Customer Reviews

Lest the Harp Strings

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The musical genius of Mr. Frankfurter weaves together the voices of harp, strings, and other instuments, in his own arrangements of classical melodies as well as original compositions. This music evokes what is best in all of us. Great for meditation, massage time, or rocking your toddler to sleep. Better than The Chieftains!

I own several of Aryeh's albums. His music is hauntingly beautiful. Of all my albums, his are my favorite. I can listen to them all day, day after day. I am currently purchasing this album for a dear friend and her newborn. I can think of no better music to refresh the mother and calm the infant, allowing them both to enter into a most beautiful musical world.

When I listened to private sampler, copy of Frankfurter's harp from my best friend, I've started to order this CD before tape finished. Actually, this is the most beautiful celtic music album, I've ever listened. However, more than that, his music has the soul, which all musician should provide to listener. But, we can rarely get it. I think this CD is the treasure in my life. I want to encourage you to meet this finest album. At least, you can understand why I'm so happy that I'm writing this to you. I hope you will appreciate it, like I did to my friend for his kind introduction.

I recently had the opportunity to hear Aryeh at the Kings Mountain Art & Music Faire in Woodside, CA. I heard about 30 seconds of his live music and stepped up to buy one of his CD's. This one was recommended and I must admit this music does indeed possess special spiritual and spacial qualities. I knew I'd find the artist who would play the harp as it has always been associated- with heavenly sounds. This music is fabulous and is a bit of a departure from his previous more traditional Celtic influences. Although, I'm trying to find his Songs of Scandinavian CD through a regular source, and I'm not finding it. Don't pass this music up if you're looking for lift in your consciousness too.

I just sent this email to Aryeh. It conveys so well how I feel about his music that I thought I'd share it here, too:

"I heard your harp as I walked towards Fisherman's Wharf recently on my very first visit to San Francisco, and I turned to my sister and said, "Where is that wonderful music coming from? Let's find it!" We followed our ears (and hearts) to Ghirardelli Square and watched and listened to you play your beautiful music. I was totally entranced. I have been in love with Celtic music for several years, and I own an extensive collection of Celtic music CDs and other "world" music. But your masterful playing of the harp moved me in a way I haven't felt before.

I bought "Lest the Harp Strings Unravel" that day, and I've listened to it at work and at home every day since I got back to Florida. It amazes me that I never tire of it, even if the same CD plays over and over again for 10 or 12 hours. Just hearing the gentle, luscious strains of your harp transports me back to the Bay and that gorgeous day in the City.

I think now that I must have more! I'll definitely be ordering more of your music - for myself and others. Thanks for playing it for us."

The celtic harp and the music played on it are always and ever very beautiful to hear. Nearly all the tracks on this CD are peaceful and restful. One track has the added enjoyment of a penny whistle; another track the added sweetness of a violin/fiddle. Altogether a wonderful CD which I would highly recommend to all who enjoy gentle Irish harp music. Although Patrick Ball is a renouned celtic harpist and especially for his playing of the music of Turlough O'Carolan's collection of Irish harp music, I find the celtic harp playing of Aryeh Frankfurter on this CD to be just as superior. Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738)was a blind Irish harpist who, as a traveling musician, performed in the houses of the nobility in Ireland in the early 1700's. He memorized several hundred harp melodies which, even then, were slowly being forgotten. He played them for his friend Charles McCabe who wrote the scores for the music so it is preserved to this day. Of interest is the fact that the celtic harp is played with the fingernails, rather than the fingers, giving a distinctive and overall gentle tone.

I agree with all of the superlatives in other reviews here. Aryeh Frankfurter is IMHO the best celtic harper around, and this CD contains some of his best Irish harp music. However, prospective buyers should be aware that all the cuts on this CD are duplicated on \Celtic Harp/O'Carolan's Dream/The Music of O'Carolan, available new from Amazon. That CD also includes five cuts not included on this one, and is one of my very favorite CDs. Hence the four (not five) stars; this is very good, but that one is better!