h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A626186

Continuing my entries on musical instruments, here's one about Harps.

Wonderful, another perfect entry.

You'll just need to wait a week before anyone can recommend it.

I agree it is a fine entry, but not yet perfect.
In the Arpeggio-part there is a typo: intead should be instead.

There are also smaller versions of the double action pedal harp, with a D as lowest and/or a F as highest note.

In the celtic harp nylon strings are also used.

In 'Playing' you can add, that the players pull the harp towards themselves, until it rest almost in equilibrium against their shoulder.

Handel in fact did write for the harp. There is at least the Harpconcert in B-flat Opus 4 nr 6.
Beethoven wrote a harp-solo called 'Sonate Facile'.
There are many concertos with a few bars of harpmusic, but most of the time the harpists just sit and wait.

Some practical info, it is quite a job to get a large pedal-harp to and from a concerto, as most cars are too short for a 1.90 metres long unwieldy but precious instrument. Also I hate carrying it downstairs and upstairs through two corners (my daughter plays both the large and celtic harp).

But well done, it fits indeed nicely with your other musical instruments.

Hiya!

Yet again, another example of the brilliance of your work on musical instruments and music!

I take my hat off to you sir

Into the edited guide with it!

Stay ,
WD

Thanks Marijn for your comments. I have made a few slight changes based on them. I haven't put in the bits about how to transport a harp, although I was aware of them.

Gnomon,
I had not expected to see the transport problems in the entry, it just a nice comment in a conversation.

For your changes, the player must have the harp rest on his/her shoulder to keep it still, and keep the strings at a constant distance.

About Handels harp-concert, as far as I know it was written specifically for harp, but I am not an expert on Handel.

So its waiting for a scout now.

Marijn,

Is it just the Celtic harp that rests on the player's shoulder or does this apply to the concert harp too?

Handel wrote six harpsichord concertos. On one copy of the sixth one he wrote Concerto for Harp. This is why I wrote that it may be for harp.

Thanks again.

Gnomon,
both have to rest on the shoulder.
Think about the problems when you play with two hands while the harp is balancing a few centimetres from your shoulder. It will either come to your shoulder, or move away to an upright position on all its 'feet'.

Thanks. I've changed the entry to mention the harp resting on the player's shoulder.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review' to 'Harps'.

This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review Forum because your entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

You can find out what will happen to your entry here: http://www.h2g2.com/SubEditors-Process

Congratulations!

Thanks, whoever it was who recommended this.

Gnomon,
my congratulations!

Azara

Congrats!

WD