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The music you hear
on this page is
Fe'erie
by Marcel Tournier
French Harpist - 1879-1951
"The
word Fe'erie means "fairyland" or "enchantment" in French.
This was one of Haley's
(5) required repertoire for the American Harp Society's 16th
Competition. Absolutely very difficult. We have heard from
more than one former Julliard harp student that this was a
required piece at Julliard. Luckily Haley loved it and it never
became a chore for her to play it. It is a nerve-racking piece,
at least for moms. She used her "pedal" or "concert" harp for
this piece, as all the pieces for the competition. This is not
the harp she uses for Brevard Early Music Ensemble (pictured
above)....you'd know it if you saw it. It is BIG...considered a
semi-grand, with 46 strings. But a grand is only slightly
larger, heavier and has one more string. She calls her big harp
Louisa, after Louisa May Adams, who was the only First Lady to
play the harp. And this (particular) harp was played at the
White House right before Haley got it in 2003. Maybe Haley will
be the first President to play the harp?
Her smaller harp (pictured above)
is her folk or Celtic harp, also called a lever harp. It has
many other names as well. Haley just calls her "Kyoko". The
key is changed with the levers on top instead of the pedals with
the feet. This is the traditional harp seen on the Irish flag
and heard in all of the Irish and Scottish reels, gigs, laments,
etc. We love this harp and wish the other was as easy to move,
but alas, it does restrict the playing somewhat as you need to
use your hands to change the keys, and they are usually
occupied." |
