Reviewers Guidelines
These are a set of editorial guidelines for submitting reviews to the FOLK HARP JOURNAL. We have an international society which has thrived on the communication provided by the journal since 1973. The quality and volume of submissions have increased over the years. We offer these guidelines to assist our contributors in creating this wonderful publication which is, for all of us involved, a labor of love. If you have been interested in writing for the journal, we would appreciate it if you would take the time to read these guidelines. We welcome your contributions.
FORMAT FOR SUBMISSIONS
FOLK HARP JOURNAL is created on Macintosh with Microsoft Word and Adobe Pagemaker software. Reviews submitted by email are greatly appreciated as we can develop pages for the journal more quickly and better maintain our deadlines with the printer.
Our format includes these elements: CD cover, title, artist, company, published address, phone, email and URL, your review, playing time, and list of selections. We do not publish prices and our stylistic preference is for the reviews we publish to read more as inspired independent points of view than as "catalogue copy." We understand that this is one of those subjective standards but most of us truly can hear the difference.
YOU HAVE OUR PERMISSION
The FOLK HARP JOURNAL is a folk music publication. A degree in journalism or ethnomusicology is not a prerequisite for contributing. We trust your ears and and your sensitivity just as they are and encourage you to simply share your impressions of the music, your enthusiasm for the music, as you are moved to. This is creative, appreciative writing and we don't expect you to be an expert or an authority on anything other than your own feelings and perceptions about what you hear.
MUSIC REVIEWS
HARPSOUNDS is the music review section of the FOLK HARP JOURNAL. Your reviews are very welcome as the volume of new recordings to be reviewed has significantly increased. An on-line list of CD's currently available for review is maintained by me ... Adam Victor Christensen ... at http://www.eldalamberon.com/reviews-fhj.html . Please make a request for the recording that most interests you and I'll send it out. After you've heard it, please let me know as soon as possible if this is something you'd like to review. Otherwise, send it back so that another reviewer may have a chance to hear it.
If you do contribute a review, don't be offended if we don't print it immediately. It may or may not have anything to do with your writing. As with any publication, there are an unpredictable array of factors determining the editorial contents of each issue and the number of pages.
You can keep the CD.
ABOUT CRITICAL REVIEWS
Most of what we print are favorable reviews, which isn't surprising as most of us are moved to write about something because we like it. But don't be afraid to write reasonably about something in a recording that isn't to your liking. If you can back up your critical opinion with an illuminating insight, it could be helpful to our readers, many of whom are performing/recording artists. We will absolutely never print anything that is derogatory or insulting to anyone. Life is just too short.
VARIABLE WORD-COUNT, CLICHES & SELF-EDITING
The shorter the review the more new recordings we can expose to our readers per issue. BUT we'd prefer you verbalize to your heart's content rather than run interference on your own creativity be pre-judging the length of your review. If we need to trim, we'll trim.
Try to watch for cliches. Find new and more interesting ways to say "Her harp-playing was fine throughout." Before sending a review, please read it over and take out anything that doesn't fit or work. Sometimes reading it aloud, into a tape recorder or to a friend is helpful.
SELF-PRODUCED RECORDINGS
A self-produced recording must be looked at a little differently from something issued by a major label or large independent. These artists usually can't afford state-of-the-art studios or expensive session musicians so factor this in your appraisal.
CONCERT REVIEWS
Most of what has been described here under music reviews also applies to concert reviews. Well-written concert reviews help convey the excitement and pleasure of live music to our readers, especially those who may not be in metropolitan areas where they can personally enjoy some of the touring artists in concert. Since these kinds of reviews are timely, please email them as soon as possible after the event. The feeling of "current news" begins to fade after two or three months.
Thank you for your interest and for helping us
get the word out about new music
CD's Available for Review | More Reviews | Meet Our Reviewers | Reviewers Guidelines
Folk Harp Journal: An American Harper in Wales | Folk Harp Journal: Harpsounds
Kim Robertson Home Page | Harpers' Hall & culinary society
