{"id":80624,"date":"2020-02-24T15:06:38","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T20:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harpcolumn.com\/music\/?post_type=product&p=80624"},"modified":"2024-04-02T20:16:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T00:16:12","slug":"pineapple-blues-from-american-suite","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/harpcolumn.com\/music\/all-music\/artists\/willi-maerz\/pineapple-blues-from-american-suite\/","title":{"rendered":"“Pineapple Blues” from ‘American Suite’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Notes from the composer<\/h3>\n

“That’s Entertainment,” the motto of the 2020 National Conference of the American Harp Society in Orlando, Fla., inspired me to compose a concise suite for mixed harp ensemble (two lever harps and two pedal harps) whose movements each represent one typical originally-American musical style respectively. These styles, such as Blues or Swing, have greatly impacted the music of the 20th century in general, and they are still very popular around the globe. Each and all of these American contributions to the history of music can not be too highly appreciated!<\/p>\n

Blues as a musical genre encompasses a vast wealth of variety. Certainly one of the most expressive styles of music, it has inspired and inspires many artists to this day. Pedal slides, a feature of the harp, are a perfect way to produce the signature \u201cblue notes\u201c of Blues music, and they make the harp surprisingly well suited for the genre. This piece also features, among other things, the unique special effect created by strings plucked with the fingernails.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Willi Maerz’s “Pineapple Blues” from the American Suite<\/em> is for four lever and pedal harps with optional electric harp or bass. (Harps 1A and 2A can be played on lever harp, while Harps 1 and 2 require pedal harp.). Purchase the other three movements separately (“Strawberry Rag<\/a>,” “Sweet Cherry Waltz<\/a>,” and “Big Apple Swing<\/a>“) or the entire American Suite<\/em><\/a>. Scroll down for notes from the composer. Click here<\/a> to download free practice-along audio files for each part!<\/p>\n

This piece is available as a PDF download in the following combinations:<\/p>\n