At 10:19 AM 10/2/02 -0700, you wrote: >The Gaelic harp students in Staffin, Edinburgh, Dingwall and Ullapool who >might attend the Edinburgh F�is an Fhoghair have a right to know whether >or not the cl�rsach being taught is their instrument or not, without >having to ring for clarification. A teacher of "Scottish harp" (to use >Alison's and Wendy's term) may or may not be able to handle these >students, studying the older Gaelic fingernail technique which is a >universe apart
Toby, thank you so much for sharing this with us! What an important posting! I'm so glad to see Barnaby writing about this to the F�is an Fhoghair. He brings up an important distinction. I was told just two weeks ago by a professional nylon/lever harpist that the only difference between Fingerpad and Nail players was the instrument we choose to play. I just couldn't believe it! Rather like saying the only difference between the Highland pipers and the Shuttle pipers is the instrument they choose. Of course, wire-strung harpers are pretty used to this. It comes up now and then as a topic on the wireharp list. Barnaby is absolutely right: a workshop led by a nylon/gut harper, even if they are the best in the world, may be of only nominal use to a wire-strung harper. I wonder if Barnaby's words will have some good effect with the Feis. That would be wonderful! If anyone on the list is interested in what wire harp is all about, do check out www.clarsach.net. The site is full of great information, and is helping the wire harp revival continue. --Cynthia Cathcart http://www.cynthiacathcart.net/ Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music & Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
