The similarities between the harp and the piano can pose extra challenges for composers and engravers. Should you follow the practices that are intuitive for piano? Or are the harp best practices something different?
This next YouTube video discusses one of the notation differences between the two instruments. Since the two hands on the harp interact in the same registers far more often than on the piano, the way we approach the notation is also different.
This video has plenty of notation examples from the literature, so you don’t want to miss it!
This video discusses how to improve the readability of harp music by dividing notes by register, rather than by hand. Referenced scores: Ginastera, Harp Concerto, Op. 25 Holliger, Sequenzen uber Johannes I, 32 for Harp, and Tchaikovsky, Romeo et Juliet.
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Do you have questions about the examples discussed in the video? Leave a comment!
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Danielle Kuntz is a new music harpist and harp notation coach for composers. Learn more about her work at daniellekuntz.com.