YOUTH HARP LESSONS
Sebastian Gobbel's realizing his dream to become a professional harpist from age 12 to 18.
Jamie Shi's harp journey to Juilliard.
Ashtin Hennessy's harp journey from Grade 1 to High School graduation, before leaving for college.
Luc Hung's harp story from 3 to 10 and beyond.
ADULT HARP LESSONS
Marisha Grant, starting from scratch, talks about her harp journey and her love for the harp.
Derek Darch shares his story on beginning the harp after the pandemic started.
Derek Darch provides an update of his harp journey after two years.
Miranda Wong shares her story on her 9 year journey with the harp.
Anne Shelton shares her love story with the harp.
Carol Boychuk shares her story on her 10 year journey with the harp.
CHRISTMASÂ 2020
Bells of the Winter Moon (in 3 Parts) was created for Christmas 2020 when the world was in Covid-isolation. This composition was intended to bring warmth, magic and comfort to anyone who listens to the musical messages expressed by Andrew Chan with 3 of his students.
PART 1 - On Christmas Eve
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Arranged for Harp Quartet, is based on 2 Christmas Carols: Carols of the Bells, and Huron Carol (also known as “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime", the oldest known Canadian Christmas Hymn). There's also a sprinkle of Nowell Nouvelet in the mix!
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Featuring atmospheric harp playing and at times heated dialogues between four harps, it displays the harp’s full spectrum of sound.
PART 2 - On Christmas Day
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Arranged for Harp Quartet, is based on the Christmas Carol O Come Emmanuel, and with a sprinkle of Huron Carol (also known as "Twas in the Moon of Wintertime, the oldest known Canadian Christmas hymn).
Featuring the infamous watery quality of virtuosic harp playing, Part 2 expresses a more solemn Christmas spirit, while skillfully and seamlessly paraphrasing well-known classical harp compositions: Handel Concerto in B Flat (1:13"), Hindemith Sonata (2:31"), Mozart Flute & Harp Concerto (2:45"), Prokofiev Prelude (3:02") and Rota Sarabande (3:44").
PART 3 - Finale On Boxing Day
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Arranged for Harp Quartet, is based on the Christmas carol Jingle Bells, and with a sprinkle of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. It expresses a festive mood, yet at times dramatic, reflective and humorous as we welcome the new year of 2021.
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Signature moments include Ravel's Introduction & Allegro (1:24") and the Ginastera Harp Concerto (1:44"). We have paraphrased Sleigh Ride (0:29"), and The Nutcracker, Waltz of the Flowers (main theme & harp cadenza at 1:49"), Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy(2:18"). Towards the ending, there's the theme from Debussy's Dances (2:59"). With four harps, a total of 188 strings, we explored writing more chromatically including the use of pedal-slides (0:45"). Extended techniques used include Whistling sound (3:07") and Rocket sound (3:09").
Andrew teaches at Harps on the Hill, a specialized harp school in Markham Ontario that advocates the appreciation of the harp both in its performance and teaching. A school of an international population of harp students, Harps on the Hill has hosted masterclasses by faculty members from world-renowned music institutions including Juilliard, Eastman, Yale, Peabody, and others. Visiting students have come from around Canada, Australia, China, England, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Spain and USA.