In celebration of Henriette Renié’s 150th birthday this year, harpist and Renié scholar Jaymee Haefner has organized the production and release of a remastered set of Renié’s recordings of her own works and a variety of works by other composers. The two-disc set is available from MSR Classics and will be released digitally on major streaming platforms within a few weeks.
Harpist and Renié scholar Jaymee Haefner guided the remastering of a new set of Renié’s recordings.
“This remastering project began during the pandemic in collaboration with the MSR Classics label and Swineshead Productions (David Bowles), as so much of our work as musicians transitioned to being online,” Haefner says. “I noticed that while teaching my students at [University of North Texas], there was simply no replacement for playing examples of Mlle Renié playing her own compositions, but to utilize these historical recordings, the pitch and tempo needed correction because the original records had physical deteriorations. In some cases, only a portion of the piece (such as her Concerto in C Minor) was usable, but every effort was made to share every available recording (whether professionally or personally recorded).
“It’s no secret that Renié did not savor the process of studio recording (which had to occur in a single, painstakingly continuous take). This collection of recordings shows her true and authentic living artistry. Like every harpist, she made some errors in live performance, but her artistry was flawless and her interpretation priceless, and it was crucially important to preserve this voice,” Haefner says. “This collection is a rare look at the human side of this great artist who was so far ahead of her time as a performer, composer, and teacher.”
Haefner’s role in the project, which has been five years in the making, included collecting the physical copies of the recordings to be re-mastered, sponsoring their digital restoration, approving the necessary corrections, and working with MSR Classics to make the final recordings available. “The timing of this release is poignant, as my teacher (and Renié disciple) Susann McDonald recently passed away,” Haefner adds.
For more information, visit the MSR Classics website.
