The Official GMG Harp Thread

[snyprrr]

I'm listening to Walter Piston's Quintet for Flute & String Quartet (1942), and realized I erroneously thought it was for the classic Impressionistic combination mentioned in the Thread Title (usually with a String Quartet, sometimes a Trio to make the classic '5'); which got me to thinking that I always have it in my mind that this combination will sooth my nerves no matter what (not necessarily ). Just like with the Schumannic ( ) re-'invention' of the Piano Quintet, I have sought to get to the bottom of this most evocative Chamber Ensemble.

Debussy: well, I guess you haaave to count his Sonata, but I also haaave to include the Danses Sacrees & Profane, though they rarely make it on one of these recitals (Athena Ensemble on ASV, I believe?).

Ravel: Introduction & Allegro

Roussel: Serenade (maybe the best of all?)

Koechlin: 2 Quintets (haven't heard; great expectations)

Pierne: something about a 'Voyage'?

Caplet: Conte Fantastique

Ropartz: Prelude, Chanson, & Marine (I like this one)

Jongen: Concerto a 5 (very well, but not enough for me)

Francaix: Quintet (2?)

Schmitt: Suite en Rocaille (this one, not so much, pretty typical, 'old fashioned')

Martinu: Chamber Music (haven't heard this one)


I'm assuming that once we get to Messiaen and Boulez, the configuration has inalterably changed. So, what are your thoughts and such?

[Lethevich]

Bax was successful with this combination of instruments, including:

Sonata for flute and harp
Elegiac Trio for flute, viola and harp
Quintet for harp and strings
In memoriam for cor anglais, harp and string quartet
Concerto for flute, oboe, harp and string quartet

The stylistic touchstone is early Debussy, but so altered without any other major frames of reference that it is fully the composer's language.

[Grazioso]

Bax was successful with this combination of instruments, including:

Sonata for flute and harp
Elegiac Trio for flute, viola and harp
Quintet for harp and strings
In memoriam for cor anglais, harp and string quartet
Concerto for flute, oboe, harp and string quartet

The stylistic touchstone is early Debussy, but so altered without any other major frames of reference that it is fully the composer's language.

+1 Some gorgeous music.

Of course, if you're not averse to having an orchestra interrupt the proceedings  there's Mozart glorious concerto for flute and harp.

[snyprrr]

Bax was successful with this combination of instruments, including:

Sonata for flute and harp
Elegiac Trio for flute, viola and harp
Quintet for harp and strings
In memoriam for cor anglais, harp and string quartet
Concerto for flute, oboe, harp and string quartet

The stylistic touchstone is early Debussy, but so altered without any other major frames of reference that it is fully the composer's language.

Ah yes, that's what I've been missing. Yes, the missing link I was looking for. Forgot about him.

[Lethevich]

I just thought of Jacques Ibert but was surprised to find that he didn't write much in this form. As I recalled, flute and harp feature prominently, but either as sonatas or wind ensemble. However he does have a Capriccio pour dix instruments for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, harp, two violins, viola and cello.

[snyprrr]

I just thought of Jacques Ibert but was surprised to find that he didn't write much in this form. As I recalled, flute and harp feature prominently, but either as sonatas or wind ensemble. However he does have a Capriccio pour dix instruments for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, harp, two violins, viola and cello.

Check out his Complete Chamber Music on Brilliant. Yes, when you look into it, the repertoire does appear to have its limits, especially when you consider people like Ibert and Poulenc, who generally didn't go the 'evocative' route (Milhaud has nothing here,... THAT's a surprise!). There IS a 26min. SOLO harp piece on that Ebert set,...it's in parts, but, come on, it would haaave to be a Super Masterpiece (it's not).

At the time, I was surprised to find the Pierne and Koechlin, so, maybe I'm just spoiled on the riches we have. I do love getting to the bottom of seemingly unweildy subjects (Martinu, Milhaud, etc.,...).

I think I'm recalling something by Christopher Rouse, and R. Murray Schaefer?,... but that's how far down the rabbit hole you have to go since... when?,... between the wars? Considering perhaps, the Holliger Duo, we really don't see much written for (them) that fits our pseudo-Impressionistic ideal.


I'll be perfectly honest. I have had what I think is a Great Idea here. It's scored for, I guess, flute, 2 harps, and string quartet. It is called, in German (if anyone can get this for me please?), 'The Rape of the Swan'. The 2 harps, obviously, will 'represent' the Swan (a woman?, a nation?, an ideal?),... the flute, I don't know,... and the SQ, they play the supposed pseudo-Masonic 'ruffians', or whatever. Do you begin to see the 'fantasy' like arc of how this would play out? Many different Musics would stretch this ensemble to the breaking point, I presume (hey, if anyone wants to ghost write this for me!!!,...!!!,...). Somehow, images from, is it Chickamunga?, and Browning's Freaks come to mind for the ending.

What do you think?

[snyprrr]

Jolivet Chant de Linos, chamber version, how could I forget?, once again, a reason for the Thread. This is a very bracing work hearkening towards Messiaen, showing up, perhaps as the 'Last' Work of its kind, so to say?

[jochanaan]

Alan Hovhaness liked the harp too.  There's a lovely Hovhaness Concerto for Harp and String Orchestra, Op. 267, a Sonata for Harp and Guitar, Op. 374, and several other pieces for harp and various instruments.*  The harp has prominent parts in his symphonies too, including the famous "Mysterious Mountain" (No. 2, Op. 132).

*on Telarc CD-80530, with Yolanda Kondonassis on harp.

[snyprrr]

Alan Hovhaness liked the harp too.  There's a lovely Hovhaness Concerto for Harp and String Orchestra, Op. 267, a Sonata for Harp and Guitar, Op. 374, and several other pieces for harp and various instruments.*  The harp has prominent parts in his symphonies too, including the famous "Mysterious Mountain" (No. 2, Op. 132).

*on Telarc CD-80530, with Yolanda Kondonassis on harp.

Another missing link!

[snyprrr]

Since this will never be The Flute Thread, or The Strings Thread, I am changing this to the Official Harp Thread. I think we have surveyed the immediate duo and trio and quintet landscape, though of course, if we were to take it seriously, there are surely many Masterpieces awaiting,...harp/piano and harp/guitar duets?, the ubiquitous flute/harp combo (personal fav: H. Andriessen Intermezzo,... breathtaking!),... the harp is so almost invisible in the texture, it's easy to miss.

So, All Things Harp are to be discussed here then? And the 'ayes' have it!!

I don't have one single dedicated harp disc,... oh wait!, Yes,... a very nice one on the Arts label, 'Harp XX', I believe (I know a lot of you have this one, you know). It has the less French side of things: Hindemith, Britten, Petrassi, Bussotti, etc.,... very very nice Modern Recital. I believe the Italian lady playing is the dedicatee of a lot of Italian Avant Garde Harp Music.

But I have no Faure, Roussel, Ibert, Caplet, Pierne, etc., disc. It's hard to find one with all the Standard Rep (the six here plus maybe Tourm...??, or Grandjany??, or another perennial), but Maria Graf on Philips might do. I do actually have the Ibert Chamber Music, which includes an endless 26min. suite for solo harp, oy vey!! I mean, how many French recital pieces do you NEED?

If anyone could direct me to some absolutely exquisite solo harp music of transcendent quality, I'm all for it. I could probably hear any horror played on the harp, haha,... it takes Ferneyhough to try to squeeze some razor blades out of it,... but, it still sounds like a harp, haha!! But, give me the harp in any Modern Ensemble. I'd like to point out the Xenakis piece Jalons, and his Piano Concerto No.3 Keqrops, which both have evocative harp interludes.

And, of course, how could I forget the Modern Masterpiece Sur Incises by Boulez?, which features three harps. I haven't listened to that in a while.

So, how bout that Harp Thread?

[bhodges]

Bridget Kibbey is one of the best harpists I know; she does a wide variety of music, including many contemporary works. (I last heard her in Stockhausen's Freude, and she has done Carter's Bariolage fairly often.)

[asin]B001G9FCJS[/asin]

--Bruce