Carmen Elena Barreiro Venezuelan Harpist
Carmen Elena Barreiro is popularly called, La Reina del Arpa (Queen of the Harp) and is no stranger to healing harp music therapy.
Not only did this talented Venezuelan harpist contribute her talents to Angel Harps at the 2005 benefit concert, but when she lived in San Diego she also volunteered her harp playing talents for patients at various hospitals throughout the county including Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Barreiro has traveled throughout Latin America, Europe, Caribbean Islands and the United States and was previously associated with Los Hijos de la Casa Grande (Children of the Big House).
Above: Los Hijos de la Case Grande featuring a young Carmen Elena Barreiro playing the Venezuelan Harp.
Carmen Elena was the only girl in a family of five children and earned her reputation as La Reina del Arpa by performing and touring with her mother, father and siblings.
Her love affair with the Venezuelan harp began when she was a small child and continues today.
Venezuelan music can be traced back to European and African cultures and Barreiro describes it as “a mixture of innovation and improvisation” and emphasizes that the players don’t read the music but learn to play by ear.
So this talented harpist does not limit herself.
In addition to her experiences, she has also studied Celtic harp and after Barreiro noticed similarities between African music and Venezuelan music, she adopted the style of the kora (African harp-lute)–using the African style of repetition to emphasize rhythms.
The result is that she and adapts easily and can play any type of music.
Her works are hard to find but include Solo Arpa, The Family Reunion, La Reina del Arpa, and Los Hijos de la Casa Grande.
Above: Video excerpt from Carmen elena Barrerio’s Solo Arpa.
You can listen to the Venezuelan harpist recordings here.
