Mel Bay Wedding Music for the Lever Harp Book/CD set [Spiral-bound]

Laurie Riley (Author), Beth A. Kolle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2001

The harp is the quintessential wedding instrument. Its romantic image and sound make it ideal for the special day which represents a landmark in the life of the bride and groom and their families. The music they choose will stay with them in memory and meaning for a lifetime. This book contains a variety of classic, traditional, and ethnic music, some pieces you will recognize as "standards," and some you may never have heard before. Selections in this book may be played on any style or type of harp. These tunes and pieces have been chosen because they are in the public domain, and also because they could make the difference between an ordinary wedding and a very special one. Divided into four sections: Preludes, Processionals, Meditations, and Recessionals, this music offers more than enough choices to get you through an entire wedding ceremony and reception. These arrangements are interesting to the player as well as the listener and take full advantage of the harmonic capabilities of the lever harp. Includes important and useful tips and suggestions regarding music selections, fees for services, contracts, proper attire, etiquette, and more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Beth Kolle performs Celtic and Nordic music on harp, flute and Irish pennywhistle, both as a soloist and with various groups in Seattle. She travels in the US, Canada, Europe and Scandinavia to teach and perform. Beth has taken groups of harp players with her to Scandinavia on two performance tours to wide acclaim. As a member of Greensleeves and The Seattle Harp Duo, Beth brings to her performances both a solid classical background and her passion for traditional folk music to enthusiastic audience. Beth studied classical piano and flute at the University of Washington and received a BA in Music. She has released six CDs and has published nine books of harp arrangements. "I didn't know a harp could do that!" is a remark often heard at Laurie Riley's concerts. Known for her ability to make a harp sound like a whole new instrument, she can make it speak, make it laugh and cry. Audiences feel her music as a visceral experience. A professional musician since the age of ten, Laurie has toured throughout the US, in Canada, and in Ireland. She plays selections from around the world, from historical times, as well as compositions of her own. "The richness of various cultures' musical styles offers endless ways to express what I play. Whether it's Celtic, South American, Scandinavian, Israeli, Ukranian... there is something new in each tradition." Through her playing, the double-strung harp has emerged as an exciting new sound in the world of harps. She was instrumental in designing the modern double-strung harp which has become popular in recent years among harpers. Two rows of strings played at the same time make this instrument sound like a duet of two harps. She has recorded eleven albums of harp music, authored five books, and made five instructional videos. She also judges harp competitions and teaches for harp organizations in the US and abroad. "As a musician, I am gratefully aware that I hold in my hands the experience of music as a metaphor for life, which is offered as a gift to all who gather to listen."

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 104 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications (April 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786654082
• ISBN-13: 978-0786654086
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #605,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good collection, February 19, 2006

By 

D. Lam (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mel Bay Wedding Music for the Lever Harp Book/CD set (Spiral-bound)

As a beginning harpist (about a year) but with a lifetime of music experience, I bought this book with the hopes of learning some wedding music, aiming to eventually get good enough to perform and play weddings. The book is great - logical and thoughtful selections spanning a variety of ethnicities and religions, which is nice to see.

The book is broken up into sections: Preludes, Processionals, Ceremony/Meditations and Recessionals, which is convenient. It's spiral-bound, which is always helpful so you don't have to fight a binding to keep the book open.

The arrangements are pretty good, although a little strange in some places... small breaking of patterns for reasons I can't tell, and a couple of places for which you'll have to devise some awkward fingering or simply rearrange it yourself (which is what I usually do).

The CD is just OK. It makes me feel good about myself that even professionals buzz but it seemed strange to hear it on a recording. Pachelbel's Canon skips a section, which is too bad. The rest are pretty good, and the inclusion of a CD is a great idea, especially for beginners but even more so you can listen through the CD and pick out which pieces you'd like to work on, if you're unfamiliar with any of them.

I also found the tips in the beginning about etiquette and advice for professional playing useful and interesting.

Overall, I'd rate it a great buy, especially for the low price.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beth Kolle's Wedding Music book, July 17, 2009

By 

Shelley Iverson "the harpist" (Kamas, Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mel Bay Wedding Music for the Lever Harp Book/CD set (Spiral-bound)

This is a wonderful harp book! All arrangements are for beginning to intermediate harpists. Arrangements are simple, clean and beautiful. I have added most of them to my performing repertoire. (FYI: Beth's other two music books are even better!)

5.0 out of 5 stars Mel Bay Wedding Music for the Lever Harp Book/CD, April 18, 2011

By 

Kathryn Auchterlonie (Yarrawonga Park, NSW, AU) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mel Bay Wedding Music for the Lever Harp Book/CD set (Spiral-bound)

I am very happy with the format and the variety of music; Congratulations to Beth A Kolle and Laurie Riley for this insight. I have performed at weddings for many years and I feel the plan at the beginning of the book is very good for anyone who has not had this experience. It's very clear and easy to understand. I also like the CD for the correct tempo of pieces that I didn't know before. I love the book;