Unplayable Harp Parts

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This topic has 25 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 4 months ago by Alison.

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February 25, 2007 at 10:50 pm #146218

Saul Davis Zlatkovski
Participant

Miss Lawrence used to say: speculate upon the harmony. Meaning, read the chords and play the notes that are possible, and forget the rest. We had a performance of the Schoenberg when I was in school, and fortunately for me, I didn’t have to play it, but I believe I may still have her edited parts.

February 26, 2007 at 4:46 am #146219

Elizabeth Volpé Bligh
Participant

Re: Pines of Rome impossible section: Tayce, the part I was referring to is in I pini del Gianicolo, the second and fifth bars after rehearsal #16. I was taught to just finger those notes instead of doing the harmonics, since it goes so fast. I think the harmonics you are remembering might be those at the end of that movement. I do them in flats, but I wonder if your conductor wanted the more muted sound that is produced by the sharps.

February 27, 2007 at 3:14 pm #146220

unknown-user
Participant

Hi,

what about “Heldenleben” of Strauss?

March 2, 2012 at 11:19 pm #146221

Katheryn
Participant

So is the Pines of Rome really hard? I was just asked to play it and am looking into it. Would it be considered a professional harpist level? The day of the performance is the same week of my SAT test and a wedding gig that I have. Is it worth it?

March 3, 2012 at 1:24 am #146222

kreig-kitts
Member

I just posted on (and on and on) Pines in the Coffee Break thread.

March 3, 2012 at 1:44 am #146223

David Ice
Member

There is one section of Ein Heldenleben (2nd harp) that I spent one whole day trying it in every conceivable key until I figured it out in (if memory serves) 7 sharps.

March 3, 2012 at 1:56 am #146224

Elizabeth Volpé Bligh
Participant

That section of Tannhauser that came up in the Professional harpists forum…if anyone can play it as written, my hat is off to them.

March 5, 2012 at 6:21 pm #146225

Saul Davis Zlatkovski
Participant

Pines of Rome is tricky. I tried editing the part, and sent it to Bea Rose, who laughed at it, then sent me her copy. I had missed a lot of little corrections that were quite important. Thank goodness for people like her.

March 9, 2012 at 5:06 am #146226

Elizabeth Volpé Bligh
Participant

Sometimes a part was written reasonably, but becomes unplayable when the conductor chooses an inappropriate tempo. That’s why it is good to have Plan B up your sleeve.

March 9, 2012 at 4:47 pm #146227

David Ice
Member

LOL Elizabeth!

April 23, 2012 at 11:41 pm #146228

Alison
Participant

I once had a harp part which opened with say, 4 or more flats in the first bar then many sharps in the second bar or vice versa and I knew that the composer had simply composed different harmonies but then I thought why even think a harp can play any combination at any moment…! It was easy enough to change the first bar and get into the 2nd bar and the composer was about so I let him know it wasn’t very practical.
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