Andres Caplet: Masque of the Red Death

[e-nb]

A piece for harp and string quartet. Has anyone here on Harp Column played this one?
How would you rate it’s difficulty? Intermediate? Advanced? Fiendishly difficuly to nigh impossible?
Thanks in advance.

[carl-swanson]

It’s definitely advanced repertoire.

[paul-knoke]

It’s on IMSLP if you want to take a look:
https://s9.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/5/59/IMSLP20965-PMLP48602-Caplet_Conte_Fantastique_score.pdf

[e-nb]

Thank you Carl and Paul – I’ll have a look at the IMSLP link and see if think I could handle it – or whether I would just be traumatised by it.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

It is musically and technically challenging, on a par with the Danses Sacree et Profane but longer. There are very helpful markings by Carlos Salzedo, if you can find them. But the real question is, do you have a string quartet on hand? If so, you might try Glanville-Hicks Concertino Antico, Paul White’s Sea Chanty, and Reynaldo Hahn’s Prelude, Rigaudon and Valse (sic.).

[balfour-knight]

I checked the score on the IMSLP link, and it says “Piano,” not harp. It looks difficult enough for piano!

[balfour-knight]

I did not look closely enough at the title page, ha, ha! It does say “harp or piano,” but I would hate to have to play this on the harp. Notice all the rapid octaves in the low bass and the staccato notes. That would work much better and have much more clarity on the piano. Once again, I am so glad to be retired and not have to face and prepare music like this, my friends!

Best wishes,
Balfour

[e-nb]

Thank you for all the suggestions – I will look into these. As for “Masque” – I think perhaps I’ll leave it for now. I suspect it would take a long time and hours of intensive practice to be comfortable playing this, and sadly time is limited. Sigh!

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

The piano version is not the original harp part. There is an earlier version, Legende for harp and orchestra, but the part seems the same.

[Author]

Posts