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--Photo courtesy of Bec Kilpatrick

New Tunes

I'm getting ready to update my blog on the apprentice's newest adventures in the harp world. This summer is going to be packed with the sound of music. I landed a summer job opportunity playing harp that I've dreamed of coming true. I'm very excited! And if that weren't enough, the WORLD HARP CONGRESS is taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Something I never dreamed of attending (mostly because I didn't know such an event existed) and it has since become another dream to make come true this July. Exciting things are happening, so stay "tuned".

The last step: Levers

You've already seen this picture, but I thought I'd post it again just to finish off my picture chronicle.


This is me levering. Although I'm sporting a gorgeous smile, do not be deceived into thinking I love this job. I described the raw feelings about levering in the post when I levered my first harp. I'd say it was the only bane of my experience in the harp builder's workshop. But like all things that test our patience and endurance, in the end we were happy we'd gone through that (I say "we" because when I'd get frustrated or drill the hole a hair too far off the mark, my ever patient harp master would step in and guide me or show me how to fix my mistakes). Our harps had levers, which means they could play songs in more than one key without having to re-tune the whole harp. (now THAT would test both harpers and listeners patience and endurance). Thank goodness for levers (and harp masters)!

We're reaching the final chapters of the story of the harp maker's apprentice. Stay tuned for video and photos of the finished product.
xoxo Jazzy

Hang the harpers, er-- the harps!

Such was Queen Elizabeth's orders to Lord Barrymore “to hang the harpers, wherever found, and destroy their instruments.” As traveling bards and knowledgeable counselors to their princes, harpers in Ireland in the 1600s proved a threat to the ruling English monarchs.
With Elizabeth long gone, rather than hang the harpers --for they play so beautifully, don't they?--we hung harp-parts.

A decorative touch for mee harps!

I was impressed to learn that putting inlaid wood into a harp was not as difficult as I had imagined before learning how it was done. In fact, before I would have thought some rare species of person had the time and patience to cut precise, tiny pieces of wood and fit them perfectly into the groove along the side of the harp. Nay, not so. It turns out, they make a large piece and then slice thin sheets of the inlay for wood projects such as harp building. Brilliant. And it looks brilliant against the cherry and bubinga harps below.

I spent literally an entire day drilling holes at this drill press. Harp masters know how to work!

After drilling each of the holes two times, we screwed them onto the edges of the sound board...

And then used an iron to apply a veneer.
The edges would eventually look like you see on this finished harp (after a lot of sanding!)

Happy feet

Gluing soundboards

Sanding the Sound holes

6 Sligo Harps have my name on 'em!
(4 remaining)

The glue cart

A most necessary sink

Clamped up and waiting