Of Daydreams and Harps, part 2 Guest post by Bratsche

 

Soon after I brought the rental harp home, I had a lesson with Jane and got some basic pointers, as well as some music recommendations. I must be slightly crazy (or maybe just a musician), since I was very happy when my book of scales and exercises showed up. Yay, it’s scales and chord progressions and finger patterns! I did also get two music books (Bach and Celtic tunes). Playing the harp turned out to be every bit as much fun as I hoped it would be. It is a little bit like playing a vertical piano in terms of setting fingers in a block for chords and reading the music (bass and treble clef), so my year of piano study from college came in handy. Also, much like a piano, you immediately get a nice sound.* Jane’s comment is that playing a harp is instant gratification, much like chocolate. I think that is a pretty good description!

Part way through the first month of renting, I called Dusty Strings to ask some questions about harps in general and their harps in particular. I will always count myself blessed that during that conversation the person I was talking to asked me if I knew about their Memorial Day sale. I was, of course, all ears! Every Memorial Day weekend, Dusty Strings has a sale on their harps (and other instruments) as part of the Seattle Folk Life Festival. You must come to the store to take advantage of it – no phone or web orders. I got off the phone and told my husband that I knew where we would be on that weekend!

The sale started on Friday, but we drove up on Thursday so I could return the rental harp and check on a few other things before the sale. One of the things I did was play a little bit on one of the smaller Ravennas (26 string) to verify that I did indeed really, really want the bigger one (34 strings). Okay, “play” is too strong a word. I plucked the lowest notes on the 26 and instantly confirmed that I wouldn’t be satisfied unless I had the even lower notes of the 34. I had already decided to go for full levers based on Jane’s advice that I will eventually want the flexibility to play more music in more keys as I get better at playing.

Another advantage of going up on Thursday was that we were able to check out the harps ahead of time and plan which one I would hope to get. All of the harps were 15% off, and there were also some seconds that were 20% off. I was happy to find that the 34 string Ravenna second with the lowest price was one that I would be quite happy to take home.

Several of the staff at Dusty Strings had mentioned that in years past there was sometimes a line before the store opened, so I was determined to be there well in advance. We spent Thursday night at a relative’s house and with her enthusiastic help were out the door on Friday morning even earlier than intended. I was, therefore, not surprised to find nobody else there when we showed up an hour and a quarter before the store opened! My husband and daughters explored the area some while I held down the sidewalk in front of the store and greeted many of the Dusty Strings staff as they arrived to get ready for the first day of the sale. My presence was greeted enthusiastically – “Yay, we have a line!” was my favorite of the comments. There eventually was an actual line. Other people started showing up about twenty minutes before the store opened.

I made a bee-line for “my” harp as soon as they opened the doors.

Right side

The base/stool on which the harp is standing was made for me by my talented and generous father-in-law.  Dustry Strings sells something just like it; but Dad was willing to make me one, which was great because it saved me additional expense and I was able to ask for the exact height of legs that suited me best.

Rear view (the 3 holes are what let the sound out and also make great hand-holds for carrying)

It is a second because the finish on the pillar and neck of the harp has darker streaks in it. I can understand why someone who was expecting a “smoother” looking finish might have been disappointed to receive this harp; however, I’ve always liked more interesting grain in wood, so it is fine with me. It also has an insect “scar” on the pillar, which immediately pulls everyone’s eyes and then fingers. My husband and I both ran our fingers over it when we first saw the harp, because it looks like there ought to be a dent in the wood. It is completely smooth, though; and when my woodworker father-in-law saw it, he said it was a spot where the tree had healed itself after an insect had tunneled through.

Insect scar

We loaded my new harp** in the car and headed home.

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* This is very much enhanced when the instrument is actually in tune, though! I know someone whose piano goes so long between tunings that some keys now play two notes when you strike one key. Ewwwww!

** MY new harp, all MINE…oh, right, I promised to share with my family…I suppose I can do that.