ISBN 9781619114319. First Lessons Folk Harp is designed for the beginner harp student who has no prior music training. In this book they will learn to read music notation, count rhythm, implement important fingering techniques, organize practice, tune a harp, play common bass patterns and make a decision about which kind of harp to play. Tips are included to help students get the most out of practicing. The songs serve as examples of harp basics, allowing the student to learn while playingvibrant melodies instead of repetitive or trite exercises. This book features traditional Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Canadian, American and Renaissance music. These songs will transport and delight audiences with their simplicity and profound clarity. They invite us to ancient landscapes steeped in mystery, and to experience the traditions of harping throughout the ages.This book presents two new note reading methods based on logical, predictable music patterns that employ cutting edge techniques. They were developed to move studentsbeyond reading notes as single isolated symbols. The rhythm table compares thedifferent note values and rests to each other and visually shows how they are related through counting out rhythm increments. Helpful photos define how important hand positions are on the harp. These are an immense resource for students, allowing them to avoid tension in their hands and prevent injury. Accompanying online audio allows them to play along as they learn.

The Children's Album is dedicated to Tchaikovsky's favorite nephew, Vladimir Davydov. On 12/24 December 1878, Tchaikovsky wrote to Lev Davydov: "Tell Bobik that the music has been printed with pictures, that the music was composed by Uncle Petya, and that on it is written Dedicated to Volodya Davydov. The silly little fellow will not understand what dedicated means... Even so, Bobik is an inimitably delightful figure when he's playing, and he might look at the notes, and think that a whole symphony is dedicated to him?.

In a letter of 30 April/12 May 1878 to Nadezhda von Meck, the composer wrote: "A while ago I thought that it would not be a bad idea to make a small contribution to the stock of children's musical literature, which is very modest. I want to create a series of little individual pieces just for children, and with an attractive title, like Schumann`s.

Some months before this letter was written, while staying in Florence on 14/26 February, Tchaikovsky told Pyotr Jurgenson that he wanted "to write a number of easy pieces, like Kinderst�ck?. Evidently, the idea of creating a collection of pieces for young people had not been abandoned by the composer, and after his return to Kamenka in April he decided to begin composition. In the aforementioned letter to Nadezhda von Meck, he informed her: "Tomorrow I shall start working on my collection of miniatures for children".

On 1/13 May the composer wrote to Anatoly Tchaikovsky: "I'm working well and have done rather a lot". On 4/16 May the sketches for all 24 pieces were ready. Shortly afterwards, Tchaikovsky accepted an invitation from Nadezhda von Meck to stay at her Brailov estate until the end of May/beginning of June, before spending a few days in Moscow; from there he went to spend five days with his friend Nikolay Kondratyev at Nizy, and in mid/late June he called at Kiev, before returning to Verbovka. In the days following his arrival, he began to put the finishing touches to all the pieces written in April and May. The fair copy of the Children's Album was begun, it seems, on 13/25 July.

By 20 July/1 August the copying out was completed, and on 21 July/2 August the composer told Nadezhda von Meck that he was working on the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.

On 29 July/10 August the manuscript of the Children's Album, along with a number of other compositions, was sent to Pyotr Jurgenson in Moscow. In October, after the proofs had been corrected, the album was published.



P.S.- Other than a modest suggestion for an interpretation, this arrangements remain absolute faithful to the original composition.

The first version is in the original key of g minor, the second is transposed to ?a minor?, the third one is intended for a little lap harp and transposed to d minor. It sounds better in the original key of g minor. I used a lot the d minor version and performed it with my little harp very often, always experiencing a very deep musical feedback.

A little nuance was added to the arrangements, thus obliged by its minimal use on the original manuscripts.

I included the original long and expressive leggato bows and left out the staccatos for the left hand between the bars 17 and 20. I felt somehow awkward when applying this technic on the harp myself.

May be the staccatos suites you best, and you should try it.

The score was written on Finale.

The sound file was produced with samplers from Garritan,

intended as an audio support for the presentation of the score.

A reproduction of Tchaikovsky`s original manuscript is added to the file as a reference to the original sources of this composition, it is an extra bonus intentionally didactic and obviously not included in the price of the arrangement itself.

Thank you very much for taking your time to read this text and to listen to the file.

I hope you enjoy the music.

This excellent book by Beth Kolle will add some interesting "northern land" tunes to your repertoire! This 117-page book contains music from Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Norway, Cape Breton, France, Manx, and Finland, 25 tunes in all. Each piece has an introductory page of background information. The following tunes have flute parts in addition to the harp part: Carrickfurgus, Innisheer, Brae Lochiel, Schottis 1, and The Shepherd's Daughter. The following tunes have a Harp 2 duo part: Innisheer, Reinlendar 1, and Mazurka Michel. Chords are included and measure numbers are marked at the beginning of each system.
Table of Contents:
The Bold Princess Royal, Carrickfergus, Fair-Haired Child, Inis Siar, Kitty Magennis, Morgan Meaghan, The Raven, Brae Lochiel, Harris Air, JB Reel, Long-Dance, Polska, Schottis I, Slangpolska, Huldrevals, Reinlander I, Sirivisa, Brenda Stubbert's Reel, John McColl's Favorite, Lily's Waltz, Reinlandar II, Mazurka Michel, The Shepherd's Daughter, Ti-ti-ti.

This volume combines Louise Trotter's "Three Favorite Hymns" and "Four Hymns Plain and Fancy". Each arrangement is two to three pages in length with easy-to-read notation. Some fingerings are included. The use of harmonics, glissandos and arpeggios to make these arrangements interesting and "harpy".
Table of Contents: Amazing Grace, In the Garden, Jesus Loves Me, Be Thou My Vision, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Softly and Tenderly, and Fairest Lord Jesus

A compilation of ideas, suggestions, and helpful hints from experienced harp teachers. Contributors to this book included Stephanie Curcio, Sue Richards, Kim Robertson, Ellen Tepper, Derek Bell, Liz Cifani, Wendy Kerner Lucas, Louise Trotter, and many more. It was compiled at the Professional Harpers Gathering on the East Coast in the early 1990's. Sixteen chapters, well over 100 pages, and a complete index.This is an excellent resource for any teacher of harp.

Table of Contents:
The First Lesson, Group Lessons, Tuning, Relaxation, Theory, Practicing, Sightreading, Memorization, Musicality, Choosing Repertoire, Playing by Ear, Improvising, Sessions, Accompanying and Arranging, Orchestral Playing, Becoming a Confident Performer, Stage Deportment.

Twenty arrangements of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh folk songs and tunes for lever harp, with and without vocals. Eighteen of the arrangements are playable with slight or no modifications on small harps of 23 or more strings with an F to G range and levers on B, F, and C. Introductions are included in songs written for vocals. History of the tunes is found in the front of the book.
Table of Contents:
Down By the Salley Gardens, Gartan Mother's Lullaby, Southwind, Gentle Maiden, Separation of Soul and Body, Samradh Samradh, I Wish I had the Shepherd's Lamb, The Two William Davises, Jock O'Hazeldean, Scotland the Brave, Baloo Baleerie, Weaving Lilt, Ye Banks and Braes, Bells of Aberdovey, Queen's Marsh, and Suo G�n.

A lever harp arrangement of Merry Go Round of Life by Joe Hisaishi from Howl?s Moving Castle. It can be tricky to play on the harp but it?s definitely very beautiful! For this arrangement, I tried to preserve as many harmonies as possible. In the video, the tempo played at is around 70bpm (slower than the original) to give enough time for the many lever changes. But the tempo can of course be adjusted according to skill level.

Suitable for advanced intermediate level players on lever harps tuned in Eb major. Sheet music has lever change markings indicated. A guide to the harp octaves has been included in the PDF.

Key: G minor
Lever/Pedal changes: Multiple
Range: C6 ? F1

**Note: There are minor revisions to the score from 14 April 2021 based on feedback (thank you!).

If you purchased it before that, the revisions made are as follows:
1) Measure 4 (RH) ? Eb down to D at the minim
2) Measure 14 ? Enat6 lever can be set from the beginning of the piece
3) Measure 79 (RH) ? A down to G
4) Measure 82 (LH) - Eb down to D
5) Measure 96 (LH) ? Eb down to C
6) Measure 97 (LH) ? Eb down to A

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