CARLENA DIAMOND FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Carlena Diamond in "Harpist Supreme" (1929) directed by Murray Roth. 35mm, 6 minutes.

Between 1926 and 1930 Warner Brothers produced over a thousand small films featuring actors, opera singers, comedians, musicians and vaudeville stars using their new! state of the art! Vitaphone system.

The 10 minute featurettes were intended to show the virtues of Vitaphone which synchronized sound and moving pictures through a 16” record that was played along with the projector. Pre-dating “The Jazz Singer”, these Vitaphone gems pretty much disappeared from public view.

ASTAIRE & KELLY: HARPIN' IT UP AT THE GATE

Ziegfeld Follies (MGM) is a 1945 Hollywood musical comedy film directed by Lemuel Ayers, Roy Del Ruth, Robert Lewis, Vincente Minnelli, Merrill Pye, George Sidney and Charles Waters. It had a cast that could stretch from your wrist to your shoulder.

LYON & HEALY ANNOUNCES THIS YEAR'S AWARDS WINNERS

2011 Lyon & Healy Awards
University of North Texas College of Music
June 18 - 19, 2011

Alexandra Katelyn Mullins (Matthews, North Carolina)
Samuel Karlinski (Atkinson, New Hampshire)
Elizabeth Anne White (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Sarah Nicole Davis (San Diego, California)

2011 SPRING FLING: TRIBUTE CONCERT AND FINZI AWARDS

WHAT: Spring Fling/Tribute Concert
WHERE: Glendale First United Methodist Church
WHEN: Sunday, May 22, 2011. 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
HOW MUCH: Donations kindly accepted!

Each spring the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Harp Society hosts what is called, their 'Spring Fling', an event which acts as a fundraiser for the chapter and for the Valeria Finzi Scholarship Fund.  It always includes food, a relaxed setting for harpists to mingle and performances by the recent harpists awarded that year’s Valeria Finzi Memorial Scholarship.

This year's Spring Fling is especially important in that it is dedicated to the memory of Dorothy Remsen, a wonderful lady and outstanding musician of the harp world, who passed away in October, 2010. The event will be held at the Glendale First United Methodist Church, whose Christmas Eve services Dorothy graced with her harp playing for fifty years.

Performances at this year's Spring Fling include those awarded the 2011 Valeria Finzi Memorial Scholarships (see below) as well as performance by harpist Allison Allport and flutist Amy Tatum,  harpist Maria Casale and renowned organist Ladd Thomas.

THE LYON & HEALY CHICAGO SERIES: LOVES L.A.!

HILA is happy to announce that we now have ALL 4 CHICAGO MODELS at our LA. studio. 
We invite you to come play, see and hear what they are all about! *

The Chicago models are a great series of instruments for someone moving from lever to pedal, a serious adult student or as a second light gig instrument for the experienced harpist. 

LET'S COMPARE: CHICAGO VS 85.
In comparing models the Chicago Concertino and 85 Concertino are similar in size, as well as the size of the Chicago CG-EX and the 85-CG model. Beyond that their construction, looks and sound are considerably different. 

The Chicago 40 model has nothing similar to compare it to however this small 3/4 size pedal harp is a class act, possessing a responsive, powerful and full bodied tone. 

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Both series are built with high quality sitka spruce soundboards and  fine hard maple bodies. The soundboard tempering period with the Chicago series may be less compared to the 85 series and other high end instruments. The Chicago's structure, high wood quality and the action are the same as in the higher end instruments. The production procedure is where differences lay.

SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME: THE SUMMER HARP EXPERIENCE

The summer harp experience bolsters and encourages creativity. At the end of it all, you've met incredible people, done amazing things and worked harder than you ever would on your own. You're hyper and exhausted and can't wait to do it all again.

L.A is lucky to have four such harp programs taking place this year - all being offered by four talented and enthusiastic local harpists. To find out more about the summer harp experience and these four very special programs - read on! 

March 10, 2011 -

Hey Megan!

Welcome back to dah Etats-Unis! Total culture warp, yeah? France is great, but sometimes it’s nice to be back home...

Susie Allen, Marcia Dickstein, Mary Dropkin and Allison Allport all have summer harp programs going on this year, and I thought our harp community would like to learn more about them, particularly since many take place in California!

So I shot them all an email, asking for a bit more information.

What I discovered is that there is more to the summer harp experience than can be expressed by reading a brochure or a web page; it sounds as if the instructors receive as much from the summer harp experience as its participants.

So Megan, the reason I am writing is to ask about your camp harp experience.

You're back home to teach at a harp program.  Why do you come every year, especially all the way from France?

What makes the summer harp experience different than say, going to weekly lessons or a university program?

BEANNACHTAI NA FÉILE PÁRAIC ORAIBH!

Mary O’Hara, an influential singer and musician from County Sligo in Ireland, inspired a revival of harp playing that was nearly lost by the 1950's. Her beautiful lilting soprano voice and natural, graceful beauty were sought after by thousands of fans on both sides of the Atlantic.  What a delight to hear this lovely lady again. Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

HARPO AND DALI: A SURREAL FRIENDSHIP

Creative pairings between like-minded thinkers is vital, in particular for artists, writers and musicians. The three co-exist splendidly. Surrounded by others that process the world in a similar manner as you is supportive as well as inspirational. No matter how bizarre the pairing may be to onlookers, creative pairings can be a blast.

Artist Salvador Dali, a man truly smitten with the movies, was a huge fan of the Marx Brothers, particularly of Harpo Marx, whom he described once as "the most surrealist figure in Hollywood". As it turned out, Harpo was equally impressed with Dali, his art and immense amount of energy.  

The two first met in Paris at a party, in 1936 and not long after this fateful rendezvous, Dalí sent Harpo a Christmas gift: a harp with barbed wire for strings and spoons for tuning pins, wrapped in cellophane. Harpo was delighted with his present and sent Dali a photo of himself sitting at the harp with bandaged fingers. 

Harpo, soon after, extended an invitation for Dali to visit him in California. In early 1937, Dali arrived in Los Angeles along with paints, pencils and brushes and proceeded to portray Harpo, the harpist, at work.  

The Los Angeles Examiner Newspaper was there to capture the event...

THE 2011 AHS-LA MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM

As part of the American Harp Society's 2-part Music Education Program, the American Harp Society, L.A. Chapter offers local harp students the opportunity to play for others, listen to others play and receive invaluable advice from a knowledgable and respected harpist advisor.

In 1968, then president of the American Harp Society, Catherine Gotthoffer proposed that some sort of music education program be established. The Auditions and Evaluations Program was the result. Lucien Thomson became the program's first Chairman of the Music Education Committee and continued this seat through 2000.

Thomson believed in the benefits of such a program, committing many hours to the preparation of nearly 3000 certificates for its participants during his tenure and performing as a guest advisor to numerous AHS chapters across the country. In Recommendations for Successful Auditions, Thomson wrote “Always bear in mind that it is the average and less gifted student whom we hope to help and inspire.  Given sincere encouragement and inspiration, they may surprise us, and in any case they will comprise the knowledgeable audiences of the future."

THE ADAPTABLE OGDEN LEVER HARP

Touted as an ideal harp for both lever harpers and beginners, the Lyon & Healy Ogden is a practical instrument for very young harpists and for many teachers. 

The Ogden has quickly become popular throughout the U.S. with school harp programs and Suzuki instructors. Its narrow sound box allows smallish students to play with ease. The harp has 34 strings going down 2 octaves below middle C. 

The Ogden is a well-designed, good sounding instrument. Its design and construction lets the harp grow along with a young harpist's needs. The optional sets of 4" and 8" legs can adjust the Ogden for three varying heights. The instrument is offered strung with pedal tension gut or for a lighter touch, can be strung in pedal nylon. 

For teachers, the Ogden is a worthwhile investment as an additional studio harp, and for those looking to offer students a dependable rental instrument*. 

The Ogden lever harp is part of Lyon & Healy's Bounty programs. The Ogden Package* can be financed through Allegro's financing program.


THE OGDEN SPECS:

34 Strings: 1st octave A to 6th octave C
Height: 53" (135 cm)
Soundboard Width: 14" (36 cm)
Extreme Width: 28" (71 cm)
Weight: 28 lbs (13 kg)
Finishes: natural, mahogany, walnut and ebony.

* HILA's Ogden rentals comes with a tuning key and lightweight carrying case. Optional leg sets are not included.

TECH TALK: NYLON OR GUT STRINGS: WHICH IS BETTER FOR YOUR HARP?

We are pleased to welcome harp technician and guest author Steve Moss of The Harp Herald who will present a series of informative articles to our blog about harp care.  You may read more about Steve on our Tech Info Page.

What better way to begin the New Year than with a discussion about strings! In today's article, Steve explains the differences between nylon and gut and what may be best for you and your harp.

When you purchased your new pedal harp, chances are it was strung with gut strings from the second through the fifth octave. When the time came to replace some strings, you might have noticed an option to buy nylon strings, which cost only a fraction of what gut strings cost. So, should you spend the big bucks for gut strings, or will nylon strings work just as well? The answer is, “it depends.”

THE 8 AT GRAND PRIX: MAURICE JARR'S CINEMATIC SCORE

Maurice Jarre  began work on the classic 1966 film score Grand Prix soon after completion of 

his most famous cinematic score, Dr. Zhivago (1965).  

MGM's Grand Prix is the story about Formula 1 racing and the experiences, on and off the track, of a group of racers during a Grand Prix season.

The film was one of ten highest grossing films in 1966. The score, played in 6-track stereo, provided a melodic and sensitive depiction for each of the film's characters, in true Jarre style. And with 8 harps to boot.