Christopher Caskey / The Citizen

When about a half-dozen harp players got together last spring to play music, the group didn't have a name. But after they decided they wanted to play for audiences, they knew they had to get one.

They took a name associated with a local landmark - Tiffany Harp Ensemble, after Tiffany Glass and Decoration Co., who designed the glass in the historic Willard Chapel.

This weekend, they will perform in the very building that inspired them. The ensemble will present a complete musical program that ranges from hymns to folk songs.

The program will include six ensemble pieces, as well as a number of solo works.

Deborah Greer, an Auburn physician and member of Trinity Harp Ensemble, said this week that the group is excited to play in a building that is a local institution.

“And it has such wonderful acoustics,” Greer said.

The ensemble formed as a group of harp players who just wanted to play with other people. Most of them were surprised that there were so many other local harpists, Greer said.

There are about 10 people in the ensemble, including an 11-year-old, though the group is always looking for more harpists, she said.

The instrument itself is often built as a work of art, as many harps are very elegant-looking.

“We really want to encourage people to love the harp like we do,” Greer said.

The instrument is not easy to learn, especially since it is not a commonly-played one, Greer said. It can be tough to read music on the harp because you constantly have to watch your fingers, Greer said.

But one of the unique things about the instrument is its advantage for beginners, continued Greer, who also has experience on the flute and piano.

“A very simple melody on it sounds beautiful,” Greer said.

Christopher Caskey

253-5311 ext. 282

christopher.caskey@lee.net