This is a very personal view about my favorite harp players and why I especially like to listen to their CDs all the time — the ones I love the most. Nevertheless when I want to compare various interpretations, I listen to different harp players and I choose the ones I find the most inspiring.
I am far from being a critic so I just want to share my opinions with you, other colleagues and harp music lovers from all around the world.
First of all I classify the different harp music styles because I think that the irish folk harp is not comparable with the classical pedal harp. They are totally different instruments with their own unique structure.
Let’s start with pedal harp music.
One of my favorites CD’s is ”The Genius of Salzedo” by Judy Loman. I simply love this CD. I admire her brilliant playing, expression and also the round sound of her touch, the clarity of every single little note. I especially like the original pieces of Salzedo. I believe that no one else than Judy Loman has played this masterpieces with such greatness. She is not only a great harp player but also an incredible teacher.
The next harpist could not have been better described than by Robert Sherman from the New York Times:
“Nancy Allen is a major artist, with virtuosity all the more impressive for being incidental to the projection of expressive values…”
Nancy Allen has recorded many brilliant CDs. I think she should live at least 300 years to record every possible writing for the harp. I simply love her musicality and her incredible technique. In my opinion she can really sing through the instrument. I especially love her transcriptions of Debussy and Ravel.
Now let’s switch to the Celtic Harp:
From the Celtic Harp I have a special CD that my daughter loves when she goes to bed. Carol Thompson “The Enchanted Isles”. I am not very familiar with all the good Celtic harp players but indeed this is one I love to listen to often.
Also from the celtic harp Kim Robertson is also my favorite. I have no idea where to classify her? You can find her because you can find her in the new age section as well as the celtic one. Her original compositions are gorgeous. I like the way she improvises. We somehow know that improvising with the harp is not always easy and I think that Kim has a very beautiful way of doing it. She’s so expressive that even the simplest song sound outstanding. I admire how she made her own way being a successful harp player.
My next favorite harp player is the outstanding Andrew Laurence King. He plays the double harp (Arpa Doppia). His arrangements of antique and renaissance music are simply amazing and unique. He is a true creative harpist. I specially like the “Art of Ludovico” CD. He brings the renaissance music to a delightful listening experience.
To finish my essay about my favorites harp players, I could never exclude the fantastic South American harp player Alfredo Rolando Ortiz. He plays the paraguayan harp absolutely gorgeous. I’d like to tell him: Thank you for existing Rolando! and for writing the most beautiful south american music, that we classical harp players are now able to play.
Presently I am working on his music and it’s not only a challenge to play these pieces but a true rhythmical and emotional experience.
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