The development of the modern pedal harp and its influence on European compositions

Abstract

The pedal harp has undergone several changes since its inception in the eighteenth century, and the music for the harp has increased and evolved over the years as well. The pieces that I chose to perform for my senior recital were all compositions by composers around Europe, but each exemplify a different section of time of the harp’s progression. The pieces that were performed included Variations on a Theme of Mozart by M. I. Glinka, Sonata in A Major by Friedrich Wilhelm Rust, Viejo Zortzico by Jesús Guridi, Absidioles by Bernard Andrés, and Moldau by Bedřich Smetana and transcribed for harp by Hans Trneček. These pieces were chosen to be performed not only because of their individual difficulty levels, but also because together, these pieces exemplify most of the time periods that the harp has been a part of and create a wellrounded recital. This project not only included the learning and performing of these pieces, but also explaining their place in the history of the pedal harp until the present day. A recording of the senior recital can be found at the following link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OSGeOjT3fXC5BvnGghbDhlNAGg0aLPme