Chris Nimmo

My main instrument is a beautiful 39-string Andrew Thom "Magus" lever harp in green with a paua-pattern soundboard. The sound is strong throughout (certainly comparable, I believe, with a well-made pedal harp), with a booming bass register.

Because the advanced repertoire for lever harp is quite limited, I generally prefer to improvise, on a mode or a mood, a tune or a whim. My improvisational style is very much my own - I have had a couple of fantastic harp teachers, but I am definitely self-taught with improvisation. This means that I can combine a range of influences - Celtic patterns and Eastern scales, a wee dash of Latin American rhythmic influences and English folk-song styles. I've found the lever harp is a fantastic instrument for creating very rich harmonic environments, because the levers can be set to provide the potential for a strongly chromatic environment.