SKU: PR.110406720

UPC: 680160001316.

I have always been fond of writing works for specific people or organizations. It has been my good fortune during most of my creative career to be asked to compose for many extraordinary performers. The Sonata for Harpsichord Solo is such a case in point: it was written in 1982 for Barbara Harbach, a superb performer, close friend, and collaborator on many musical projects. The Sonata was premiered on March 2, 1984, in a recital given by Dr. Harbach at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. During my formative years as a composer, one seldom heard of the harpsichord as a modern instrument, though while I attended undergraduate school at Boston University, some of us banded together to construct a small harpsichord from one of the first do-it-yourself kits which began to appear in the late '40s. It was also during this time that I heard the Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord by my teacher Walter Piston and consequently specified that the accompanying instrument for my second violin sonata could either be a piano or a harpsichord. It was not until recently, however, that my interest in the harpsichord as a solo instrument for new music was aroused. This was because of the emergence of so many young virtuosi, such as Barbara Harbach, who are interested in the performance of new music besides the great harpsichord music of the Classical, Baroque, and pre-Baroque eras. The keyboard music of Domenico Scarlatti has always intrigued and fascinated me. The brevity, excitement, and clarity of this sparkling music is charming as well as exhilarating. It is this type of Baroque sonata that inspired the conception and form of my harpsichord sonata. The entire work is loosely based on the musical translation of Barabara Harbach's name, especially the conflict of the B (B-flat) and H (B-natural in German notation). This secondo rub or dissonance especially pervades the first movement, which is in a modified sonata form, pitting jagged and tense melodic elements against most lyrical and smooth lines. This second movement is a song-like melody accompanied by rolled chords which may be played on the lute stop of the instrument if this sonata is performed on a two-manual harpsichord. The final movement is an ever-driving joyous toccata which brings the work to an exciting close with a coda made up of accelerating repeated chords. --Samuel Adler.

SKU: HL.48181739

UPC: 888680862275. 9x12 inches.

“Born in 1929, French composer, Pierick Houdy was a student of Olivier Messiaen at the Paris Conservatoire. He led a successful career as director of many institutions and choirs, and his compositions remain known to this day, Sonata for Harp being no exception. Composed in 1983, Sonata for Harp contributes to a substantial catalogue of works by Houdy. The Sonata comprises three movements and a typical performance lasts about twelve minutes. The work is modern in style and addresses a range of technical features. Suitable for advanced harpists, Houdy's Sonata for Harp is an exciting addition to the contemporary Harp repertoire and makes for a evocative performance.&rdquo.

SKU: UT.MAG-276

ISBN 9790215326880. 9 x 12 inches.

Johannes Snoer is not one of the most remembered harpists today, but his didactic work was really important and can still be useful today.
For didactic purposes, he also published collections of simple pieces by great composers transcribed for harp.
Among his transcriptions there is the Adagio from Sonata n. 5 in C minor, op. 10 no. 1, by Ludwig van Beethoven, subject of this edition. The original musical text has been left unchanged, only the ornamentation has been written in full and the harp fingerings and indications relating to the movement of the pedals have been added. The work brings the dedication to Mr. H. Rutters, probably a relative of his wife Antoinette.

SKU: FG.55011-911-6

ISBN 9790550119116.

Piano reduction for Einojuhani Rautavaara's Concerto for harp and orchestra (2000) available for the first time (2024)! This product includes also the solo part edited by Kalen Smith.

The composer tells about the three-movement work: The concerto is in three movements. After the orchestral introduction, the harp leads into a gradually thickening texture that progresses into a series of powerful culminations. Once these subside, the expansive motifs of the introduction return. The solo is echoed by two harps in the orchestra: I wanted the magnificent sound to be multiplied. The simple melody in the second movement is coloured in a very archaic way by the orchestra; we might imagine the performance of a troubadour or a bard in ancient times. The finale is festive, 'solenne'. It presents the combined sonority of the three harps at its most colourful and melodic.

Duration: 23'
Orchestra: 2222-4220-12-2hp-str (performance material is available for hire from the publisher).

The study score is available for sale (M042091586).

Einojuhani Rautavaara (9. October 1928 � 27. July 2016) is internationally one of the best known and most frequently performed Finnish composers. He was by nature a romantic, even a mystic, as is often apparent from the titles of his works: for example Angels and Visitations for orchestra or his double-bass concerto Angel of Dusk. Despite Rautavaara�s label of mysticism he was a complex and contradictory figure whose works cannot be categorized in stylistic terms.

SKU: HL.48187068

UPC: 888680884109. 9.0x12.0x0.059 inches.

“Composed for Pedal Harps, Sweet Blues is a piece of 4 minutes by Bernard Andrès. This melodious yet quite nostalgic work uses natural harmonies, pinched sounds, arpeggios and numerous pedal changes. Quite difficult, it would be better for advanced players. Three parts can be differentiated: Lento, Piú lento and Piú lento. The first part starts with a tune in natural harmonies only by the right hand, followed by the same tune in pinched notes. The piece continues with soft ordinary sounds. Pinched sounds and natural harmonies re-appear in the last part, before the quiet finale. Bernard Andres (born in 1941) is a world-known French Harpist and composer. Recognised for his work on both lever and pedal Harps and for chamber music pieces, some of his most famous pieces are 'Elegy to a dead Shepherd' and 'Anamorphoses'.”.

SKU: HL.48182311

UPC: 888680787066. 9.25x12.25x0.055 inches.

Written by Marcel Grandjany on a tune of Haydn, Fantasy is a piece for Harp that includes 5 variations of the main theme. Ideally to be played on pedal Harp, it would fit the skills and abilities of advanced Harp players. The technical difficulties encountered are various as this piece involves some hand-crossings, arpeggios, natural harmonies, accidental alterations as well as some pedal changes. Marcel Grandjany is a French-born American who lived in the 20th century. He studied with Alphonse Hasselmans at the Paris Conservatoire from the age of 11 and got the First Prize at 13 years old. He composed numerous pieces for Harp, of all levels: '3 Very Easy Little Pieces, Op. 7', 'Divertissement, Op. 29', 'Variation on the Londonderry Air, Op. 20' and 'Two Duets for 2 harps, Op. 26' among many others..

SKU: HL.48188576

UPC: 888680883812. 9.25x12.25x0.128 inches.

1.Sonate No.1 in B flat major; 2.Sonate No.2 in G major.