harp of Brandiswhiere Suite (which I highly recommend for your next purchase).

Rian, when I start arranging would you be willing to trade arrangements with me? I don't know if you take the time to notate yours (either with chord symbols/outlines) but I usually do, and if you do too we could have a lot of fun trading tunes.

Sure, I'd love to, if I get the keyboard hookup to Garage Band going. It just takes too long to notate, because I don't use chords per se, so I want to put down every note, and it would be SO much faster if I could just play it into Garage Band. I have an arrangement of She Moved Thru the Fair that I'm rather proud of and I'd love to share with you if I can get this going.

How do you notate? And how would we share them - fax it? Do you have Garage Band? if so, maybe they have files that we could share that way - that'd be super neat!

[Midge]

Originally Posted by Midge

On a violin note, I have a new aspiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fHT4kT0C_M

And apparently a LOT of violin players are pretty big nerds:
Gerudo Valley
Song of Storms

And then one guy just decided to do them all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Trgiz1sDek

Oops! The Gerudo Valley one didn't work... Here we go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV5HCCqbb5w

[Tessar]

My sister is putting the finishing touches on the Cardboard Harp of Gondor as I type. O_o

I am totes gonna post pictures later tonight when she finishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tessar]

BEHOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!










Tomorrow I'mma glue the whole thing together.

[Rían]

awww, that is SO cool!!!!

Tell your sister good job!

I'll get up a picture of my music stand when I can find my photobucket password ... is there a better way to host pictures nowadays?

[Earniel]

<-- official seal of approval by Eärniel Artcritics Inc.

Now that's a very elegant design. Not just the tree, but the seven stars as well! Tell your sister she has fans on the internet.

[Varnafindë]

Very nice, Tessar!

[Tessar]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

<-- official seal of approval by Eärniel Artcritics Inc.

Now that's a very elegant design. Not just the tree, but the seven stars as well! Tell your sister she has fans on the internet.

Cardboards harps are, by nature, the epitome of elegance. For example, you would never catch two lady harps showing up at a party accidentally dressed the same way. Because cardboard harps are classy as hell.

[Earniel]

Right, just as nobody is every going to show up at a rehearsal with another Cardboard Harp of Gondor. It's just not done.

[Tessar]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Right, just as nobody is every going to show up at a rehearsal with another Cardboard Harp of Gondor. It's just not done.

You're started to understand the cardboard harp, and I can only complement you for how quickly you seem to be picking up the culture.... moving from the sheer ignorance of "what's a cardboard harp?" to understanding rehearsal etiquette is quite impressive.



I got my books!!!!!! I'm so excited!! I didn't get to see them till 11:30 last night, when I got home, but I played through Elainor Plunkett a few times (one of my absolute favorite tunes) and the arrangement is SO lovely.

I faltered through the advanced right-hand part of it a few times, but I need to take a closer look and get the inversions in my head before I can play it smoothly. No advanced left hand stuff yet.


I love Clannad, and I've always thought they had one of the loveliest versions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdZR85Rkm8M

It's so sweet and melancholy, and they play it with a lot of feeling.

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Tessar

You're started to understand the cardboard harp, and I can only complement you for how quickly you seem to be picking up the culture.... moving from the sheer ignorance of "what's a cardboard harp?" to understanding rehearsal etiquette is quite impressive.

Ringht. So it's probably not a good time to go askin' if that cardboard can take the pressure of them strings?

[Tessar]

Luckily the wooden frame takes all of the strain, but actually the wooden sounding board has warped and bowed "upwards." But I knew to expect that.

I finally got off my butt and got the harp done. I turned a 4 hour job into a month-long project. But I did it! It sounds lovely... the soundbox has added a LOT of volume. It's still very quiet, of course, but it's a lot louder with that soundbox.

Rian: some exciting news for me. My teacher was invited to play at an Irish Cultural Society event in December, and she asked me if I would like to tag along and play one or two pieces.

So of COURSE I said yes. Then I reminded her that I'm a singer so I'll be hopefully singing a piece or two with her accompanying me. What fun!

Then apparently the coordinator was charmed by the idea of her having a student seeking performance opportunities, and invited me to come do some 'background' music for about 15 minutes before their January meeting.

I'm so excited! I'm going to try to work up Elanor Plunkett and maybe Sheebeg and Sheemore for December, and then find a few more tunes to work up for January. 15 minutes... that's probably around five pieces, if I do repeats and don't play fast.

Also, today I finally figured out how to roll chords properly. I'm very proud of myself... I've been having to roll the chords -very- slowly this whole time... basically an arpeggio. But today I finally "got" it and I can do them!

[Tessar]

Oh my. This arrangement (Grainné Hambly) just about brought me to tears... so beautiful! And so sensitively played... just listen to those harmonies and dissonances.


http://youtu.be/BxPnsIRCECU