Downward arpeggios

[Gretchen Cover]

I am working on a couple pieces that require a bit more speed and dexterity than I could provide. In trying to problem solve how to get more speed and keep the notes even, I figured out that working intensely on downward arpeggios will work wonders for playing. Why I didn’t discover this years ago is beyond me. But it really works. And, I highly recommend this for the uh-em older harpists like me to keep your fingers limber.

I started with reworking Little Fountain by Samuel Pratt (written for lever harp) and then started on La Source by A. Hasselman. I went through all my music and also found “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” arranged by McDonald-Wood (excellent to practice rolled chords, too) and Lo, How a Rose, E’er Blooming arranged by Frank Voltz.

I hope in my lifetime to play La Source well, but I can now at least play the other three after all this cross-training. Well, I thought I would share this so maybe it would help another harpist’s playing.

[Alison]

Touche – I’d never learnt downward arpeggios properly either until I played La Source and knew they were a weak spot. I regard La Source as a Grade-8 level study, so how difficult is Little Fountain ? (it’s familiar but not in my library of music) and thanks for pointing out that is it for lever harp.

[Gretchen Cover]

O, How A Rose E’er Blooming arr. Frank Voltz is written for lever harp, too. It has both lever and pedal markings.

Re: Little Fountain. There are no pedal changes. The downward arpeggios for the most part repeat themselves. Notes are the same for both hands. I would put it in the intermediate level. You can hear clips on youtube.

[Alison]

yes it’s not exactly beginners stuff…
The Little Fountain by Samuel O. Pratt, Ana Harp: http://youtu.be/yZreDLhVuSY

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