Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Thoughts on harp writing

The harp´s distinctive appearance, it´s size and it´s place in music history, are assets which should be utilised when creating a stage piece like Your breath in my ear. All those aspects help to create a memorable theater experience before the performance even starts. As soon as audience members enter the hall and see the instrument on stage they get curious and the mood of the piece starts to infiltrate their minds, affecting each audience member differently. Once the actual performance does start then the harp´s soundworld blends perfectly with the world of dance, giving it a light and floating sensation.

Writing for harp could be compared to solving a puzzle like sudoku. You know where to start, and you know where you want to end, but in order to reach your destination you have to make many different parameters align. That can be a fun challenge and even though it´s often a journey of compromises to one´s music, the final outcome is always a plesant one in my experience.

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