SKU: HL.48180013

UPC: 888680787660. 9.0x12.0x0.061 inches.

Gabriel Pierné (1863-1937) was a French composer, conductor and organist. Despite being predominantly remembered as a conductor, his Impromptu-Caprice remains a popular performance piece in the advanced harpists' repertoire. Pierné studied at the Paris Conservatoire before taking up the position of chief conductor for the concert series, Concerts Colonne in 1910. He remained in the post until 1933, and during this time, he notably conducted the world premiere of Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird. Pierné composed for a variety of instruments, Impromptu-Caprice being one of four solo works by the composer. This Pierné piece for harp contains many characteristics typical of the French style, such as significant tempo changes, flourishes of semiquavers and many alterations in dynamics. Impromptu-Caprice is a varied piece essential to the repertoire of aspiring harpists.

SKU: MB.95472

ISBN 9780786604951. UPC: 796279025461. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

The book, musician, entertainer, teacher, and recording artist Carol Stober provides melody lines, lyrics, chord symbols, and melody tablature for 35 tunes she learned in Appalachia. The stories woven through the music portray a mixture of life situations that were ever-present in the difficult struggle for survival of our ancestors. The lyrics of many of these songs, although sometimes harsh, give insight into the values of the Appalachian people. The autoharp tablature provides detailed indications for different types of thumb and finger strokes, plucking, and string pinching.

SKU: UT.MAG-221

ISBN 9790215318625. 9 x 12 inches.

Martin-Pierre Dalvimare, born in 1770, in Dreux (Eure-et-Loir), from a distinguished family, learnt music as an entertainment art, and was obliged to make it a resource for his existence, after the troubles of the Revolution in 1789. He had acquired a remarkable talent for the harp; when he arrived in Paris he made a very good impression. Then, man of the world, knowledgeable in many fields, which is rare for a musician, he was welcome everywhere, and very soon came in friendly terms with some of the most renowned artists and men of letters of his times. The marriage certificate of the poet Legouve (15 pluviose of the year XI, or February 1803, 12th municipality of Paris), shows that Dalvimare was one of his best men and that at the time he was thirty-two years old. He became harpist of the Opera in the year VIII (1800), and was definitively confirmed in the month of fructidor of the year IX. At the time of the institution of the emperor Napoleon's private music, M. Dalvimare was appointed as his harpist. In September 1807 he obtained the title of harp master of the empress Josephine. A lucky change of his fortune allowed this artist to renounce to practise his talent for living, he resigned from all of his positions on March, 12th, 1812, and he retired in Dreux, where he still was living in 1837. For a peculiar weakness, he does not like to speak about his artist career, which had been entirely honourable, and he would like to forget his success too. His first composition was a symphonie concertant for harp and horn, which he composed with Frederic Duvernoy, and published in the year VII (1798); notwithstanding, he counted as his first opus a collection of romances with accompaniment of piano or harp, which he later published with Pleyel.

In 1809 Dalvimare composed, for the theatre Feydeau, a one-act opera-comique called The Marriage for Imprudence. The music was weak; the work did not succeed, and people used to say that the greatest imprudence had been the one of the authors who had it performed. Nevertheless, the score of this opera was published in Paris by erard. (Francois-Joseph Fetis).

SKU: HL.48181035

UPC: 888680787653. 9x12 inches.

French born harpist and composer, Marcel Grandjany (1891-1975) studied at the Paris Conservatoire before spending much of his working life in America. His Trois petites Pièces were composed in Grandjany's early career and are simple and enjoyable works, suitable for beginner harpists. Grandjany was a teacher of harp at the Julliard School for 37 years whilst also composing and transcribing many works for the instrument. Made up of three movements, Trois petites Pièces begins with a delicate Rêverie (daydream). The second piece, a Nocturne, contains variations in tempo, time signature and dynamics. The Barcarolle third movement is the most challenging of the three pieces, in 6/8 time signature and sixteenth-note flourishes. All these combined aspects of Trois petites Pièces by Grandjany make for a thrilling performance for beginner harpists.

SKU: CF.H82

ISBN 9781491160183. UPC: 680160918782.

Maurice Ravel's Mother Goose is arguably one of the most well-known and well-loved of Ravel's works. Whether one encounters it first in its original iteration for piano, four hands, or in the sweeping orchestra transcription, Mother Goose leaves an impression that isn't soon forgotten. The pieces are short, simple, and descriptive, but are nonetheless ravishing, and beautifully showcase Ravel’s genius and compositional skills. Now for the first time, the entire work has been transcribed for solo harp by harpist Carl Swanson. Each of the original five movements has been carefully edited, making the pieces playable on solo harp, while keeping the spirit that Ravel intended. Here is a valuable addition to the harp repertoire by one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, Maurice Ravel.

SKU: MB.30367M

ISBN 9780786696345. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

In this book and accompanying audio, Autoharp hall of famer Evo Bluestein provides a beginning approach to a repertoire of songs and fiddle tunes popular in old-time and bluegrass circles. Basic rhythm, chord accompaniment, lyrics and music notation make this book useful for other lead instruments as well, including fiddle, mandolin and voice. A more advanced approach can be found in Evo Bluesteins book Autoharp in Four Easy Steps, published by Mel Bay. More books and DVDs are available at www.evobluestein.com. Bluestein is known as an expert player in the style pioneered by the late Autoharp master Kilby Snow. Bluestein has also developed two successful and popular brands of Autoharp, The Evoharp and the Sparrowharp, built by two world class Autoharp luthiers. In addition to helping many adults learn music on the Autoharp for over thirty years, children in numerous schools have learned to play and sing using the Autoharp in programs that Bluestein has implemented. He is also an accomplished dance caller, teaching folk dance as an independent contractor throughout California schools. Bluestein is co-founder of the California Autoharp Gathering. Includes access to online audio featuring Evo Bluestein.