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Watch A Man Play A Giant Harp Strung From A DTLA Skyscraper Tonight
William Close plays the Earth Harp in downtown Los Angeles (Photo by Juliet Bennett Rylah/LAist)
There is now a giant harp in downtown Los Angeles, strung using a skyscraper. And you can hear its beautiful music for free tonight. Malibu-based musician William Close brought his invention, the Earth Harp, to downtown. Close attached the strings to the City National Plaza Tower, making the instrument 700 feet high. The Guinness Book of World Records consider the Earth Harp the "longest playable stringed musical instrument." Close's Earth Harp typically contains 24 to 36 strings, and has been set up around the world, as well as featured on America's Got Talent.
At a press event yesterday afternoon, Close demonstrated his skills. The harp has a rich tone, and Close mesmerizes as he gracefully plucks songs out of the air with gloved hands, coated in rosin.
Close will offer a free concert tonight, coinciding with Downtown Art Walk. He will be accompanied by guest musicians, who will play four other large-scale instruments. The performance will also feature guest violinist Shaina Evoniuk, guitarist Thomas Hyorth, drummer Richard Sherman and singers Rafe Perlman and Sorne. There will be a one-hour concert at 6 p.m. and another at 8 p.m.
The video below shows Close playing the Earth Harp at Burning Man.
The City National Plaza is located at 515 S. Flower St. in downtown L.A.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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