Gounod Faust

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

I am playing excerpts from the opera Faust by Gounod, and I see that it calls for four harps. We are doing it with just one. If we had at least two harps, there would be no problem, since the part could be split. With only one harp, there are a few spots that are either physically impossible for my hands, or so taxing that I worry about injuring myself. Has anyone done an edited version for one harp?

[Sylvia]

http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/0/0b/IMSLP327920-PMLP48987-Gounod_-_Faust_-_Harpe.pdf

I suppose you’ve already been to IMSLP, but in case you haven’t, here it is.
I don’t know if it would help you or not.
I’m not familiar with it, but I wonder how much of it can actually be heard.

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Thanks, Sylvia. I stopped panicking and found good solutions to the problem spots.

[MusikFind1]

Gounod Faust Opera Harp part:

It’s mainly one part, but there are spots where it divides into two. For example, look at Act III, from letter B until a little past C. The Met orchestra uses four harps – two doubling the first part and two doubling the second part.

Reprint of the original harp part
E.F. Kalmus A2302 $35.00
http://www.kalmus-music.com

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Thanks, Clinton! We just played a concert of excerpts from the opera. Some of the tempi were very fast, i.e. the prison scene in the finale. It would have been great to have a second harpist. If we play this again, I will try to get them to hire one.

[MusikFind1]

For those harpists who have asked: The two parts are printed together so that each harpist can see what the other is playing.

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