Colorado Symphony principal harpist Courtney Hershey Bress will perform as concerto soloist in the world premiere of Harp of Ages by GRAMMY Award-winning composer Michael Daugherty. The work will be conducted by Andrew Litton in concerts May 12–14 at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver.
Hershey Bress says she first encountered Daugherty’s work when she joined the Colorado Symphony. Finding his harp writing very idiomatic, she asked him to compose a harp concerto, which she now describes as “unusual, innovative, wild, and wonderful.” Hershey Bress adds, “I love Michael’s music because it’s very approachable, easy to listen to, and fun to listen to.”
The concerto has seven movements and is about half an hour long. Traversing several continents over 3,000 years, each movement features a different genre and musical culture, inspired by harpists and fictional harp-playing characters. As Daugherty puts it, “I really wanted to show the diversity of the harp, especially since it’s one of the oldest instruments.”
Daugherty tells the stories of two harp players from antiquity. A movement inspired by Middle Eastern music pays homage to David, who played the harp for King Saul of Israel ca. 1000 B.C. Music in an ancient Greek style represents the Greek lyric poet and harp player Sappho, who lived at the turn of the 6th century B.C.
Another historical figure from the not-so-distant past, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, was a nun who wrote poetry, history, and music in 17th-century Mexico. Daugherty transforms a hymn that she wrote into music for harp and orchestra.
The concerto also includes references to 20th-century pop culture. Taking inspiration from Harpo Marx and his harp solos in Hollywood movies, Daugherty plays around with special effects and extended techniques, featuring only harp and percussion. The concerto continues with blues, honoring two important Black harpists from Detroit, Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. Another pop culture reference may be rather unexpected. As a “big Star Trek fan,” Daugherty recalls the character Uhura, who played the African kora.
The final movement of the concerto is called “Irish Wedding.” Daugherty references his daughter’s wedding this summer, along with the importance of the harp in Irish culture, and the rhythmic excitement of a dance for the closing section of the work.
For more information, visit the Colorado Symphony’s website. To learn about one of Daugherty’s other recent projects for harp, check out our CD review of his composition for Yolanda Kondonassis’ album FIVE MINUTES for Earth.
