Guide to the Contemporary Harp

Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• 1. Organology
• I. Historical Reminders
• II. The Pedal Harp
• General Characteristics
• The Parts of the Harp
• The Strings
• The Pedals and the Modulation Mechanism
• "Using the Pedals"
• Pedal Notation
• Playing the Harp
• III. The Lever Harp
• General Characteristics
• The Strings
• Levers and the Modulation Mechanism
• Playing the Lever Harp
• IV. Electric Harps
• The Electroacoustic Harp
• The Electric Harp
• The Electric-Acoustic Harp
• V. Some 21st Century Creations
• The MIDI Harp
• The Automatic Harp
• 2. Writing and Language
• I. Notations
• Measured Notation
• Unmeasured Notation
• Proportional Notation
• Introduction of the Aleatory Element (Indeterminacy)
• Open Works
• Combination of Several Notations
• Superposition of Different Tempi
• Writing on Several Staves
• Writing with Another System than the Five-Line Stave
• Graphic Scores
• II. Dramatized Writings
• Micro-Choreography, Theatrical Gestures
• Dramaturgic Use of the Voice
• Use of the Sung Voice, with No Theatrical Indication
• Use of the Spoken and/or the Sung Voice with No Text
• III. Mixed Forms of Music
• Some Works for Harp and Extensions
• 3. Playing Techniques
• I. Timbre
• "Pres de la table" (Near the Soundboard)
• "Bas dans les cordes" (Low in the Strings)
• "Pres des chevilles" (Near the Tuning Pins)
• Harmonic Sound
• Sound Using the Fingernail
• Koto Sound
• Plucked Sound
• Vibrated Sound
• Portando From One Pitch to Another
• Xylo Sound
• Pizzicato (Pizz.)
• Bartok Pizzicato
• Normal Position
• Bisbigliando
• Tone-Color Melody (Klangfarbenmelodie)
• II. Glissandi, Chords and Clusters
• Single Glissando
• Fast Glissando
• Multiple Glissando
• Pitchless Glissandi
• Flat, Broken, Arpeggiated/Rolled Chords
• Cluster Glissando
• Rasgueado
• Cluster Glissando with Thunder Effect
• Cluster
• Muffled Cluster
• Tremolo Cluster
• Aeolian Cluster
• Various Forms of Rubbing
• III. Resonances, muffles and silences
• Muffles
• Let Vibrate
• Fermata
• IV. Hits on the harp
• Different Types of Hits
• Which Part of the Harp to Hit?
• Composers Who Have Elaborated a Detailed Notation for Hits
• V. Wire strings
• Whistling Sound (with the Palm of the Hand)
• Wired Sound (Grabbing a Wire String with the fingers)
• Scrape with a Nail or a Plectrum
• Buzz
• Thunder Effect
• Sustained Thunder Effect
• VI. Pedals and Levers
• Pedal Glissando
• Pedal Trill
• Rhythmic Effect with Pedals
• Pedal Movement Ad Libitum with Sound Effect
• Pedal Buzz
• Resonant Pedal Sound
• Levers
• Thunder Effect
• VII. Using Objects
• Metal Rod
• Stick
• Use of Percussion Instruments by the Harpist
• Bow
• Electronic Bow
• Plectrum
• Other Objects
• Prepared Harp
• Inserting Materials Between the Strings (Foam, Paper, Cardboard, Textile, Rubber, Elastic Band, etc.)
• VIII. Scordatura
• Pedal Harp
• Lever Harp
• Two Harps
• Conclusion
• Significant Landmarks
• List of Notations
• Bibliography
• The History of Music in the 20th and 21st Centuries
• Contemporary Notation
• Musical Instruments, The Orchestra
• The Harp
• Internet Sites
• Repertoire of Works for Harp
• Solo Harp
• Harp and Extensions
• Lever Harp
• Lever Harp and Extensions
• Duets and Harp Ensembles
• Concertos
• Duets
• Trios
• Quartets and More
• Ensembles and Extensions
• Index of Composers Quoted
• Index of Playing Techniques