In 2018, Australian composer Sally Greenaway went to a concert in Canberra to see classical pianist Andrew Rumsey perform with his brother Danny.

Greenaway had known Andrew for some years as he had played her music in the US. At that particular recital, he and Danny, who has Down syndrome, played several duets together – Andrew on the piano and Danny on the Veeh Harp. Danny also played some solos.

Playing a Veeh Harp. Photo courtesy of Andrew Rumsey

“The audience and I were just spellbound, and I fell in love with the instrument,” recalls Greenaway.

The bespoke, portable harp was invented by a German man called Hermann Veeh as an instrument that his son (who also has Down syndrome) could easily play. Veeh died in 2020, but his family now manufactures the instrument.

Having bought one for Danny and seen how quickly he learned to play it, Rumsey formed a company called Harmony Harp and began importing the Veeh Harp to Australia.

“He asked me if I would consider being the first Australian composer to write some music for it, so I did a couple of arrangements of my existing works,...