Lauren Scott
  • Home
  • About
  • Events
  • SHOP
HARPYNESS BLOG Spreading a little harpyness with harp videos, harp tips, harp hacks and harp news

Special Effects for Harps Across the North

20/5/2021

0 Comments

 
On this page there are videos demonstrating the special effects used in Lauren's harp ensemble piece Harps Across the North.

Hope is the Thing with Feathers

Inspired by the poem by Emily Dickenson, Hope is the Thing with Feathers is a Round in four parts and incorporates preparation with cardboard in the middle octave to create the effect of pitched drums. Inspired by the sense of 'ritual' and 'power' behind the New Zealand Haka, the Maori word for "hope" - tumanako - is broken up into separate syllables and woven into the Round so that the word in it's entirety is chanted three times throughout the piece. 

Hope is the Thing with Feathers was written for the Old Malton Harp Group in North Yorkshire and funded by PRS Foundation Women Make Music.
Instant access PDFs of the sheet music for Hope is the Thing with Feathers is available to download now.
DOWNLOAD
Picture

Freshwater Tears

Inspired by the Rain Stone poem by Simon Armitage,
​Freshwater Tears is written in four parts and uses various extended techniques to create the effect of raindrops including xylophonics, percussive tapping on the harps and a special tremelo xylophonic glissando technique which Lauren has developed. This piece is inspired by the joy of rain which is so beautiful demonstrated in the poem,
​
Freshwater Tears was written for Harps North West in Cumbria ​and funded by PRS Foundation Women Make Music.
Instant access PDFs of the sheet music for Freshwater Tears is available to download now.
DOWNLOAD
Picture

the sun and her flowers

Inspired by a short poem by Rupi Kaur, the sun and her flowers is written in four parts and uses various preparations including paper woven between the strings to make the sound of a Kalimba, paperclips & coils placed on the base of strings to make the sound of buzzing bees, and clips placed on a bass note to sound like a joyous and raucous rattle in the final part of this piece. After a calm introduction of short cadenzas the sun wakes up and the sound of the kalimba creates a groove over which the flowers dance.
​

the sun and her flowers was written for Harps of the North directed by Anita Aslin and funded by PRS Foundation Women Make Music.​
Instant access PDFs of the sheet music for the sun and her flowers is available to download now.
DOWNLOAD
Picture
0 Comments

Jukebox

17/5/2021

0 Comments

 
In Autumn 2020, during a brief hiatus in between UK lockdowns, I was involved in a project to video a solo piece by my husband, Andy Scott with five incredible harpists.
Commissioned by Sioned Williams and premiered by her at the Purcell Room at the Southbank, London, Jukebox by Andy Scott was originally a five movement work based around the concept of a 1950's jukebox playing a series of vinyl singles of differing styles.

In 2020, Andy decided to write a new movement to complete the work, and this video is the media premier of this new and final version. Sioned plays the first (and newest) movement RPM, followed by Keziah Thomas JUMP, I play VINYL, Alex Rider GROOVE, Elizabeth Bass STYLUS and Eleanor Turner TURNTABLE.

It wasn't at all stressful recording our movements in the studio with all the other harpists watching!! It was such a joy to work on this project with such great harpists, and you can really tell from the concentration on our faces how much work we all put in to this project. The music needs to have a really strong internal pulse to be able to groove, and like Andy's other pieces for harp, it is challenging to play but very also very rewarding. 

It's a fantastic new suite for solo harp (just under 15 minutes duration) and I really hope it will become a piece other harpists will want to learn and perform.  PDF of sheet music available HERE


Sioned Williams
Keziah Thomas
Lauren Scott
Alex Rider
Elizabeth Bass
Eleanor Turner
0 Comments

words, images and music

12/5/2021

0 Comments

 
I've been thinking a lot lately about how much of my creative output is influence by words and images. Most of my recent compositions have been in direct response to poems that have hit home to me. Poetry by Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickenson, Simon Armitage and Rupi Kaur have all inspired music in me this past year. 
Picture
I've always been interested in art since my school days when I studied it at A level. At the time I was in sixth form in London and by luck my school was in Pimlico and I would regularly go with a friend to the cafe at the Tate Gallery on The Embankment. Every time we went we would do a quick tour of our favourite paintings before descending down to the cafe for a cup of Earl Grey tea. It all seemed the height of sophistication as a teenager in the 1980s!

And here I am over 30 years later, starting a compositional journey as a middle aged woman in my 50s with all the poetry and imagery I've greedily consumed over the years swirling around my head, inspiring me to make music and it makes my heart sing. 

0 Comments

Grade 8 Trinity Scales and arpeggio practice charts

30/4/2021

0 Comments

 
***Practice charts for all the Grades now available HERE***
Here is a free teaching resource which I have done and you are very welcome to use with your students if it's helpful to you. Practice charts for all the scales and arpeggios in the Trinity exams harp syllabus for Grade 8 for both LEVER and PEDAL harps. Every single permutation of scale and arpeggio is listed which makes it much easier for students to get through absolutely every scale and arpeggio they need to practice for their exam. 
Picture
​If they aim to do at least 5 different scales/arpeggios each practice session and tick them off as they do them it won't take them for them to get through them all.  I encourage my students to select across different keys and types of scales/arpeggios to complete the cycle rather then going through it in sequential order, but whatever works best for everyone; they are all there.

​Hope these are helpful!

 GRADE 8 Lever harp scales and arpeggio practice charts TRINITY Syllabus

lever_tcm_grade_8_scales_and_arpeggio_practice_chart.pdf
File Size: 82 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


GRADE 8 Pedal harp scales and arpeggio practice charts TRINITY Syllabus

pedal_tcm_grade_8_scales_and_arpeggio_practice_chart.pdf
File Size: 81 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


This is a free resource for the harp community, but if you'd like to buy me a virtual coffee that would be very welcome!
​
0 Comments

Beyond the Horizon

30/3/2021

1 Comment

 
Introduction to note bending techniques used in my compositions, Beyond the Horizon & Celestial Spirals
Written in 2019, Beyond the Horizon and Celestial Spirals share the same 3 note motif and can be played together as a two movement work or individually. Both pieces explore an ethereal ‘out of this world’ soundscape and feature on Lauren Scott’s debut album, ‘Beyond the Horizon’ - New Music for Lever Harp (AVIE2417). Written for lever harp, they can also be played on pedal harp with some adaptation by the player.
 
Beyond the Horizon features various note bending techniques developed by Lauren to evoke the feelings of floating beyond the atmosphere. Celestial Spirals features a buzzing sound from having a paperclip resting at the base of just one string to create an alternative sound world which underlines the spirals that flow through the piece before coming back to it’s original starting point.

Here on this page, Lauren demonstrates the various techniques and shows how they can be achieved on different types of harps.


A run through of all the different effects in Beyond the Horizon.

A run through of all the special effects during first 4 measures of Celestial Spirals.
CLICK HERE for Link to video demonstrating how to play XYLO-HARMONICS

Using the paperclip in Celestial Spirals.

Playing the different effects in context within Celestial Spirals.

Demonstrating the different effects in Beyond the Horizon on a heavy gauge string lever harp.

Demonstrating the different effects in Beyond the Horizon on a concert harp.

Beyond the Horizon and Celestial Spirals is now published as sheet music and available HERE
I hope you enjoy learning the music and if you post any performances online of my music please tag me in as I would love to see them! 

​@laurenscottharp
1 Comment

Habanera Caprichosa

17/2/2021

0 Comments

 
I am very humbled that several of my compositions have been selected onto the new AMEB harp syllabus. My thanks go to Alice Giles who oversaw the selection of the new harp syllabus for the Australian Music Examinations Board and to the harpists I have met in West Australia who have been so supportive. 

The pieces that have been selected are:

Gypsy Dance  - (Certificate of Performance Lever Harp) AMEB 2021

Lapkon's Spinning Wheel - (Grade 7) on AMEB Harp Syllabus 2021

Caribbean Daydreams - (Grade 5) on AMEB Harp Syllabus 2021

Habanera Caprichosa - (Grade 8) on AMEB Harp Syllabus 2021


I was hoping to travel to my birth country last year but covid had other ideas, and it seems that a return to Australia will of course be some way off now. So to celebrate Habanera Caprichosa being selected as a Grade 8 AMEB piece I have created an on demand video tutorial.
Picture
Picture
Picture
International travel seems a long distance memory now post covid, but I continue to hope that I will get a chance to return to Australia soon!
Picture
Playing at the West Australia Harp Festival October 2019
Harp Habanera online course is available HERE
0 Comments

Developing my creative practice

4/1/2021

0 Comments

 
I am extremely grateful to be a recipient of the 'Developing Your Creative Practice' award from Arts Council England. I will be spending 2021 undertaking a year long period improving my compositional skills, and will also be Composer in Residence with Harps North West during this time. ​I'll be writing harps North West three new works for harp ensemble and I've also mapped out a years worth of compositional self-study which I'm really looking forward to diving into.
Picture
Lauren Scott
Picture
Again, I cannot begin to express enough my gratitude to Arts Council England for this support when I am acutely aware of how much of a struggle it is right now for everyone in the Arts. There is another round of grant applications about to open, so I would encourage all creatives to go online and apply. This grant will not only be allowing me to further my compositional skills, but also gives 2021 a much needed overall structure, which in the absence of freelance gigs is extremely welcome.

I'll also be in the studio soon finishing off recording my second album which will be released by Avie Records in Autumn 2021. It will include six of my compositions, including 3 harp quartets that I wrote at the beginning of 2020 commissioned by PRS Foundation 'Women Make Music' and my harp duo, 'Sea of Stars' for lever harp & pedal harp. I'm very grateful to the wonderful harpists Eleanor Turner, Alexander Rider and Elizabeth Bass for joining me and recording my music.

I've only recently embarked on a creative compositional journey having started writing music in 2018, so this all seems a bit of a whirlwind! But I am very grateful for everyones support and I hope to be scribbling lots more dots throughout 2021.

LINK for more about Lauren's music HERE
​​
0 Comments

Elegy mini tutorials

19/12/2020

1 Comment

 
​I'm absolutely thrilled that my composition Elegy has been selected as one of Harp Columns 30 day practice challenges as a DREAM BIG Original solo for lever harp.
Picture
In this blog post I have created a series of mini tutorials which I hope will be a useful aid for anyone taking on the challenge of learning Elegy as part of the Harp Column practice challenge.

​Here is the audio of Elegy and the PDF of the sheet music can be downloaded from Harp Column HERE ​
Elegy breaks down into 7 sections and I have created a mini tutorial covering each section of the piece.

​This first video is an over view on creating the VIBRATO effect which occurs throughout the piece

1st section - m.1-16


2nd section - m.17-24


3rd section - m. 25-36


4th section - m.37-40


5th section - m. 41-48


6th section - m.49-56


7th section - m. 57-end


I hope these are helpful, and thank you so much for learning my music. If you post any videos on social media please tag me in as I would love to see them! x
​
@laurenscottharp
1 Comment

Introduction to the harp

13/12/2020

0 Comments

 
I was recently asked by my friends at the Macclesfield Music Centre to provide a short video introduction to the harp suitable for school age children. So here is my offering which is by way of a bit of Nutcracker, Dr Who, Havana and my best BBC posh speaking voice. 

I recorded it in one take, and I was very conscious at the time to speak clearly and slowly. The resulting posh teaching / announcing voice I use throughout it is hilarious and not how I normally speak. It's less than 5 minutes long and I demonstrate on pedal harp as well as lever harp.
0 Comments

Silent Night

1/12/2020

0 Comments

 
Delighted to be kick starting this years Online Advent Calendar for Scala Radio playing Silent Night arranged by Marcel Grandjany
0 Comments

How to cheat with harmonics

21/11/2020

0 Comments

 
In this very short video I demonstrate how to play an effect which I've developed and use in my piece Celestial Spirals. I've called them xylo-harmonics, but essentially they are false harmonics, and it's a handy technique to have 'up your sleeve' if you ever have a problematic string which has a stubborn harmonic and you want to produce a pure harmonic sound. 
Here, you can see how they are used in context in the opening and closing sections of Celestial Spirals.

I find you can also have more control over dynamics using this effect than you can with harmonics. 
0 Comments

Piano Cafe Session

11/11/2020

0 Comments

 
I recently did a short live session and interview with Dave Graham who runs the Piano Cafe in Oakham. Its a very short interview where I briefly explain how I got into composing (in lieu of a mid-life crises) and how teaching now is so much better than it was in the 1980's!!
​
0 Comments

Remembering Ali

4/10/2020

0 Comments

 
It’s hard to believe that it’s nearly 10 years since Alison Stephens died. She was the leading exponent of the classical mandolin in the UK, working at one time or another with most of the country's major orchestras, but she also did much to popularise the instrument too, through contributions to popular films (most notably Captain Corelli's Mandolin), live performances, teaching and composing.
Picture
I wrote an obituary about her for The Guardian at the time and it seems appropriate to share it again here as it lists her extraordinary career and achievements.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/oct/28/alison-stephens-obituary

​Ali was a grafter and everything she achieved was from sheer hard work. Whatever life threw at her, (and boy she didn’t have it easy) she tackled with grace and determination. She was passionate about music and life and always put her full energy into everything.

Picture

​​As well as a colleague, Ali was a good friend and 10 years on, she is still fondly remembered and much missed by all who knew and worked with her.
Picture
Picture
Picture

​Alison Stephens back catalogue https://open.spotify.com/artist/4o9Jpn6cctDuD93hUYpPQH
0 Comments

House of Commons

17/9/2020

0 Comments

 
I wasn't sure whether to post this video or not... but since it's now in Hansard and a matter of public records...

I wrote to my local MP, Fiona Bruce about my situation during the pandemic (as a freelance self-employed musician), and was extremely surprised that she read it out (nearly in full!) in the House of Commons. Fiona is an excellent local MP and has been very supportive of the arts in Cheshire. 

My personal situation is no different to any other freelance self-employed musician.
0 Comments

Why I always have fresh flowers when I ZOOM

4/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
I always try to have fresh flowers in my online teaching zone. Mostly it's so my ZOOM students have something nice to look at, but to be honest they are there to make it cheerful for me. As much as I love my students (I really do), and I am so grateful for the many online harp connections I have, as our post Covid life stretches out it depresses me more and more that I can't sit amongst a large group of musicians and play orchestral music. As a freelance musician the chance of any extra harp work with orchestras seems a very long way off.

I really miss playing in orchestras.

The sound of an orchestra is completely f**king awesome. To sit behind the violins and have brass and percussion playing behind you and woodwind to the side of you and play Strauss or Berlioz or Mahler.

Looking at fresh flowers every day helps me mitigate that loss of 25 years of regularly playing harp in symphony and chamber orchestras.

I find playing my pedal harp just too depressing these days. Onwards and upwards instead with a focus on lever harp and composition which is a new separate harp journey for me. 
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Categories

    All
    Adventures
    Arrangements
    Coffee Break
    Great Harping
    Harp Hacks
    Nerdy Stuff
    New Music
    Thoughts
    Watch

    Author

    Lauren Scott is a harpist & composer and has been blogging on Harpyness for over 10 years.

    If you enjoy reading Harpyness and you'd like to buy me a virtual coffee that would be very welcome. Cheers! 

    Archives

    February 2025
    June 2024
    March 2024
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    January 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    November 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    July 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010

About
Privacy Policy
Contact
​© Lauren Scott 2025  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • About
  • Events
  • SHOP