Harp

SKU: HL.234540

Harp Solo. Composed by John Luther Adams. Music Sales America. Classical. Softcover. Composed 2017. 14 pages. Chester Music #CH86295. Published by Chester Music (HL.234540).

9.0x12.0x0.09 inches. English.

'This set of miniatures is based on traditional dance songs of the Yupik Eskimo people of Western Alaska. In their original forms, these melodies would be sung in unison. The first, third and fifth songs would be accompanied by frame drums. The second and fourth are game songs, for jumping rope and juggling pebbles. Aside from the obvious difference in instrumentation, my settings of these songs differ from the Yup'ik originals in other respects. I have extended and varied the melodies, and added countermelodies, ostinato figurations, introductions, interludes and codas. The first four melodies are drawn from the collection Yup'ik Eskimo songs, compiled by Thomas F. Johnston, and Tupou L. Pulu, and published by the University Of Alaska. The fifth was 'loaned' to me by Yup'ik singer and dancer Chuna McIntyre, who learned it in his village of Eek, Alaska. The poems preceding each piece are rough translations of the words to the songs. These verses are often cryptic and enigmatic. Their obscurity is increased because some of the words or their meanings have been lost, over time.' - John Luther Adams.

Arranged by Sylvia Woods. Harp. Size 8.5x11 inches. 173 pages. Published by Hal Leonard.

Chamber Music harp

SKU: PR.110406720

Composed by Samuel Adler. Classical. Softcover. With Standard notation. Duration 14 minutes. Theodore Presser Company #110-40672. Published by Theodore Presser Company (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.

Harp

SKU: HL.48180090

[Variations On an Ancient Tune]. Composed by Carlos Leon Salzedo. Leduc. Classical. Softcover. 20 pages. Alphonse Leduc #AL15280. Published by Alphonse Leduc (HL.48180090).

UPC: 888680795412. 9x12 inches.

“Vari ations on an Ancient Tune” by Carlos Salzedo is the third and final work of a series called Three Pieces'for Solo Pedal Harp. Difficult to play, it requires good mastering of the instrument and of its technique, including the pedals. Using the full range of the instrument, this work features numerous trills, glissandos and accidentals among other technicalities and is divided between really fast and more quiet parts. Really delightful, this melodious piece is composed of a main theme and eleven variations: Main Theme (Maestoso) is composed of chords I. A tempo, Graziamente II. Tempo di Bourrée III. Scherzando IV. L'Istesso tempo V. Maestoso VI. Vigorosamente VII. Molto piú lento VIII. Vivo risoluto IX. Lento, tempo di Barcaruola X. Como un preludio XI. Fuga Finishing on the main theme “A Tempo,” this wonderful work is an amazing piece to include in a concert or a recital. Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961) was a French harpist and composer who wrote and transcribed numerous pieces for the harp. He also wrote some pedagogical publications for harpists.

Harp

SKU: FG.55011-885-0

Composed by Lotta Wennäkoski. Classical, contemporary. Part. Fennica Gehrman #55011-885-0. Published by Fennica Gehrman (FG.55011-885-0).

Whizzing, growling and rattling – you can produce all kinds of sounds with the harp, not just the fairy-tale shimmer and glissandos that you first think of. Lotta Wennäkoski composed Sigla for harp and orchestra (2021-2022) in close collaboration with the harpist Sivan Magen, to whom the concerto is dedicated. The title of the concerto, Sigla, has different meanings in different languages. In Italian, it means a jingle; in Icelandic, it means sailing; and in Tagalog, spoken in the Philippines, it means vivaciousness or enthusiasm. Wennäkoski has not specifically referenced these in the movements of the concerto as such, but she does allow that the various meanings of the word may be identified with the music according to the listener’s perception.

The recording of the work (Ondine ODE1420-2) was premiered with the Gramophone award as the the best release in the contemporary category in October 2023.

This product is the solo part.

The orchestral material is available for hire from the publisher.

Duratio n: 19'
Instrumentation:Harp solo – equipped with paint brush, tuning key and a plastic hair clip
2 Flutes (2nd doubling piccolo)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in Bb
2 Bassoons
2 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C – trumpets and trombone doubling an egg slicer
Bass trombone attached to a piece of wood or a flat cardboard box
Percussion (2 players)
Percussion I: crotales, vibraphone, 5 gongs (a#, bn, c’, e’, f’), bass drum, cymbal, guiro, bell tree, shell chimes, whip, lion’s roar and different beaters including a bow, superball stck and wire brushes
Percussion II: tam-tam, cymbal, snare drum, 2 cowbells, 2 temple blocks (med/lg), triangle (small/med), vibraslap and different beaters including a bow, wire brushes and superball stick
Piano – equipped with a plectrum, wire brushes and 2 soft percussion beaters
Strings.