Austria ?s imperial court chapel was active far beyond the confines of Vienna . It developed a rich musical tradition of its own, with composers of the stature of Heinrich Isaac , Jacob Hassler , Johann Jacob Froberger , and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer .

This volume consists entirely of première publications from the ?uvre of composers working at the imperial court during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, including the complete keyboard output of Giovanni Valentini and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer and a Toccata 2 di toni in g ( FbWV 130) by Johann Jacob Froberger.

Altogether it contains twenty-two compositions with a detailed preface, many facsimiles, and a critical commentary. The pieces range from easy to moderately difficult and are equally suitable for use in church services or concert performance.

- Easy to moderately difficult organ music for church or concert use
- Previously unpublished music from the heyday of Austria ?s imperial court chapel
- Contains the première publication of a piece by Froberger / Classique / Partition /

The Suite Gothique by French composer Leon Boellmann has proved to be of lasting popularity far beyond the boarders of France and is a worthy representation of the typically French school later to be expanded by Widor and Vierne.

With more enthusiasts than ever since its heyday the Harp is an instrument which has successfully demonstrated its staying power and its important role both in music and beyond! John Marson’s Book of the Harp is a uniqueand definitive work distilled from a wealth of experience: a lifetime's study and research and an outstanding professional career. He traces the development of the harp from its earliest origins thousands of years B.C. to theinvention of the pedal harp in the eighteenth century and the harps of the twenty first century. He examines the writings of many forgotten exponents of the harp including inventors players and composers and provides a fullycomprehensive view of every model make and modification to the present day!The Book of the Harp is a rich source of information entertainment and anecdote on everything from strings tuning principles offingering and tone production historical influences designs techniques and methods to the harp's literary associations and those with the theatre and cinema its Celtic and religious symbolism virtuoso players and itsappearance in the poetry of Milton and novels of Jane Austen. Both historical and practical The Book of the Harp is an authoritative source of entertainment and a fascinating study for student professionalmusician and interested reader alike. John Marson has enjoyed a glittering career during which he has been principal harpist of the London Symphony Orchestra the BBC Symphony Orchestra Professor of Harp at the Royal College ofMusic and soloist and freelance.