Holiday Ensemble Music!

     You may be thinking about some Christmas Ensemble Music. There is still time to add to your holiday repertoire! Cindy Horstman recently sent me these titles for consideration from the great state of Texas.

      I Wonder as I Wander is arranged for 3 harps. This snappy arrangement features a fun, syncopated accompaniment to the traditional melody. It has no lever or pedal changes once you get started and is ideal for late beginner to early intermediate players.

     If you bring a few bass clef notes up an octave in Harp 3, this arrangement can easily be played on 3 lever harps. The melody is played by Harp 1, the great syncopated accompaniment is played by Harp 2, and a dotted quarter, 8th note bass line is played by Harp 3. This tune could also be played with Harp 1 and Harp 2 only, if by chance you do not have 3 players available!

      There are two F#s needed in Harp 2, which can be set up before starting the piece and you never have to worry about a lever change after that! Cindy has also included some helpful fingerings and placing markings for your convenience. 

      Included are the score and 3 separate parts. Recommended. $ 25.00. Cindy also offers the option of a free MP3 download!  www.cindyhorstman.com

     What Child Is This? is arranged for two harps. Harp 1 can be played on lever harp and Harp 2 requires a pedal harp. This arrangement is suitable for early intermediate players. Cindy uses fantastic, lush harmonies

     Harp 1 features the melody and opens with glisses and also has rolled chords and triplets (not difficult). The only necessary levers are a couple of F#s, which can be set before the piece begins.

     Harp 2 uses great 7th chords in inversions, a left hand repeated note (pedal tone) for several measures at the beginning and at the end, a few well placed muffles, and rolled chords. There are quite a few pedal changes, but they are very clearly marked.

     I like this arrangement so much, I will probably use a pedal harp for my annual recital this Fall - and I don't move a pedal harp anymore if I don't have to!

     Included are the score and 2 separate parts. Highly recommended! $ 25.00. Cindy also offers the option of a free MP3 download!  www.cindyhorstman.com

We Three Kings: new from Frank Voltz

     As we continue to prepare for those holiday performances, gigs and church appearances, it surely is nice to know about new holiday music...especially if it comes from Frank Voltz. 

   I have written about Frank's compositions and arrangements many times over the years. I think this may be my most favorite one of all! Let me share with you some details about it.

   
    Consisting of 6 pages, this intermediate arrangement can be played on lever or pedal harp; there are only a few lever/pedal changes which are clearly marked.

 

    One especially unique thing about this selection is.... well... you expect We Three Kings to be in 6/8 time, right? Frank's version is in 4/4!  Ah, now I have you interested! This leads to delightful syncopated rhythms throughout. Your listeners will turn their heads, thinking, "Wait, what was that?"

    Included are a few rolled chords, some short arpeggios, some pres de la table ("PDLT"), a few glissandos and some chords marked touch damp, creating a staccato sound. A few helpful fingerings are included as well.

    The page turns are quite convenient and you will be pleased that the Frank Voltz, signature, lush, extended chords are plentiful!

    Run, do not walk to purchase your copy. There are also 3 more new Frank publications: What Child is This for pedal harp, and two more brand new original compositions: Forest Green (a fine tribute to harp builder, the late Steve Green) and Romance Remembered. 

     All 4 of these new publications are just $5.00 each.

  
     Just go to www.frankvoltz.com...and tell him I sent you!

MARCH from The Nutcracker

Are you starting to think about music for Christmas/Holiday time? Patricia Jaeger has published an arrangement of March from The Nutcracker Suite.
This two page arrangement is in the key of G and has just a couple of easy lever changes. Jaeger even includes several fun grace notes, which makes it sound even more like the orchestral version! Some helpful fingerings and placings are included as well as suggested dynamics.  It is perfect for early intermediate players and would be great fun for a program, recital or as background music at one (or more!) of those holiday gigs!
The music sells for $ 4.00, plus postage, and you can order your own copy and get more information about Patricia's other publications by sending her an e mail at: pjaeger99@hotmail.com.

Green Pastures by Susie Kunkle

Let me tell you a little about
Green Pastures
original music for the harp by Susie Kunkle

Susie Kunkle is a fine musician and has created a delightful, first time publication of 10, descriptive, original compositions.

You will find them to be of late beginner to early intermediate difficulty. They fun to play, easy to read, and chord symbols are included. You will find some rolled chords and also some very creative, syncopated rhythms as well.

The tunes are 1 - 3 pages with well planned page turns when needed.

Perfect for background music, therapy or even a program!
She has named some of them after her grandchildren!

To order your copy (only $ 12.00 plus shipping), send an e mail to Susie at: susiekunkle@gmail.com

Here are the titles:

Adeline Norah
Eden's Dance
Lament
Contemplation
Far Away
Evensong
Micah's Ride
Evangeline
Declan's Prayer
Wisdom's Call

Windshadows II, by Kim Robertson



In 1987, Hal Leonard published a wonderful book of 16 Celtic tunes and 2 original tunes, arranged and composed by Kim Robertson, called Windshadows II.

Apparently, at some point, they decided to discontinue publishing the collection.  :-(

Well, welcome to 2012!  Kim, along with the help of Verlene Schermer of Karmalu Productions, has re-printed the collection.
Hooray!

The arrangements have been edited and re-notated, minimizing the page turns from the original edition. Helpful chord symbols are provided, and it has a nice spiral binding.

You can find the book at the usual harp music retailers, for only $ 20.00!
Well worth it.  The level is mostly appropriate for mid to later intermediate players and beyond.

You really cannot go wrong with a book of music from Kim Robertson!

Good Morning from chilly Toledo, Ohio!
I want to share news of some recently published music with you.

Louise Trotter has created a new collection called Puerto Rican Sketches.

Each selection is 2 pages long, so you do not have to worry about page turns! I think these compositions could be played by later beginners and above.

"Old San Juan" is in the key of D minor and you only need to set your B levers to flat and your C levers to sharp before you begin. No changes at all during the tune!  The style is a bit like a Tango in places, easy to read the notation (music notation was done by Sharon Thormahlen), and chord symbols are included. The tune includes crossing the left hand over the right...very fun... a rolled chord and even a gliss at the end!

"The Beach" opens with glisses and big rolled chords.  Louise says to play the glisses while "visualizing a gentle surf". This selection is in the key of C and requires no lever changes at all. A few helpful fingerings are included, but no chord symbols.

"The Rainforest" features some harmonics and some descending glisses which use the back of the nails...sounds like 'soft rain'! AT the end, Louise includes some pairs of strings played, followed by a muffle, which creates the sound of the Coqui frog! Fun! There are a few fingerings, but no chord symbols marked in this one.

"Fiesta!" is in a medium 6/8 time. This one will make you want to dance! Louise mentions that you will want to play this with a 'strict rhythm'.  She even suggests a clapping rhythm which can compliment the tune. A few helpful fingerings and also chord symbols are included.

Bonus! Louise has included an audio CD with this collection!  You can listen to her play each of the compositions, giving you an idea of how the composer plays them herself!

The book and CD sell for only $ 15.00.  For more information, go to www.louisetrotter.com.

..and tell her I sent you!

Happy Harping!

Denise

A Bird Came Flying

A Bird Came Flying, by Ann Vanschothorst. Published by Frimout Music, Nuenen, Netherlands. 2011. 23 pages. Available from http://www.frimout.com/.

This original collection of five tunes came in a package from the Netherlands!  Each of these contemporary tunes has a descriptive title. A Bird Came Flying, for example, has a section with a subtitle ‘In the beauty of its flight’. 

This collection would be good for program or recital pieces, each can stand on its own.  Technically, they are challenging, including some two against three, 16^th note triplets, a section in 5/4 time and one piece has a combination of 4/4, 6/8, 5/4, 5/8 and 4/8! 

Keys range from 2 flats to 1 sharp and there are no lever changes and no suggested fingerings. This collection is a welcome addition to the “more challenging” music, which can be played on the lever harp. Enjoy!

You may like to explore the A Bird Came Flying contest.  What a unique idea! Just follow this link: http://www.abirdcameflying.com/contest.htm

(I'm waiting on information regarding ordering from a US distributor)