Camac Blog
Small But Mighty: Camac and Music for the 27-string harp
News
April 28, 2025
When you hear the word harp, larger, gleaming pedal harps might come to mind, along with the usual clichés about their size and portability (or lack thereof). Even the lever harp has increased in size in recent years, as it caters to the adventurous spirits of active performers who crave a richer sound and more strings to play with. Here at Camac, however, we celebrate the harp in every form! In 2020, we proudly unveiled our Odyssey harp, tailor-made to fulfil the dreams of musicians creating real magic without sacrificing sound, style, or capabilities (the Odyssey is fully levered).
To spark creativity, we commissioned around a hundred exciting arrangements for the 27-string harp from the talented Saori Mouri. These arrangements come in a delightful mix – some are designed for harps that leave the levers alone (so no lever changes mid-piece!), while others playfully weave in chromatic changes to keep things interesting. We’ve curated the entire collection into three levels: Easy, Intermediate, and Advanced, and it’s all ready for you in printed format or digital download. Thanks to Saori’s recordings, you can listen to all these lovely scores at our online boutique so you can hear them first!
Who is this essential figure who has been a guiding light in our lap harp journey, and how does she bring her arrangements to life?
Saori’s beginnings lie with the pedal harp, and she is a graduate of Tokyo University of Fine Arts. Reflecting on her early days, Saori shares, “Interestingly, when I started playing the harp, my solfege teacher advised me that if I wanted to make a living playing the harp, I should learn French harmony. I was fortunate to have lessons using materials from French composers like Noël Gallon, Henri Challan, Marcel Bitsch, and Damase. It felt like my path was meant to be.”
However, when, in the early 2000s, Saori encountered the lap harp, she felt herself moving in a new artistic direction: “The melancholic sound touched my heart, a feeling I had never experienced with the pedal harp. The next day, I purchased a lap harp and played it everywhere in my house, full of joy! This instrument expanded my imagination, prompting me to create something new. In 2004, my first lap harp album was ready, marking the beginning of my career with the lap harp.”
Saori greatly values the accessibility of the lap harp. Not only is it perfect for beginner harpists, but it also serves professional musicians well in concert settings. She enjoys challenging the narrow perceptions surrounding the small harp, stating, “I particularly enjoy the contrast between the visual and actual potential of the lap harp. The Odyssey, in particular, is so expressive that its small size, lightness, and design may surprise many. It responds impeccably to what I intend to express.” When creating her arrangements for the Odyssey, Saori takes great pleasure in delving into the nuances of composing specifically for this harp: “I thought a lot about which key to use for each song, as the harp’s sound can vary depending on the chosen key. While some songs remain true to their original keys, I aimed to select keys that best fit the 27-string Odyssey harp as closely as possible.”
Of course, it isn’t only Saori who has arranged for our little harp. Camac president Jakez François has also penned a few arrangements for the collection, showcasing his deep understanding and appreciation for the instrument he brought into being. We are especially grateful to Saori for taking the time to make the recordings of these arrangements for the website, which allows you to hear them, too!
There is hope for the future of this collection, with Saori always eager to expand the repertoire available to lap harp players: “I am curious about the type of music that Camac harpists would like to play. If there are songs without sheet music for lap harps, I’d love to continue taking our customers’ requests for songs for the Odyssey.” This collection of music for the smaller harp showcases our commitment to democratizing harp music and making it accessible to a wider audience. With the Odyssey harp and Saori’s artistry, we hope to inspire even more individuals to explore the beauty of harp music.
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