De Zingende Snaar Harpen

Filled with short exercises and excellent descriptions and drawings, this book assumes you are a beginner, but does not cover note-reading; it covers the basics of playing the double strung harp (2 parallel rows of strings.) Exercises explain the unique sounds this instrument can produce. Focuses on placing, echoing, rolled chords, crossing over and under, scales, wandering thumb, and more. 

Tunes are All Through the Night, Rose Rose, Reflecting Moon, For Ruth, Nonesuch, Chanter’s Tune, Einini, Mairi’s Wedding, Si Beag Si Mor. All of these tunes have variations using methods unique to the double strung harp. 127 pages.

The double-strung harp, consisting of two parallel rows of strings, has gained popularity over the past several years. Beth and Laurie have done an immeasurable service to the harp world in writing this book. They include information on double-strung harp history, harp techniques, doubling melodies, dividing melodies, overlapping chords, setting levers, repeated notes, left hand exercises, two-handed exercises, visual techniques, and practice arrangements. 

Tunes are: The Rooftops of Langley, Mazurka Michel, Scarborough Fair, Dinny Delaneys, Whelan's Jig, Are You Sleeping Maggie, Slides, La Noche Pasa, Refraction, Greyhound, The Reel of Mullinavat, Fantasy on Leyenda, Noel Nouvelet, Masters in this Hall, and Carol of the Bells. 

103 pgs. Spiral bound.

Three of Laurie’s favorite and most beloved tunes: La Tierra Roja is a four page solo with rolled chords and a Spanish flavor. Saguaro is a full 6 page solo, catchy melody with a Spanish flavor. Sedona Light is a 6-page solo with full chords, rhythms marked with accents, and meter changes. Saguaro is also presented as a fun duet for 2 harps. Harp 2 can be played on a single strung harp. Upper Intermediate to Advanced solos, nicely notated, and easy to read.

In addition to making use of the chromatic capabilities of the cross-strung harp, most of these arrangements are jazzed up versions of traditional tunes, re-harmonized for a fun change of pace. Included is a re-harmonized version of a Bach Gavotte, with the original version on the first page and the jazzy one on the second page. Bach purists are welcome to play just page one … Those who would enjoy a modernized "twist" on the piece can proceed to page two!  Labyrinth can be played as a harp solo as it is recorded it on The Hidden Pool, or as a harp accompaniment to voice as it is recorded on Persephone’s Art, or with a melody instrument.  

Pieces include: Amazing Grace, Down By the Salley Gardens, The First Noel, Gavotte I (from Bach Cello Suites) It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Labyrinth, Morrison's Jig, Oh Shenandoah, The Riddle Song, and What Wondrous Love.  28 pages.

This book for cross-strung harp includes four harp solos, three for harp and vocal, and two for harp and flute or any other melody instrument.  The vocal pieces can also be played with a melody instrument.  The styles range from Renaissance and Baroque, to modern jazzy original compositions.  There are fingering suggestions, but they are purposefully sparse, so that you won't become bogged down by them.  You can add fingerings using the suggested ones, and copying them to similar passages, or you can choose to put in alternate fingering of your own.  The last page is an excerpt from the upcoming book "Jazz on a Cross-Strung Harp" --- a how-to book for arranging and playing jazz on the cross-strung.  

Pieces include: Alman, Willow Song, Spagnoletta, Bach Prelude No. 9, Siciliano, Now & Then, Two-D Imagery, and Watch Your Blues Fade Away.  25 pages.