HARP ILLUSTRATED: FLORENCE GRISWOLD WITH J PITT LEWIS & CO PEDAL HARP

 Alphonse Jongers (1872-1945)
The Harpist, 1903
Oil on canvas. Gift of the Lyme Art Association

During the first two decades of the 20th century, the village of Old Lyme, Connecticut, was the setting for one of the largest and most significant art colonies in America. Centered in the boardinghouse of Miss Florence Griswold, the colony attracted many leading artists -- Henry Ward Ranger, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf and others, who were in the vanguard of the Tonalist and Impressionist movements in America. Its identity as an artists’ colony held fast and grew in reputation. The constant behind this was the central figure of Florence Griswold (1850-1937), affectionately referred to as “Miss Florence”.

Click here to learn more about Miss Florence and the Old Lyme Art Colony.

Click here to learn about the painting of Miss Florence and her harp by Alphonse Jongers.

OLIVETTE MILLER AND WURLITZER GG STARKE AT CAFE SOCIETY

Harpist Olivette Miller at New York's Café Society, Downtown with (l-r) Cliff Jackson, Gene Sedric and Josh White circa March 1947.

Photographer William P. Gottlieb (1917-) for Down Beat Magazine.

Rights Info: Mr. Gottlieb has dedicated his works to the public domain, but rights of privacy and publicity may apply. Repository: (negative) Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Washington D.C. 20540 USA. 

Olivette Miller was the daughter of vaudevillian Flournoy Eakins Miller (1887-1971), and niece of producer Irvin Colloden Miller (1884-1975). She was married to dancer Freddy Gordon in the 1940s, divorced then married comedian Bert Gibson in the 1950s, and was called Olivette Miller Darby in the 1970s, but later went by Olivette Miller-Briggs, when she was married to tap dancer Bunny Briggs (b. 1922). It is sourced that Olivette passed away in Inglewood, CA. sometime in January, 2010.

Coalition of Harpists of African Descent

GUEST POST BY STEVE MOSS : BUYING USED

We are please to welcome again harp technician and guest author Steve Moss of The Harp Herald who presents a series of informative articles to our blog about harp care. In today's article, Steve gives an abridged version of buying used. Thank you, Steve!

You may have noticed that harps cost a lot of money. You check the prices of new pedal harps and then you pick your jaw up off the floor. At this point, you may ask yourself "I wonder if I can find a good used harp?"  

The answer, of course, is "maybe." It depends on luck, timing, the number of resources you consult with, and mostly, luck again. While there are definitely some good buys out there, you’ll need to do some detective work, get to know the market and educate yourself on what to look for when you look at an instrument to determine whether it's a gem or should be sent to the junk heap. 

In my perfect world, only experienced harpists would get into the used harp market. People who have been around harps for a while are more able to assess a given instrument’s sound and may also know better how to assess whether it has reached the point where major repairs are going to be necessary. 

In reality though, it is very often beginners who look to save some money and get into harp playing on an affordable instrument. This is a perfectly logical idea, but unfortunately I’ve seen a few occasions when beginners bought a harp because the price was right, only to find that it was in need of major structural repairs, which ended up adding thousands of dollars to the purchase price. 

DOROTHY ASHBY: SWEET!

HARP SIGHTING: ANN HEYMANN & HER TRINITY COLLEGE REPLICA

Ann Heymann, ancient harper extraordinaire, and her Trinity College replica harp made by David Kortier of Duluth, Minnesota. Its bass strings are 18k gold.

Ann and her husband Charlie have recently been awarded the prestigious Moore Fellowship at the National University of Ireland in Galway, and for one year, will explore the role of the Cláirseach in the performance of poetry in Early Ireland (in Ireland!). Congratulations you two!

This photo appeared in the Journal Of Music, July 31, 2012

Photo: Barnaby Brown & Simon Chadwick

2012 HARP CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK GETS THUMBS UP!

HILA would like to thank Paul Baker for this post, Julia Schorn, Josh Bicknell and Keri Armendariz for their images. Read Paul's post below:

The 40th National Conference of the American Harp Society was jam-packed, fun-filled and wonderful! New York was the perfect place to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the AHS, with two world premiers of commissioned works as well as New York premier performances, chamber music concerts, workshops, master classes, harp vendors and lots of spectacular harp playing.

"The AHS Conference was the best one yet - where else but in New York, New York, can you play the harp in the middle of a place like Times Square? The people passing by were fascinated and amazed!

The conference was packed with inspirational concerts, fantastic workshops, and great exhibits. I was also able to meet and connect with harpists from all over!"

~Julia Marie Schorn; harpist, San Diego, CA

SUMMERTIME HARPING: 2012 CAMPS & WORKSHOPS AROUND CA

The summer harp experience is like nothing else. It encourages creativity and bolsters self confidence, surrounded by those of like minds. At the end of it all, you've met amazing 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.


Below are three harp programs taking place this year in Southern California, all offered by three talented and enthusiastic local harpists. There's still time to sign up - read on!

HARP ILLUSTRATED: JULIETTE DE VILLENEUVE WITH SINGLE ACTION 'BLUE'

Potrait of Juliette de Villeneuve, niece of Julie et Désirée Clary (Julie, wife to Joseph Bonaparte), 1824.
Said to be the last painting by Jacques-Louis David before his death in 1825.
In the collection at The Louvre, Paris, France.

Site article about this beautiful portrait by the Friends of The Louvre

2012 ANNUAL SPRING FLING CONCERT

WHEN:
Sunday May 6th, 2012 at 3:00 pm 
with a light reception to follow.

WHERE:

First Baptist Church Pasadena
75 North Marengo Ave, Pasadena 91101

HOW MUCH:
Suggested donation of $15. AHS-LA members

and $20. for others kindly accepted!

Click here for more information.

HARP ILLUSTRATED: ROSE ADELAIDE DECREUX WITH SINGLE ACTION PEDAL

Self Portrait with a Harp, by Rose Adélaïde Ducreux, c. 1791.
In the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Single-Action Cousineau or Naderman?

Blog article by Costume Studies student, Katy Werlin
'The Chemise a la Reine' in two parts.

HARP SIGHTING: LEAH CECIL AND STYLE 100

Cal State Fullerton music major Leah Cecil prepares herself to compete for the title of Miss California 2012 this June in Fresno. Cecil currently holds the title of Miss Southern California.
Photographed by Heather Dickins

Article in The Daily Titan, March 6, 2012
"Armed With a Harp, a Smile"

PRICE UPDATE: APRIL 1, 2012

It's been over 3 years since Lyon & Healy adjusted harp prices. Due to increases in materials, labor and production costs, new harp prices will take effect April 1st, 2012.

Prices will increase 8 - 12% and affect both lever and pedal harp models. Additionally, the Style 85GP, Style 85SG and the Style 17 are no longer in production. 

If you have been considering a Lyon & Healy harp purchase, you might do so now, before prices go up.  If a harp model you wish is currently unavailable, a 10% deposit before April 1st, 2012 holds the next available harp at its existing price. 

We have received the new April 1st price list, so if you have any questions regarding the price of a new harp or anything at all, please ask!