Remarkable French harpist Sylvain Blassel is best known for for his unarranged, note-for-note, performances and recording ofÊBach's Goldberg Variations.ÊThis is a genuinely extraordinary accomplishment on harp. As you might expect, Sylvain did not get there magically, he spent (and still spends) hours upon hours each day in practice. Interestingly, while he does most of that practice on one of his restored, antique pedal harps, he also uses a Rees Flatsicle Harp. He tells us that he likes to play his Flatsicle Harp while on the train commuting or even while he sits up in bed in the evening and an idea comes to him. He likes to practice specific runs to reinforce the muscle memory in his hands. The little, light Flatsicle Harp isn't a harp he performs on but it is a part of building his sparkling performances. At the other end of the musical spectrum,ÊMaria Halcyon, of the Russian punk-folk band Gilead, takes her Flatsicle Harp to a whole new place as she dances wildly on stage while playing, completely overtaken by the music. American pedal and lever harpist Christine Van Arsdale teaches and performs widely with her larger harps but loves her little Flatsicle Harp because it is so easy to take out and about. Rees Flatsicle Harps make it easy for even the most highly skilled harpists to have at least one harp they never worry about or have to treat as "precious." For these skilled, dedicated, intensely focused musicians, Flatsicle Harps represent... well... freedom.
Musicians who are comfortable on other instruments often begin their experimentation on harp with a Flatsicle Harp. Likewise, extremely experienced harpists often select the Flatsicle Harp as their little "knock-around" harp. (This is easier to understand if you know that their primary harp may be worth tens of thousands of dollars.)Ê The Flatsicle Harp has sharping levers installed on the C, F & B strings allowing the player to play in the keys of C, D, G, F and the relative minors. On this instrument we recommend that the B-string be tuned down to B-flat and sharped to B natural for the keys of F and D-minor. As with the SharpsicleÊ Harp, the FlatsicleÊ Harp can have levers added later as needed. This model is extremely popular with music therapists and is recommended by the International Harp Therapy Program. It comes with a string chart and tuning wrench.
- 26 strings
- 6.2 pounds (2.81 kg)
- 36" tall (91.44 cm)
- 2 year warranty
- 3.5 octaves
- G to C below Middle C
