This creative project includes a harp recital presented on April 27, 1969, and a paper comprising the evolvement of the harp into a chromatically capable instrument and the teachers and composers who have worked with it. The inventions leading to the final solution in 1810 of the double action pedals are presented as well as the following improvements which have resulted in the sonorous tonal quality of today's concert grand harps.Although the double action pedals were presented in 1810, many years passed before the harp received the acceptance of major composers. This study traces the developing recognition of the harp and the harp virtuosi and teachers who influenced this acceptance through their concert tours, technique and method books, and principally by preparing numerous harpists as talented performers and teachers. / School of Music

In 1937, Gustav Bumcke (1876-1963) composed the Scherzo, op. 67 for alto saxophone and double-action pedal harp. Since then, over 50 duos were written for various members of the saxophone family and the pedal harp, yet most of this repertoire is rarely performed and many artists are not yet aware of it. This document investigates works that are (1) composed for two musicians: a harpist and a saxophonist; (2) intended for the double-action pedal harp; and (3) originally composed for this instrumentation (no transcriptions). In Part I, An Investigation of the Development of the Genre, pieces are introduced in chronological order, and placed in historical context. Composers such as Gustave Bumcke and Jean Absil wrote short tonal pieces for alto saxophone and harp. In 1969, Günther Tautenhahn composed the Elegy for tenor saxophone and harp, featuring disjunct melodies with wide intervals. In France, Yvonne Desportes and Ida Gotkovsky composed pieces for alto saxophone and harp. Their pieces are substantially longer in duration and have much higher technical demands for both instruments. During the 1980s composers such as Jacqueline Fontyn, Marc Tallet, and Griffith Rose used a variety of extended techniques and avant-garde notation. Mauricio Kagel's Zwei Akte from 1989 is the longest piece in the genre (c. 28 minutes), with pervasive use of extended techniques. During the 1990s composers wrote saxophone and harp duos involving the bass saxophone and the soprano saxophone. Composers such as Quinto Maganini, François Rossé, Armando Ghidoni, and Tomislav Hmeljak wrote pedagogical pieces, suitable for young and intermediate students. In Part II, Annotated Bibliography, 30 published, readily available works for saxophone and harp are presented. The annotation for each piece includes: title, composer (years), dedication, duration, publisher or contact information for obtaining the piece, type of saxophone used, saxophone criteria grade of difficulty chart, harp criteria grade of difficulty chart, and a short discussion of the piece's form, harmony (if applicable), and any outstanding characteristics.

The purpose of this dissertation was to research harp solos written by Canadian composers in the twentieth century and to determine factors that could have contributed to the rise in output of harp literature in Canada during that period. In addition to research of existing writings, interviews with two performers, Erica Goodman and Judy Loman, and two composers, Marjan Mozetich and R. Murray Schafer, were conducted. Analysis of six selected works from 1957 to 2002, Little Suite by Robert Turner, The Crown of Ariadne by R. Murray Schafer, Fifteen Pieces for Harp by John Weinzweig, From the Eastern Gate by Alexina Louie, Songs of Nymphs by Marjan Mozetich, and the King David Sonata by Srul Irving Glick, showed the diversity of output and provided opportunity to look for common elements. The factors that coincided with the increase in solo harp literature by Canadian composers included an increase in the number of professional harpists and composers, government support through commissioning grants, trends in solo literature at large, and avenues for performance. Specific motivations for the cases studied included commissions, respect for virtuosic harpists, interest in composers’ works, opportunities for performance and audience exposure to new works. / Review of literature -- Interviews -- Little suite by Robert Turner (1957) -- The crown of Ariadne by R. Murray Schafer (1979) -- Fifteen pieces for harp by John Weinzweig (1983) -- From the eastern gate by Alexina Louie (1985) -- Songs of nymphs by Marjan Mozetich (1988) -- King David sonata by Srul Irving Glick (1998) -- Conclusion. / School of Music

Ng Cheuk-yin Peter. / Thesis submitted in: Dec 2000. / Thesis (M.Mus.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Composition 1 --- The City that Never Sleeps 《不夜城》 for Chinese Orchestra / Chapter Composition 2 --- The Clouds 《行雲》 for Chinese Orchestra / Chapter Composition 3 --- Flowers 《花》 for and Harp / Chapter Composition 4 --- Static Days for orchestra

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1982. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 920-946). Discography: leaf 947.

This work for harp and string orchestra uses musical materials derived from a chord taken from the lydian mode. The three major formal divisions are A, B, and A'. The A and A' sections are more homophonic in texture and slower in harmonic rhythm. The B section is mostly contrapuntal. Sections A and A' are dreamy and dance-like while the B section is turbulent and unrestful. These characteristics are represented by sustained sonorities, twoagainst- three rhythmic configurations, and lilting melodic materials in sections A and A', as opposed to the fragmented, ever-changing melodic material of the B section. The interweaving of the musical materials into a consummate form represents the conversations, personalities, and exploits of these Atmosphantoms, giving the music its philosophical and conversational character.

Not available / text

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: A. Adviser: Ann Yeung. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 292-332) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

When one realizes how little the harp of the 1700's had advanced from its Biblical predecessors, its neglect by such masters as Bach, Haydn, and Beethoven does not seem remarkable. Why should a serious composer waste his time in writing for an instrument with no facilities for modulating, an instrument the weak tones of which would be lost in an orchestra?

A comparative analysis of the musical transcriptions of Dorothy Ashby with those of her predecessors proves that Ashby was a uniquely powerful and innovative influence on the genre of jazz harp. This dissertation begins with a summative biography of Ashby, following her education in both jazz and classical music through to her career highlights as a performer, arranger and composer. An analysis of Ashby's recordings reveals the development of her groundbreaking musical style throughout her life. This paper also examines Ashby's social activism through musical theatre, especially with regards to combating racism. Next, a brief biography of jazz harp forerunners Casper Reardon and Adele Girard precedes a comparative analysis of Reardon's "Aint' Misbehavin" with Ashby's "Soft Winds" and a comparative analysis of Girard's "Harp Boogie" with Ashby's "Blues for Mr. K." Finally, myriad examples of current musicians covering and sampling her work confirm the paramount and lasting influence of Dorothy Ashby's music.