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

[harp guy]

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.

[eliza-morrison]

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.

[eliza-morrison]

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

[HBrock25]

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.

[Iuri Kovaliov]

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.

[barbara-kraichy–2]

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

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

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.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

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.

[bob-litterell]

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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