I play both Concert
Grand Pedal Harp (the larger of the two
pictured above) and the Celtic Lever Harp (the smaller of the two). Either type of harp can
be amplified for large events, or venues with difficult acoustics. The
Concert Grand Pedal Harp is best suited to formal indoor events,
whereas the Celtic harp is my standard outdoor and Celtic/traditional
music instrument.
The Concert Grand Pedal Harp stands just over six feet tall. Mine is a Lyon and Healy
Style 100CG. It has 47 strings and weighs about 90 pounds. It is strung
in wire, gut, and nylon, giving it avery grand, formal, regal sound and
tone. Serious classical music often requires this type of harp to
facilitate frequent key changes and “musical accidentals”;
pedal harps are primarily indoor harps, however, and don’t fit
easily into all locations and settings.
The Celtic Lever Harp is
a spectacular instrument in a somewhat smaller package. It stands just
over four and a half feet tall and weighs about 45 pounds, but has only
11 fewer strings than the Concert Grand (and you’d never miss
them). This is the traditional instrument of Celtic music, but it is
versatile enough to handle just about any genre. The nylon and wire
strings on this harp, coupled with its resonant bubinga wood, give the
harp a rich bright, friendly tone that is universally appealing. While
it is not always suited to complex classical music, it is an ideal harp
for outdoor events and handles most wedding music with ease.
I will be delighted to help you choose which harp
is best suited to your special occasion based on repertoire and
setting.
