With Joseph Sowa (Wizarding School for Composers)
Harp is one of the most confusing instruments to write for. My guest today is Danielle Kuntz, a contemporary harpist and harp notation coach, who regularly commissions and premieres new works for the harp. In today’s episode she breaks down the 4 mistakes every composer should avoid when writing for harp.
Discussion points:
- How the harp is actually a new instrument
- Working with Composers as a harpist
- Introducing the four main challenges composers face when writing for harp
- Understanding harp pedals
- The physical mechanics of playing the harp
- The different registers and their resonance
- What composers write vs. what harpists play
- How to format a score to make easy for harpists to play
- Danielle’s course on harp writing