Sept Sonates pour la Harpe—Sonata 7a

About the composer

Harpist and composer Jean Baur—or Jean-Pierre Baur—was born in 1719 in Bouzonville in the northeastern part of France. He moved to Paris in 1745, where he made a career of performing and teaching. He also composed and published extensively, including dozens of sonatas for cello, harp, harpsichord, and violin, along with several pieces for voice. His daughter, Marie-Marguerite Baur (1748–1828), was a harpist, as was his son, Barthélemy (1751-1823), and his grandson, Charles-Alexis (1789–1836). Jean Baur died circa 1773.

Jean Baur played the single-action pedal harp. This elegant instrument was invented around 1720 and was the dominant harp from about 1750–1810. These stunning, handcrafted harps were lightly strung and tuned at a lower pitch, typically A415. The lighter tension resulted in a beautifully nuanced, responsive instrument that could be played quickly and lightly with ease, especially compared to a modern harp. Consequently, editing Baur’s compositions in order to play them on a modern double-action pedal harp presents real challenges.

This collection includes Jean Baur’s seven unaccompanied harp sonatas and an encore movement for modern harp. Each of the 22 movements presented is unique and exquisitely crafted. The compositional style throughout the collection is both graceful and inspired. Jean Baur composed in the fashionable galant style, emphasizing elegant melodies with simple harmonies. The melodies in Baur’s compositions make extensive use of ornamentation; Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s (1714-1788) Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments illuminates the execution of these ornaments. However, keyboard ornamentation does not translate directly to the harp. Each ornament has been carefully evaluated for this edition and is fully written out. I have painstakingly worked my way through these sonatas, making every attempt to maintain the integrity of Baur’s compositions, while also making them playable on modern harp. Many of the editing decisions were not easy, but I believe this contemporary edition will breathe new life into Baur’s work. Sept Sonates pour la Harpe & Le Bon Hiver Encore is appropriate for the intermediate to advanced pedal harpist.

This incredible collection, written in Baur’s signature spirited and gracious style, has been neglected for over 250 years. I am thrilled to add it to the modern pedal harp repertoire.