The Modern Harpsicord

[snyprrr]

Nothing sonically does it for me quite like the sound of the 20th century harpsicord (am I spelling that correctly?). Most of the time I can't stomach it, but when I can, I can go for days with it.

Elizabeth Choinacka is like nothing else in her sexxxy leopard skin tights and explosive mane of tendrillic counterpoint (uh, hair, that is!).

And Jukka Tiensuu is even more extreme... truly obsessive.

And before them is Wanda Landowska, who started the fun. Currently, it appears that Barbara Harbach is the queen of "standard" modern harpsicord music, recording many albums and composing.

One piece of music perhaps Stravinsky wishes he wrote would be deFalla's Harpsicord Concerto, the neo-classical shot-heard-round-the-world of modern harpsicord repertoire. This sprightly little chamber work shows how perfectly the harpsicord was to integrate into the modern world. Along with Poulenc's larger concerto, these two pieces introduced the harpsicord to the 20th century.

Martin, Gerhard, Martinu, Francaix, Dutilleux, Milhaud, and a host of 2nd tier mid-20th century composers began written chamber pieces and concertos, but the cd catalog has not responded in kind. Perhaps there is a harpsicord nut out there...hmmm?

And I draw the "standard"/avant line with the chamber pieces by Carter and Petrassi and Erb (early). They are still modern, but not as freaky as things were going to get in the 60s and 70s.

Choinacka is certainly the mother of many children, though her discography (at least on cd) is somewhat lacking. I knew I should have gotten that Japanese/Philips import when I had the chance.

Ligeti, Xenakis, Sciarrino, Boucourechliev, Ohana...many of the big names of High Modernism wrote for her, but it is in the pieces by Xenakis (and Sciarrino) that the primal force of this instrument really come through. This is certainly not music for the squeamish, but for some of us, it is the only thing that works on some days.

I have as many Choinacka cds as I can get my grubby mits on, and two stand out... both on a very strange little label, XX Spanish Harpsicord, and Rhythm Plus. The Joseph Horovitz concerto on the latter disc is a mid-century, "Munster's"-like hoot. It is just too cool. The entire Spanish cd is a treasure to my ears; however, there are the obligatory harpsicord/tape pieces which tend not to send me. I think there is a piece by Miereanu on the Adda harpsicord/percussion disc (w/ stalwart Gualdo) where the harpsicord is really made to explore it's different timbres, sounding at times like any number of Asian and otherwise plucked strings.

Special mention should be made of Maurice Ohana, who has written much for her, as can be heard on Erato and Timpani.

Especially I enjoy one of Xenakis' most immediate and appealing works, the harpsicord concerto "L'Isle de Goree." I think most Xenaki-phobes might agree that this is just a beautiful and delicate score.

Jukka Tiensuu has also recorded at least three super super discs for Finlandia, including one directly competitive Xenakis piece (which I believe he dispatches with just a touch more leonine command). And then there is the Sciarrino piece. Those expecting shadowy whispers need not apply. This is Sciarrino at light speed, all notes cascading up and down literally at the speed of...light. And the Ligeti pieces are just pretty cool by themselves, the Continuum supplying the requisite vertigo.

Both Tiensuu and Choinacka have recorded a harpsicord and tape piece by Mache. Not my fav at all, and having two recordings of it says nothing of the state of the art. Certain things just lose their groove appeal after a few decades!

Of course, nothing seemed to be groovier in the 60s than the sound of the harpsicord. From the British Invasion on up (or down!), the harpsicord was the "it" girl before the synthesizer. Just think of any cheezy 60s/70s TV show or B-movie (Z-movie!) soundtrack, and you will find the ubiquitous harpsicord. Penderecki comes to mind.

Of course, some composers have written more "normal" modern music for the harpsicord. Persichetti comes to mind... with how many sonatas? This is Barbara Harbach country. I have a lovely cd of hers with mixed pieces from Milhaud, Piston, Rubbra, Martinu, Adler, etc. I would love to have more of her artistry in The Library.

I am hoping that your fire for discussing this zippy little topic has been stoked. There are quite the endless joys in this repertoire, and hopefully you can fill in the gaps.

[Lethevich]

Surprised you don't mention Schnittke... Vasks has a piece for harpsichord entitled kantate which I thoroughly dislike (I find the writing to be anti-harpsichord, written piano-style as if expecting note-swells or reverbs but what actually happens are awkward stabs punctuated by silence), but others seem to enjoy it.

[snyprrr]

Schnittke , of course!

[snyprrr]

Not to mention HRPSCRD by Cage and Hiller. There IS a cd!

[Grazioso]

There's Kokkonen's "durch einen Spiegel" for 12 strings and harpsichord.