Leith Glass Harp Tuesday, April 02, 2019
recommended by Barb M., Keyboard and Folk Music Specialist
In 1840, a man named Edward Bunting published a book of harp pieces that had been played at the Belfast Harp Festival in 1792. He called the natural key of the harpers’ tuning “leith glass,” which turns out to be the key of G.
The new volume Leith Glass contains nine pieces arranged by Frances M. Thiele, a well-known harpist and teacher from Australia, for intermediate lever harp from England, Scotland and Ireland. She has used the leith glass tuning for these pieces. Together, these pieces give a sense of the many musical colors that can be produced from the leith glass tuning if we think modally, like those old Irish harpers. The British Isles favorites include “Comin’ Through the Rye,” “Rosemary Lane,” and “Lovely Willie.” These could be played for a recital, as background music for an event, or for your own enjoyment. Harpers who especially enjoy this type of music will be pleased with this collection!
For more information about this collection or other lever harp music, call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit us online at stantons.com. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!
About the Author:
Barb M. has worked in the Keyboard Department at Stanton’s since 1981. An active folk musician in the Columbus area, Barb also works with ensembles at her church and plays in the Columbus State Concert Band. In her spare time, Barb loves working with animals and computer games.