Dusty Strings – Ravenna 34 lever harp (black)

Sheena Walker on 27 March 2024

34 strings, 4¾ octaves (C2-A6)

Black (Ash-grained) lacquered pillar, neck, soundbody and a light, natural soundboard birch

Soundboard:  Birch laminate

Back and sides: Birch laminate with vinyl veneer

Neck and pillar: Ash

Comfortable staveback design

full set of Loveland sharping levers

weight without stand = 21 lbs (9.5kg)

height without stand = 49” (124.5cm)

‘The distinctive Dusty Strings sound in a stylish, affordable 34 string harp.’

Extras:

  • Leather luggage tag (Dusty Strings brand)
  • Ravenna Stand 34 (5” tall) – fully detachable and comes apart for storage/carriage in case
  • Deluxe carry case = CD34 case (with detachable shoulder strap)
  • All original instructions and documents
  • T-handle tuning wrench (wooden handled)
  • Couple of spare strings (Dusty Strings brand)
  • The CD34 case makes this harp easy to take in the car or carry on the subway. It has thick foam padding and a water-resistant exterior, with a comfortable shoulder strap and numerous pockets for a stand, legs, music and other accessories.

Contact: Katherine Forsyth family.driscoll@btinternet.com

Collect from Glasgow or can deliver to EIHF 2024.

Price: £2,500 o.n.o (currently retails for £3,200)


Its innovative design and construction techniques allow Dusty Strings to incorporate more features than are usually found in harps in this price range. These features include a stave-back soundbox for greater playing comfort. Together with Dusty Strings’ characteristic bright treble and warm, strong bass sound; tuning stability; even string tension and spacing and meticulous craftsmanship, these unique features make the Ravenna 34 a great value harp.

1825 Erard Grecian Harp

Sheena Walker on 22 March 2024

Rosewood body.  Soundboard is C1992 ( I can’t remember the name of the  person who replaced the board, but he was well known for making instruments for Covent Garden Operas and he followed the Erard dimensions with precision) . With rear doors in good condition and pedal mechanism working.

Good pedal mechanism and all moving parts in very good condition. Very sweet and even sound.

Complete with padded dust cover and a 1930’s Wurlitzer flight box if wanted.

I can bring it to the International Harp Festival in Edinburgh. 

Price £7000

Location.: Near Edinburgh. Happy to deliver UK.

Telephone: 0175076370

email: andyhyndes2023@gmail.com

The Iain MacLeòid Young Composer Award 2023 – The Winner!

Sheena Walker on 15 January 2024

The Clarsach Society and the Edinburgh International Harp Festival are proud to announce that the 2023 winner of the Iain Macleòid Young Composer Award is Donnchadh Mac Aodha.

Harp player Donnchadh Mac Aodha is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from Dundalk Co.Louth, Ireland. 

Currently studying composition under the direction of John Godfrey as part of his BMus degree at University College Cork, Donnchadh is both a traditional Irish and classical musician and finds himself most at home with these genre allowing his bi-musical upbringing to influence his works. In particular, he is drawn to the Irish language and deals with ideas of belonging and identity in his music. 

Already a prize winning composer, having taken away honours from the New Ross Piano Festival and the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival Composition Competition, The Clarsach Society are thrilled to award him The Iain Macleòid Young Composer Award. 

We look forward to hearing the premiere of his award-winning composition Ambaist at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival in April. 

The judging panel were very impressed with the exceptionally high standard of entries and would like to congratulate all of the participants. 

Salvi Nicoletta 36 String Lever Harp

Sheena Walker on 30 September 2023

Comes with original Salvi dust cover

Tuning key

Removable legs

The neck is a particularly pretty feature of this harp

Beautiful condition

Based East England but delivery possible if fuel is covered.

£1,600

Contact: greenharplady@yahoo.com

Wire Branch Report 2022-23

Sheena Walker on 21 September 2023

As with the past year, most of our activities took place online, including monthly workshops and a multi-session course, as well as an in-person playing session.

We held eight monthly online workshops between September 2022 a June 2023, along with a playing session in Edinburgh in December 2022. We offered classes for both elementary and intermediate players, and we looked at quite a variety of historical and traditional tunes. These included a modern air, 17th-century coronation tunes, a Renaissance dance tune, a Medieval Danish song, and two ancient Gaelic airs.

Wire Branch members from across the world joined our fourth annual online courses in playing music from the Robert ap Huw manuscript, containing the oldest harp music from anywhere in Europe. The courses, split for elementary and intermediate players, took place in six sessions between January and May 2023, with the two groups playing contrasting pieces directly from the original tablature.

Bill Taylor, Treasurer

Wales Branch Report 2022-23

Sheena Walker on 21 September 2023

We have had a busy year with workshops, with Nia Jenkins in November, and Robin Huw Bowen in March. Bill Taylor came down to give a concert in June, which several of our members attended, and then we had a workshop with him on the Sunday. In August we had Elinor Evans.

We meet in between workshops to revise the music they teach us.

In June a few of us played at the Botanic Gardens with Shelley Fairplay, that is always a lot of fun.

We are working together to incorporate different styles of music to suit everybody’s taste. There are a few tutors on the list for the future, and we are hoping to go and play more in public again.

Peggy Bishop, Secretary

Transpennine Branch Report 2022-23

Sheena Walker on 21 September 2023

Another full year of harping

Transpennine Harps continues to thrive with 55 – 60 harpists from across the M62 corridor and beyond.

Highlights were our sessions with Anne-Marie O’Farrell and Lauren Scott.  Our programme is inclusive as possible, catering for many tastes and all abilities.  We enjoyed playing together in one room again, but we are mindful that we have members who enjoy our online sessions from all corners of the country – and of course one of our tutors is based in Toulouse.

We have several groups – Classical, Slow Strings, Old Malton and Tamsin’s Troubadours, Lucy@TPH and small groups playing for specific events such as accompanying a local choir.  Our online festival in November was a great success, thanks to Lucy Nolan and Tamsin Dearnley.

Harp hire remains buoyant, with all seven harps out at present.

We can list everything we have done, which is quite considerable!  What we cannot do as easily is to convey the great sense of companionship, support and fun we have as a group.  Our lead tutors, Tamsin Dearnley and Lucy Nolan, have built up a great rapport with and between us, as well as encouraging us to do more than we ever thought we could as harpists, whatever our level.  They have our grateful thanks for all that they do for us.

 Claire Dale, Secretary

Northumbrian Branch Rport 2022-23

Sheena Walker on 21 September 2023

Our year started off at Bamburgh with the joint meeting with the Edinburgh Branch. 25 members attended and we had a very enjoyable day.

Our monthly Saturday morning meetings continue to be well attended and are attracting new members. We have two other monthly meetings when we learn new music and rehearse for performances.

Our December meeting is always popular. 22 members attended last Christmas and  we had a happy morning playing Christmas music and enjoying coffee and  mince pies!

We have had two courses this year. Savourna Stevenson visited us in October, followed by Rachel Hair in June. Two very different courses which were very much appreciated.

Harps Northumbria have been out and about playing throughout Northumberland. We joined forces with the Bridge Singers on March 1st to present a selection of music from Wales.

Playing at Felton for the Felton Music Festival is now a regular event. A lady from Exmouth told us we were the best thing she’d ever heard!!

I would like to thank all of the committee for their hard work this year. We have lots to look forward to in the coming year.

Margaret Thompson, Convenor

London & South East Report 2022-23

Sheena Walker on 21 September 2023

Our membership levels have remained steady over the last year. We have added to our stock of hire harps, supported the Edinburgh International Harp Festival and Harp on Wight (where we had a stand publicising the Clarsach Society and our branch), jointly organised a residential weekend at Benslow Music taught by Steph West and Elinor Evans, ran a day workshop in Berkshire with Steph West and Sally Whitaker, and continued to run local playing afternoons.  We are looking forward to this year’s residential course in October at Benslow Music with tutors Lauren Scott and Steph West, and a Carols with Harps event in December in Hampshire.

Felicity Merchant and Anne Chorley, Convenor and Secretary

North East Scotland Report 2022-23

Sheena Walker on 21 September 2023

The NES Branch is a vibrant, active branch of the Clarsach Society. Our members are spread throughout the Grampian and Angus Regions so are widespread. Our flagship annual events include our Harp Retreat in March, 2 Tea Concerts July and Dec, 2 Harps of Gold Charity Concerts in December. Other events include a concert at Bennahar Camp Hill Community to support their open day, European Folk Day, playing for Care Homes and a Concert in Strathdon.

Workshops included Stonehaven Folk Festival, SCAT collaboration Come and Try, and Lucie Hendry.  Special Projects comprised Arduthie School Project which was a week of tuition in traditional music, and also a Collaboration with SCAT (Scottish Culture and Traditions) to provide regular tuition in Clarsach and bring the Branch and SCAT together in a mutually beneficial way to promote the Clarsach in the NE of Scotland.

Current Members – 43           No of clarsachs owned 29   Performances – 12

Ensemble Meetings-8            Branch Meetings 12             Workshops – 3         

Special Projects 2

 Irene Watt, Convenor