Harps And Harpists

Six thousand years of lavishly illustrated harp history

Harp

"Written by an art historian who is also a performing harpist, this book provides, in a single source, information on the development of the harp and its technique and repertoire. The first part is devoted to a lucid exposition of the history of the instrument and is documented by over 70 illustrations of carvings, illuminated manuscripts, paintings, and musical instruments. Dr. Rensch traces the harp from its representation on monuments of the ancient East to its present-day form. There is material from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Israel, and Greece, with a rich haul from medieval manuscripts and carvings of Western Europe. Harps portrayed by master painters, from the early Renaissance to the baroque period, and some extant harps from the late Middle Ages are also described in detail. There is an extensive discussion of the pedal harp, from the earliest instruments made by Hochbrucker, Cousineau, Naderman, and Erard to harps made in America in the twentieth century by Lyon and Healy and by Wurlitzer. Contributions of the virtuoso harpists of the nineteenth century and important harpist-teachers of the twentieth are noted. Modern use of the harp is also surveyed. The book's information on technical points, special effects, and the like will be of particular interest. A full list of recordings of solo and ensemble music and a carefully chosen list of compositions, graded for school use, are included in the appendixes. There are also a comprehensive bibliography and an index. The material of this book will be of wide interest to the professional musician, the music educator, and the composer; students of the harp will find it a vital source of information."--Jacket.

Revising her classic 1989 book Harps and Harpists, Roslyn Rensch expands her authoritative history of this timeless instrument. This lavishly illustrated edition, with 137 black-and-white images and 24 color plates, surveys the progress of the harp from antiquity to the present day. The new edition includes two new chapters; an extensive bibliography and index; personal anecdotes of the author's studies under Alberto Salvi; and an appendix on the Roslyn Rensch Papers and Harp Collection, which are housed at the University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign.

Harps and harp music have enjoyed a renaissance over the past century and today can be heard in a broad array of musical contexts. Guide to the Contemporary Harp is a comprehensive resource that examines the vibrant present-day landscape of the harp. The authors explore the instrument from all angles, beginning with organology; moving through composition, notation, and playing techniques; and concluding with the contemporary repertoire for the harp. The rapid diversification in these areas of harp performance is the result of both technological innovations in harp making, which have produced the electric harp and MIDI harp, and innovative composers and players. These new instruments and techniques have broadened the concept of what is possible and what constitutes harp music for today. Guide to the Contemporary Harp is an essential guide for any harpist looking to push the instrument and its music to new heights.

The Harpsicle Harp method book is an excellent tool for learning to play the Harpsicle Harp or any size harp from the very beginning. No musical knowledge is necessary to use this method. All the music is written in the keys of C Major and A minor, so no sharping levers or pedals are needed. The guitar chords are displayed above the staff, so the students can add to the written music, or other instruments can accompany the harp. The music is graduated from two fingers to playing with both hands. The music is labeled to allow the students to gradually learn the notes and fingering without stress or frustration. The method contains lessons on the parts of the harp, tuning, stringing, and taking care of your instrument. Also included in the method are reading music, time signatures and counting, placing and bracketing, finger drills, and much more. There are also eighteen songs, starting from very easy and continuing to add to the music, as the student progresses. All songs have labeled notes, to help the students learn notes and fingering. Online video compliments the book, and follows up the written instructions, with video footage, so the student can visually see the method. Includes access to online video.

A basic, easy-to-understand, step-by-step method about playing the harp. Extensively illustrated, this book is for musicians of all levels, requiring only an interest in learning to play the harp. The material in the book can be applied to any type of harp (with or without pedals) and any type of music. Specific topics covered include basic positioning, tuning, and techniques, etudes, and a colorful selection of folk harp solos. Each section of the book is arranged to show the most efficient way to learn quickly and as easily