Category Archives: Harpists

Hire a Harpists

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The harp is known as the ‘instrument of the gods’ and dates back to ancient times. The magical ‘fairy tale’ sound of the harp will enchant any audience and it is capable of transforming a ‘run of the mill’ event, into an elegant, emotional experience.

Book a harpist for your party or event for that added bit of music magic. From harp players for weddings to hiring a harp player for a corporate event, most harpists have a wide repertoire, ranging from the classical greats, traditional folk, jazz and show tunes through to popular artists and modern day music.

Here at Red Masque we have a fantastic selection of harpists for hire and we offer only the best, highly talented and unique acts around. We guarantee amazing and memorable experiences every time and we understand that no matter how big or how small an event, to enable it to run efficiently and successfully, it’s always essential to provide an honest, reliable, effective and professional service at all times.

Red Masque supply weddings, parties and corporate events with the very best acts the entertainment business has to offer, enabling us to help create the most memorable and successful occasions every time. We’re here to help with any enquiries you might have so please don’t hesitate to contact us. Booking a harpist couldn’t be easier.

Click here to view all Harpists for hire

Intimate dinner party acts

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Cello

The cello is the perfect sound for a classy dinner private party amongst a few choice guests. It has a sound that many people absolutely adore, its low timbre fitting perfectly with a number of other instruments or in a solo setting.

Violin

The Violin is popular entertainment for private parties and corporate events, no matter intimate or otherwise. Mixing a Cello and a Violin are extremely popular which fits for virtually any occasion. Another act combination that people enjoy for intimate dinner parties is violin and…

Harp

The harp is a gorgeous, gentle instrument that many adore but rather interestingly, rarely get to experience live. It could be because it’s a rather bulky instrument for a child to play, so many performers actually learn when they’re adults. Perfect as an accompaniment to dinner, the harp is also great in combination with strings or woodwind.

Pianists

Pianists are fantastic for creating mood and providing a soundtrack to your evening, no matter the function. Providing a repertoire of modern and classic hits, they tend to provide a fun and informal atmosphere for a whole host of events including dinner, drinks receptions or a small networking function.

Classical Guitarist

What is there to say about classical guitarists that hasn’t already been said (or assumed)? Well, for starters it’s not only western styles of music that are often booked; flamenco is extremely popular whilst many prefer a slightly different sound to what they ordinarily listen to as it promotes a sense of occasion for the evening.

Magician

Now you may be thinking that a magician wouldn’t fit in at all at your intimate soiree but they can be extremely effective for engaging a room and have been proven to be great for informal networking events. For dinner parties, there are some brilliantly parlour magicians that can sit with you at the tables.

As ever with these things, it’s all about finding the right entertainment for you.

The Irish Harp

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We thought we’d provide a few ideas on Irish entertainment. When thinking about the Emerald Isle and the entertainment provided to the world, an obvious place to start is the harp.

But what is the history of the Irish harp? Unfortunately, the instrument’s origins are lost to time, but we are able to piece together a potted timeline from the past 1,000 years. The last High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, who died in 1014, was said to be an accomplished player whilst various documents state that the Celtic harp was the only music played during the Crusades in the 12th century. For those unaware, despite some minor differences, the Irish harp, Celtic harp and Gaelic harp are all terms used to describe the same instrument.

It is known that the harp was revered across Celtic culture and Europe in the 1100s with various leaders having their own resident harpist who enjoyed a high status and special privileges. What did they have to do? As one might expect, they were expected to play music in accompaniment to other forms of event entertainment – poetry recitations or reading of psalms, etc. Alas, no music for the harp is written down from this period.

As any lover of history may tell you, Celtic culture wasn’t as popular as it used to be and the social status of a harp player began to lessen as the years wore on. No longer retained amongst the higher echelons, they took to the streets, performing as travelling musicians to the delight of crowds. Perhaps they were enjoyed too much; although the Irish harp was a symbol of the country and embraced around the world, it was now see as an emblem of resistance against the Crown and England. It was henceforth banned from the end of the Middle Ages and in just a few centuries, the Irish harp had all but disappeared.

…Well, almost. In 1792, a group of harpists travelled to Belfast for a traditional harp festival. A passionate musician, Edward Bunting, noted down the music they played and it is thanks to him that traditional Gaelic music lasts to this day; it had never previously been written down on paper (presumably because nobody ever saw the point or most harpists couldn’t read or write sheet music.)

There are less than a dozen Celtic harps that have survived from the medieval period. The oldest one is also the most famous – the Trinity College Harp, upon which the official emblem of Ireland is now based. It can be seen if you decide to visit Trinity College in Dublin and no doubt, you’ll learn even more about this lovely instrument.

Christenings: A Brief History

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The christening or baptism of a baby or child stems from the Christian religious practise of immersing oneself in water to wash away sins (The Greek word ‘baptizo’ literally means to immerse, plunge, dip, or bury in water) and in later years the ceremony became associated with the taking of a name to symbolize new life.

Adults may choose to be baptised later in life but whatever the age of the participant, the naming ceremony whether religious or otherwise is usually followed by a family celebration.

Regardless of the size of your christening or naming-ceremony, musical accompaniment will both enhance the atmosphere and entertain your guests throughout the day.

Classical music such as string quartets, harpists and singers are popular choices for the ceremony, with jazz bands, swing bands & pianists proving good choices for the drinks reception afterwards.

Many Christenings now also run on into the night with a live party band or DJ.

If you will have a good number of children attending then it pays to hire entertainers to keep them occupied. Look at our directory for great children’s entertainers, magicians & street entertainers. Also think about face paints & fancy dress costumes which are always a great way to keep them entertained.

Get some inspiration for your next event

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It’s a fact often acknowledged that the event entertainment is often the best part of a show. You want your entertainment to impress people but maybe this is the kind of corporate event where you’re looking to get your message across in a subtle way. Here are a few party ideas to get you thinking.

Pianist

Hiring a pianist for an event isn’t exactly rocking the boat, but there’s a reason why this is a hugely popular form of entertainment for hotels and functions alike. It’s often difficult to pick the right music for corporate events but pianists have the wonderful ability to judge the room and can of course flit between classical and jazz standards and the room requires. Wonderful.

Cello artists

Why have one cello when you can have four? A cello group comprise a quartet of talented musicians who can perform musical tunes from the world of pop right through to the likes of Elgar. Background corporate entertainment doesn’t have to mean ‘boring entertainment’, which is exactly where a cello group come in! They are sure to make clients and colleagues remember the wow factor at your event.

Lookalikes

The very definition of background entertainment, lookalikes simply need to stand about and do exactly as every other guest does at an event. Just blend in with the crowd. Of course, that’s easier said than done when you look like Brad Pitt, Prince William or Simon Cowell, but their job is simply to get people talking. So if your corporate event is all about networking, then hiring a few celeb lookalikes might be just the thing! Alternatively, you might like to consider costumed characters.

Harpist

Is there anything more beautiful than the sound of a harp? If there is, then we are yet to discover it! One of our most requested acts for events and weddings alike, a harpist adds elegance and a relaxing quality to any corporate event. Brilliant for guests’ arrivals as well as drawing proceedings to a close, hiring a harpist for an event is sure to go down wonderfully.

Jazz

Many people are a little afraid of hiring percussion for a corporate event, especially as background entertainment. Nobody wants a huge clanging of a symbol as guests are trying to talk with one another – rest assured that all of the musicians you see advertised are experts in their field and are sensitive to volume levels. A jazz trio or quartet might be just the thing you’re after to set the mood.

Beatboxers

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Possibly the most common question we are asked at is what entertainment are we able to provide that is “different” or “out of the ordinary” for a wedding or corporate event? It could be you need something unusual for a big birthday, corporate night out or an anniversary party, but you’ve hit a stumbling block. Well, without doubt one of the most exciting and unusual acts we can offer is the outstanding Beatboxers. You probably want the lowdown but firstly we can safely say that this beatboxers provide sublime entertainment, ideal if you’re searching for totally original artists for your wedding or big event. So take a very worthy risk and wave goodbye to traditional entertainment, blow your guests away with Beatboxers! At Red Masque we suggest you embrace something so cool and modern that we really guarantee you will surprise and thrill your wedding party with something completely individual and extra-special. If you love Hip Hop then you have to check out Beatboxers – they don’t need any props and by that we mean no drums, no bass, no guitar and no piano because they are completely reliant on making music using their… mouths.

If you didn’t know, Beatbox is a phenomenon derived from Hip Hop that has been around for the past decade if not more and it continues to grow rapidly in popularity. It is an art, the ability to make music just using your mouth itself is pretty impressive – if you try it yourself you will see it’s very difficult! The performers can create the sounds of drum beats and other musical noises just using voice, lips and tongue. Famous Beatboxers include Schlomo, Beatfox, Beardy Man and Base 6 who are in good company with Doug E Fresh.

There’s so many different ways Beatboxers can entertain your guests… you need to picture the scene but how about a dramatic wedding entrance to “Get Lucky”. They’re well practised too as their talent spans over years of performing. It’s a brilliant way to stop people in their tracks, and will delight children and adults alike, whatever age because the way they perform is remarkable, so much so, guests are left open mouthed. Their set is incredible, full of energy and tremendous fun. If you want to know what type of songs they cover, well, you can make special requests for example Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and “Talk Dirty” by Jason Derulo not to mention Pharrel’s “Happy” to name a couple of excellent tracks. 

How about surprising your Bride, Groom or other party member with a blast from a Beatboxers talent? Conveniently, sets range from 3 x 20 minute sets to one hour long set or 2 x half hour slots. Imagine the beatboxers bursting through the doors of your venue and striding through while beatboxing “The One” (Swedish House Mafia) on their way to the Bride to serenade her in their unique style – you can’t beat that for cool! Or before you introduce the Disco or band let them warm up the revellers – they may even teach you one or two of their ingenious techniques.

One thing’s for sure, Beatboxers add some extra entertainment to your wedding or special event and you’ll be beatboxing clever.

The best day of your life…

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It has been stated that a wedding is one if not the most memorable day in a woman’s life.  As either the bride or the groom, you want to ensure that your wedding is iconic. Where a great many weddings focus on the flowers, seating, gowns, and such essential elements, many times one of the most critical aspects of a wedding is overlooked until the very last minute. This is a practice which very much needs to be avoided. Music is a critical part of a wedding. It sets the mood for all the events which occur.

Romanticism is found in live string instruments, whether these are harps or a beautiful string quartet. The very presence of a live band brings a level of sophistication to your ceremony which is not present from “pre-recorded” tracks. Live musicians of any merit will be able to play both the classical styles and modern music with ease and their own flare. These live originals give new perspectives to older cliché songs. For example: How many times have you heard “Unchained Melody”? Where there have been many different versions, a live band will have their own take on how to present the song adding a nice uniqueness to the wedding.

Regardless of how you choose to present your music, considerations need to focus on three main key times in the wedding event. These three areas are the arrival of the guest, the arrival of the bride, and the post ceremony music.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE GUESTS

Before the Ceremony starts, the mood for the entire day is being set. Like a fragrance which permeates the air, the welcoming music will set the overall mood for arriving guests. What music will welcome arriving guests? Will you choose to use the enticing music of harpist or choose something more engaging such as a gospel choir?

Guest entering the ceremony should experience a relatively sombre and soothing arrangement of music. It is a formal event and so you do not want to have your guests too relaxed (which could cause them to be drowsy while waiting on the bride) or too engaged (meaning that the respect due to the ceremony is lost).

When choosing music for the arrival of your guest, it is always best practice to have a live musician which can accommodate the needs of those attending. This does not mean that the musician is taking request, but that the musical entertainment can focus on the overall mood of the room. For example: If the musician sees that the room is getting restless, they may choose to play something that is a bit more upbeat or vice versa.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE BRIDE

The bride is the focus of the whole event and therefore the music for the procession must reflect that. The processional music is played upon the bridal party entering the events entrance. If you are going for the more “traditional” feel, the procession will enter to a classical tune either played by a string quartet, harpist a song sung by a gospel choir. However, if choose to go with a more modern feel you would have your entertainer play a dedicated track for the processional party. This song does not need to be played at any other time during the ceremony. For those that are wanting to have something truly unique may want to consider hiring a Scottish Piper?

Once the wedding procession has entered the event and the bride is ready to make her procession, the music needs to have a dynamic shift. Whether using stringed instruments or a choir, it is essential that the crowd understand that this is the moment in which the key figure is entering the wedding. Traditionally, a pianist or a live performer will start the “wedding march”.  More modern weddings have the person overseeing the ceremony to formally announce the bride’s arrival and ask for the members to stand. Either way, you need to ensure that the music demands that the bride is the focus.

Bridal music should be slow and soft. You want to capture the beauty of the bride.  Slower music makes the viewer look at the bride and time the beats (subconsciously) with the movements of her steps. Upon arriving at the place where vows will be taken, the music should fade out nicely. Do not abruptly end the song.

After the ceremony, you may choose to have your Scottish Piper (if you opted for such to lead the procession) to lead the wedding party out of the event.  If you do not choose to use a piper but rather a quartet or a choir, then the music should be a bit more upbeat than when the party arrived. You are going from anticipation to celebration.

At the reception, your music should be upbeat and festive. This does not mean that you have to abandon sophistication. Your live musicians should be able to play musical selections from most genres and with variations which meet the overall theme of your wedding entertainment needs.

A brief history of the Harp…

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Find the best harpists available for hire in the UK today. The harp is known as the ‘instrument of the gods’ and dates back to ancient times. The magical ‘fairy tale’ sound of the harp will enchant any audience and it is capable of transforming a ‘run of the mill’ event, into an elegant, emotional experience. 

The harp is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world. The earliest harps were developed from the hunting bow. The wall paintings of ancient Egyptian tombs dating from as early as 3000 B.C. show an instrument that closely resembles the hunter’s bow, without the pillar that we find in modern harps. 

The angled harp came to Egypt from Asia in about 1500 B.C. It was built from a hollow sound-box joined to a straight string-arm at an angle. The strings, possibly made of hair or plant fibre, were attached to the sound-box at one end and tied to the string-arm at the other. The strings were tuned by rotating the knots that held them. 

During the middle Ages the pillar was added to support the tension of extra strings. Stiffer string materials like copper and brass were used and these changes enabled the instrument to produce greater volume and a longer-sustaining tone. Paintings of these harps appear in many early manuscripts and their shapes hardly differ from those of the Celtic harps that are still played today. 

The earliest known depiction of a frame harp in the British Isles is on an eighth century stone cross. Music was an important part of life in ancient Ireland and the harp was an aristocratic instrument, played in the courts of kings and before the chiefs of clans. Harpers were required to be able to evoke three different emotions in their audience by their music: Laughter, tears and sleep. With the Anglicisation of the Irish nobility, the traditional harpers became minstrels and street musicians reciting poetry and singing folk songs to the accompaniment of their harps. 

The single action harp achieved great popularity throughout the rest of the 18th century as was evidenced in the French Court by Marie Antoinette; perhaps, the most famous player of this instrument. The harps of this period were magnificently decorated with relief carving, lavishly gilded and hand painted. Besides being musical instruments they were undoubtedly prized as object d’art when displayed in the gilded salons of the era. 

As music evolved it was also necessary for the harp, if it was to maintain its popularity, to move with the times. Instead of only being limited to eight major keys and five minor keys, it had become vitally important for the harp to be able to play in all keys. As a result of this need, Sebastian Erard obtained a patent in 1810 for the Double Action pedal harp. 

This ingenious invention revolutionized the harp and is still in use today. The harp has since continued to evolve and has had many significant improvements made to it over the past two centuries. In the late 1800’s Lyon and Healy, a Chicago based company which is still building harps today, began building harps in America with greatly strengthened frames and many important improvements to Erard’s double action mechanism. 

The 21st century holds great promise for continued popularity of the harp as is evidenced by the myriad festivals, conventions, societies, harp builders, music, performances and career opportunities available to harpists. 

From Medieval to Modern, from Classical to Jazz, from Acoustic to Electric. The harp is an instrument steeped in tradition yet open to change and for many it is more than a mere instrument, it is a calling.

The most romantic of venues

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Choosing a wedding venue is almost always on the top of a couple’s ‘to do’ list.  This is the place that you will remember forever, it is the place where you will kiss your new husband/wife for the first time, it is the place where you will take your children  and your grand-children back to, all to show them where you had the happiest day of your life. 

So a wedding venue needs to be characterful with its own qualities that make it desirable for a couple, but it must also to be enough of a blank canvas that a couple can put their own stamp on it.

Kew Gardens is a beautiful venue.  There are a number of beautiful and completely different areas within the venue of Kew Garden, that offer endless possibilities for the big day

There is the cosy Cambridge Cottage that can hold up to 80 guests for both ceremony and wedding reception.  The Cottage is a former royal residence and has a clean and fresh décor, which allows the Bride and Groom to choose any particular colour to use throughout the wedding, happily knowing that it will not clash with anything will always look perfect.  The cottage is steeped in traditional horticulture with floral pictures on the walls, which some couples do like to combine with their own ideas; using very bright and expressive flowers to decorate the venue, or use flower names as table names.

With entertainment, the light and elegant tone of Cambridge Cottage lends itself perfectly to string instruments, particular the harp or string quartet for a ceremony or reception.  The cottage backs on to the gardens and the sound of a string quartet drifting through the air could not be more perfect for a warm, summer wedding.

For the evening, the intimacy of Cambridge Cottage means that either a 4 piece band or a solo singer works really well and creates a flawless party atmosphere.

Within the Grounds of the Gardens there are also the 3 beautiful Conservatories – The Nash Conservatory is a nineteenth century glasshouse that has started being used for Civil Ceremonies this year and can hold up to 200 guests.  The Nash Conservatory is used in conjunction with The Orangery, which is available for evening hire for up to 400 guests for a cocktail reception

The Princess of Wales Conservatory can either be used by itself as a cocktail reception venue for up to 250 guests or in combination with The Orangery or Cambridge Cottage, as a venue for pre or post dinner drinks.  The Conservatory itself was commissioned in 1982 and was named after Princess Augusta, the founder of Kew.  Opened in 1987 by Diana, Princess of Wales, the Princess of Wales Conservatory is the most complex glasshouse at Kew, containing ten computer-controlled climatic zones, which only adds to this completely unique and interesting venue.

So with more than a few options for Weddings and Civil Ceremonies, it’s a great place to suggest wedding entertainment for – so many different acts work in the different spaces that the possibilities are endless.

The best day of your life…

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The word wedding derives from Anglo-Saxon times when the bride’s father led a public ceremony, called a “be wedding”, at which the groom offered guarantees to the bride’s guardians that she would be looked after. These offerings were called “weds”. The occasion is one of life’s primeval and surprisingly unchanged rites of passage. It celebrates the union of two people in love with the sharing of vows and is traditionally witnessed by friends and family. 

Whether your special day is a small registry celebration, or a large church gathering or a more personal non-religious ceremony, start as you mean to go on, by making the first day of the rest of your lives the best day of your lives.

For a truly unforgettable day Red Masque will fulfil all your musical requirements with the pick of the country’s coolest party bands for a swinging evening reception, or perhaps a Jazz band, swing band or classical ensemble to provide background entertainment during the meal or the signing of the register.

Starting with the wedding ceremony, a string quartet or harpist are common choices to provide a beautiful musical backdrop during the wedding ceremony and immediately afterwards whilst photos are taken.

A jazz or swing band is an ideal choice to provide light background music during the afternoon reception, helping to settle guests and create an exciting atmosphere. It is also quite common for the string quartet rom your ceremony to continue playing during the afternoon reception.

What evening wedding reception entertainment program would be complete without a party function band or DJ? Rock and Pop bands are by far the most popular choices, with soul, disco, and salsa offering something a little different.

DJ’s are a good solution if a band is out of your budget but are also often booked as well as a band to fill in the gaps between the bands performances. Also, ask if the band themselves can DJ in between sets as this is very often possible.

Don’t just stop at wedding music though as all manner of wedding entertainment can be arranged. From top illusionists that will entertain your guests while they mingle, to traditional dancers and stage hypnotists, there’s no end to the fun that are there for the taking.