What are the most harps that a symphony composer wrote for?

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This topic has 23 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 15 years ago by bob-litterell.

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January 21, 2011 at 1:18 am #147526

harp guy
Participant

I once performed a piece by Eric Whitacre (not quite a symphonist but still a fantastic composer) who asked for ‘as many harps as you can get on stage.’ The harp part was impossible. I had to do a reduction. Even the pianist (who doubled the part) had to reduce it because the chords were so big.

February 20, 2011 at 10:15 pm #147527

eliza-morrison
Participant

Years ago, we did Symphonie Fantastique with 4 harps (Boston Philharmonic). The conductor, Benjamin Zander, told me he wished he could hire ten! It was a great sound; very thunderous on the descending scales.

February 20, 2011 at 10:18 pm #147528

eliza-morrison
Participant

I believe there are also six or seven harps called for in the Berlioz opera “Les Troyens.”

July 29, 2011 at 12:50 am #147529

HBrock25
Participant

Hello Friends,
I know that Saint-Saens has composed a piece for 25 harps and orchestra. I don’t know the name of this piece, but it is an original piece for 25 harps. For more than 20 years I’m searching for this piece. As you could comprehend, this piece may not be presented without a super-big effort. I hope someone could help me to identify this piece. If anyone of you has already got any information on this piece, please, post here.
Thank you.
IURI.

July 29, 2011 at 1:01 am #147530

Iuri Kovaliov
Member

Dear Friends,
I have just discovered that the Saint-Saens’ piece is named ‘Déjanire’: in the Wikipedia’s text, I could read that there was a version with 18 harps, but, as I said, many years ago, I received the information on 25 harps. If anyone could help me in informing (in details) about that piece, I would be very grateful.
Thank you.
IURI.

July 29, 2011 at 3:50 pm #147531

barbara-kraichy–2
Participant

Salzedo is right about “evens out.” My editor Ron Erickson, an orchestra violinist,

July 29, 2011 at 5:58 pm #147532

Saul Davis Zlatkovski
Participant

If there is one part for multiple harps, then it is meant to be a choir of harps, all on the same part.

I recall a Soviet work, perhaps a cantata in memory of Stalin that has six harps in it, but I haven’t found a listing yet. Perhaps Clint knows what I am thinking of.

July 29, 2011 at 6:01 pm #147533

Saul Davis Zlatkovski
Participant

Never mind, I found it:

Prokofiev’s Ode to the End of the War:

Orchestration: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, english horn, 2 clarinets, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, 3 saxophones, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 6 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 3 tubas, timpani, percussion (tam-tam, tubular bells, snare drum, bass drum, triangle, cymbals, xylophone), 8 harps, 4 pianos, and 8 double basses.

August 21, 2011 at 5:50 am #147534

bob-litterell
Participant

Khachaturian wrote a work called Ode to Joy for mezzo-soprano solo, 24-40 solo violins in unison, 6-10 harps (2 separate parts) chorus and orchestra. I have several recordings of this beautiful work and have had the score for many years. It was published in Moscow in 1964.
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