This piece gains a whole different voice when played on harp, but is, I think, equally majestic in its own right. Performed by Amy Turk.
Bach Tocatta and Fugue
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Category Archives: Pedal Harp
Canadian Harpists in the News
Apologies for the lack of posts these last few months, real life got in the way. More news and links to come, but in the meantime, here are three featured Canadian harpists in the news and in concert:
Harpist revives old ways in the new world from Annapolis County shop (article on luthier Timothy Habinski)
Alisa Sadikova, classical pedal harp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1-LCnGojnw
Alisa Sadikova, at the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory Music
School. There’s some debate as to the actual title and composer of this piece in the YouTube comments, but consensus seems to say that it’s “La Source” by Albert Zabel (rather than The Fountain by Grandjany). Truly impressive playing either way. Hopefully young Alisa gets to have some ordinary kid time in between all the crazy hours she must be practicing. She certainly seems to be playing with her whole heart on this one.
The Moldau performed by Xavier de Maistre
It’s pieces like this that make me wish I had a pedal harp.
Camille Saint-Saëns – Fantaisie in A minor
Maia Darme performing Fantaisie in A minor Op. 95 by Camille Saint-Saëns.
Gabriel Fauré – Impromptu for harp in Db major
Xavier de Maistre performing Impromptu, Op. 86 by Gabriel Fauré.
Louis Spohr – Fantasie in C minor Op. 35
Apologies for the intermittent postings as of late. To make up for it, here are some lovely performances of classical masterworks, brought to you by the magic of the internet. – T.H.
Lena-Maria Buchberger performing Fantasie in C minor for solo harp, Op. 35, by Louis Spohr.
Harp effects in action
Ever wonder why your teacher insisted you learn things like harmonics, tremolo, trills, près de la table, and all those other harpy effects? This arrangement is a good example. And yes, all the effects she uses are also perfectly doable on lever harp.
The piece is Sweet Blues by Bernard Andres, performed by Ruth Boyajian during a Focus on Youth concert at the 11th World Harp Congress in Vancouver.
The Urban Youth Harp Ensemble
I feel like I should have heard of this group before now. Such a great idea! I wish I was in a populated enough area to start something like this. The mission of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble is “to deliver quality musical instruction on the harp, develop music reading skills and musicianship to at-risk, urban youth.” You can visit their official website at http://www.urbanharp.org/.
Here are some members of the group playing “What a Wonderful World” (the sound is a bit fuzzy but it’s still way cool):
Winter by Jazzy Harp
Music to listen to by the fire while the snow whirls outside.
Harp & Arr. by Lee Che-Yi.