55 Results for : harpist

  • Thumbnail
    Harp Concertos
    This disc explores that rarity of the classical repertoire, the harp concerto. The musical characteristics of the harp can provide somewhat of a challenge for the composer if writing a concerto for the instrument, but this disc boasts two wonderful examples that show seemingly endless possibilities.Frenchman François-Adrien Boieldieu (1775--1834) was probably best-known for his 40 operas, but after developing a close friendship with Sébastien Érard, the piano maker -- who was investigating and implementing improvements to the harp mechanism -- Boieldieu began to write pieces for the harp. With the lyricism of the instrument showcased in the second movement Andante, over slow-moving strings, and fast finger-work dominating the Allegro agitato finale, Boieldieu's concerto stands in marked contrast to that of Alberta Ginastera's. Here, after a fiery, almost aggressive opening few bars, the music gradually progresses towards the eerie chromaticism in the second movement. An extended virtuosic solo cadenza then marks the beginning of the finale, in which a series of tense chords hail the abrupt ending of the piece.The concertos are performed by Jutta Zoff, who was at the peak of her glittering career at the time of recording. The German harpist had been a favourite soloist of the Staatskapelle Dresden since 1967 and enjoyed tours of Europe, the USA and the Middle East. The orchestra is conducted by Siegfried Kurz.
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 11.30 EUR excl. shipping
  • Thumbnail
    A Ceremony of Carols / An English Day Book, 1 Audio-CD - With NYCOS National Girls Choir
    Christopher Bell (Dirigent) // Another highlight of Scotland's musical life comes from the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS) National Girls Choir. Joined by Claire Jones, the official harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales, Christopher Bell leads performances of Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, An English Day-Book - an exciting rarity by English composer Elizabeth Poston - and two contemporary works by Scottish composer Oliver Iredale Searle and Irish composer Stephen Deazley.
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 17.11 EUR excl. shipping
  • Thumbnail
    What's Keeping Me Going
    Arthur Fowler Tokyo Guitarist and Singer/Songwriter 2014 Debut Album What's Keeping Me Going The Artist Arthur Fowler found his groove as a teenaged Jimi Hendrix emulator on the East Side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and matriculated to the blues jam scene in the early 1980s. He played original music with jazz diva Kelley Johnson, a fellow student at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and studied with virtuoso guitarist, innovator, and educator, Jack Grassel. In college town cover bands and jazz jams, while studying literature and languages, Arthur collaborated with the likes of band leader Mark Schlaefer. He joined acclaimed vocalist Eva Denia's first jazz ensemble as she was beginning her career in Valencia, Spain, and neighboring resort cities on the Mediterranean coast. In Valencia, Arthur also studied with one of Spain's top jazz guitarists, Joan Soler. Arthur is now playing jazz, blues, and pop in Tokyo (Shinjuku) in various settings including regularly with soulful vocalist Noriko Shigehara as the Shake It Hard Band. Arthur's other Tokyo scene includes one of Tokyo's foremost Irish fiddlers, multi-instrumentalist Jim Ediger, with bassist Alan Gleason in the acoustic folk and rock band AJA. Arthur keeps mining his sound from his long time interests in Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix, psychedelic icon Jerry Garcia, and Latino megastar Carlos Santana. His songwriting may evoke Neil Young, or James Taylor, but his vocal style also draws on classic sounds like Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday. Arthur is available for bookings in the greater Tokyo area (and beyond) as a solo performer, session artist, or band member. The Album: 'What's Keeping Me Going' While the songs on this album are inspirations from Arthur Fowler's passionate youth, they are also the fruit of his maturity as an artist and the powerful international collaboration of Japanese and U.S. musicians. Collaborators include world-renowned blues harpist Matthew Skoller on three tunes and D.C.-based hip-hop artist RiMaNi on backing vocals, along with various Tokyo-area studio musicians. Musical producer and recording engineer Seiki Kitano (Bang On Recordings) has provided his signature attention to detail and warm and natural recording style to make this debut an original album of singular quality. With only two cover tunes, by Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix, the genre of this album is also original, though it is best described as Acoustic Rock in the tradition of Neil Young or even Cat Stevens. The music has also been described as Acid Folk, with a lot of space for lyrical and moody improvisational guitar and dark moments of soul-wrenching self-expression. Jazz inflections and some hints of a New Age sensibility make the style of Arthur's compositions hard to classify and worthy of repeated listenings. ??????????????????? ?????????????... ???????????·???????????????????????· ??????·???????????2?????11??60???70? ???????????????Acid Folk???????????????? ??????????????·?????????·????????? ?????????: ????·????? from ??? (?????) RiMaNi from ?????D.C. (????) ???·?????from ??(???) ??·????? from ?? (????????????) ???? from ?? (???) ????? from ?? (???????) ?????? from ?? (???)
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 26.76 EUR excl. shipping
  • Thumbnail
    My Angel
    Suite No. 1 BWV 996 was originally written for Lute. Also known to play on guitar. This music is filled with angelic sounds on the harp. Sarabande describes a prayer followed by Ground describing lights at the end of tunnel. Noctures are inspired by music of the night. Libestraume (Dream of Love) was inspired by a dream of falling in love, hope of marriage and a family performed live with love and passion. A comment by the audiences regarding this piece, Fantaisie on the Theme of Haydn Op. 31, was that they have seen angels during the recording of this CD performed to the audience 'Live'. Valse Brillante Op. 34, No. 2 was originally written for piano, transcribed by Kaori Otake. She has always had a love for piano music because of her mother being a pianist. This piece was inspired by the movie, 'I Know Who Killed Me' which was one of the piece played on this movie. Spanish Dance No. 2 was taken from the original CD recorded in the studio in Japan while making a recording for her duo/solo CD with her sister to give people in Japan Hope and Strength after the earthquake and tsunami. Proceeds of the CD, 'Sakura Sakura' will be donated to help the Tsunami Survivors in Japan indefinitely. Shades of Blue was written by Lynne Wainwright Palmer, her former harp teacher who has helped her with the audition to the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music where she studied. This piece is a jazz piece with 111 pedal changes within this short piece. Harp has 7 pedals for C, D, E, F, G, A, B notes with three steps to change the note from flat, natural and sharp. Waltz No. 1 Opus 83 is another piece originally written for piano. This piece performed with great speed is one of the most popular piece amongst the audiences. Encore: Sakura Sakura (Cherry Blossom) was recorded live bringing the audiences in tears... it touched the hearts of audience in depth. Cherry Blossomed in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami which gave people in Japan Hope and Strength. Harpist Kaori Otake's has received a harp from her mother as a gift. She has been playing the harp ever since. Ms Otake has given solo recitals and concerto performances around the world. She has performed the Debussy Danses with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Handel Concerto with the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra conducted by Ken Hsieh. She has also performed the Mozart Concerto with the Nippon Phil conducted by Kenichiro Kobayashi. She has performed at the EXPO '86 in Vancouver as well as in Aichi, Japan where she was born and was invited to do a solo recital in Osaka, Fukui, Chiba, Nichio, Tokyo, and Sapporo. Since then, Ms Otake has been touring in Japan regularly. Some of her other highlight concerts includes appearances in the World Harp Congress in the Chamber Concerti Evening Concert in Vancouver with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, in the Prize Winner Concert in Geneva and Focus on Youth in Tacoma. She was invited as a guest performer at the Carnegie Hall in New York in a harp duo with her sister, Miya Otake, and appeared in several television programs. Winner of the International Harp Contest, Ms Otake has won numerous competitions including 1st prize of the Japan International Harp Competition in all divisions including the Professional Division, Advanced Division, and Junior Division. She was the winner of the Indiana University Harp Ginastera Concerto Competition where she appeared as a soloist with the IU Concert Orchestra under the guest conductor, Sergiu Comissiona, a former music director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. She was also awarded the Marilyn Costello Memorial Prize in the USA International Harp Competition. She has graduated from Indiana University (one of the biggest harp department in the world) in Bloomington, Indiana under Susann McDonald, The famous Juilliard School in New York under Nancy Allen, and the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia under Marilyn Costello. In earlier years, she studied at the Vancouver Academy of Music and the Victoria Conservatory under Taka Kling where she received many prizes and awards from the Conservatory and various music festivals. In the summer of 2010, Ms Otake was invited to perform solo concert and to give a presentation of the World Harp Congress Vancouver 2011 at the RioHarpFestival. Since then, she has been performing at the RioHarpFestival every year in the highlight concerts. Kaori Otake began studying the harp at the age of five in Japan and moved to Canada at the age of nine to continue her harp studies. In May 2010, she performed a solo concert followed by giving a master class at University of British Columbia. She currently is a principle harp instructor at the Capilano University, Chilliwack Academy of Music and North Shore Conservatory of Music at Gloria Dei Church. Kaori Otake's favorite harp is Princess Sakura from Aoyama Harp. She sees her harp as her angel that has brought her life much happiness.
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 33.93 EUR excl. shipping
  • Thumbnail
    Christina's World
    About Christina 26-year-old Tasmanian harpist-singer Christina Sonnemann is one of Australia's most diverse young performers. In the words of Her Excellency the Australian Ambassador to Paris, Penelope Wensley AO, who invited her to present a concert at the Australian Embassy in Paris in 2007, Christina "has a particular gift for captivating an audience, for creating an atmosphere, for sharing her emotions". Among Christina's achievements are five self-produced albums, and solo recitals in London, Paris, Copenhagen, Jersey, Ireland, Norway, Malta, the United States and Canada. Christina's original compositions reflect varied and vibrant influences and are frequently inspired by the wilderness landscapes of Tasmania. Christina was one of a select group of musicians invited to represent Australia at the world's largest Celtic festival, the Festival Interceltique Lorient, in France in 2006. About Christina's World: A diverse and intimate album reflecting Christina's personality, heritage, home, travels and audiences. This CD features long-standing requests as well as new songs composed for the album. Christina's liner notes: 'This collection of music says a lot about me, as well as the audiences who have repeatedly asked me to record it. Two pieces describe how I see the beautiful island I live in. Two songs (from 1936 and 1949) evoke a time when qualities like faithfulness and commitment were generally admired as virtues. Whether people achieved these virtues or not, they aspired to do so, and in this culture flourished what I consider to be the most romantic music of all time. Naturally, when I came to write two love songs of my own, the lush chords and playful rhythms of that time were my inspiration. Two more songs reflect my American cultural heritage. Another was written by a friend and is a favourite of both mine and many concert-goers. I hope you enjoy this glimpse of my world.' Christina.
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 27.18 EUR excl. shipping
  • Thumbnail
    If Brahms Wrote for Harp
    "Magical," "Superb," "Virtuoso," "Outstanding": these are the words newspapers such as the Calgary Herald and the Miami Herald have used to describe award winning harpist Tisha Murvihill, Principal Harpist of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to her duties with the CPO, Ms. Murvihill has recorded three solo harp CDs to great acclaim. Her debut recording, If Brahms Wrote for Harp, was reviewed as "...a stunning presentation of the work of Johannes Brahms..." (HarpColumn, January '04). Her second CD, A Quiet Afternoon: Inspirational Songs for Harp, was awarded the "2009 Instrumental Album of the Year" Covenant Award by the Gospel Music Association of Canada, and she is very excited about her third CD, Come Just As You Are, which also received a Covenant Award nomination. In 2005, the World Harp Congress honoured Ms. Murvihill with an invitation to Ireland to give a lecture-recital featuring her performance and transcriptions of Brahms' music. She can often be heard nationally on Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) radio and has been the featured soloist with numerous groups including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the New World Symphony. Prior to moving to Calgary, Ms. Murvihill spent three years with the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. There, she was twice selected to represent the orchestra at international fund raising events in Monte Carlo and received special mention on the New World Symphony's CD release Defining Dahl: The Music of Ingolf Dahl for a solo which the Miami Herald called "sterling." Ms. Murvihill holds a Master's Degree in harp performance from Indiana University where she studied under Distinguished Professor Susann McDonald and won the prestigious concerto competition.
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 29.54 EUR excl. shipping
  • Thumbnail
    51 Strings
    'It is a glorious and almost unfathomable truth that it only takes 51 strings (four on the violin and 47 on the harp) to produce immensely beautiful music. While violin soloists often have a piano or an entire orchestra to serve as accompanist, the lone harp in the Kent / Shulman Duo does a fantastic job of uplifting and supporting her counterpart in a more sonically unique fashion. Violinist Peter Kent and harpist Amy Shulman have played extensively apart and as a duo worldwide for a number of years. Both imbibe a true appreciation for the music they play and that sensitivity is evident in each piece. Throughout '51 Strings' the violin takes the lead melody with it's resonance and sustain qualities while the harp becomes the delicate percussive instrument keeping each piece flowing while hopefully getting a brief shining moment to run through a glissando. The opening number is Camille Saint-Saëns' "Fantaisie," which runs seamlessly through a series of different moods with each episode ebbing with the violin rubatto and then urged along by the harp. Both instruments have exquisite tone and sound most impressive in the higher registers at quiet dynamic levels. Kent and Shulman form an excellent musical team by intertwining their respective strings in a matched timbre. Continuing in the impressionist style with a more ethnomusicology flair, the duo performs Manuel de Falla's "Spanish Dance No. 1" from the opera La Vide Breve. After expertly plucking along the Latin countryside, the duo journey to the English moors with a masterful arrangement of Ralph Vaughan Williams' "The Lark Ascending." The succulent, passionate tune captures the air of rural life in the British Isles, similar to the composer's "Six Studies in English Folksong" for cello and piano, however the combination of violin and harp is sweeter. Jumping back to the European mainland is French composer Jules Massenet's sensual "Méditation" from the opera Thaïs displaying beautiful harmonics. In classical music there is no one more perfect than Johánn Sebastian Bach. These two stellar musicians perform the third and fourth movements from his Violin Sonata in E Major, the "Adagio" and "Allegro" respectively. The final selections on this wonderfully diverse album are from the 20th century Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. Two preludes are featured originally written for piano from his 24 Preludes, Op. 34. The first is a jumpy, humorous piece in A-flat Major with the harp carrying the left hand piano part adroitly as the violin jovially takes the melody. In the second, a musically inclined ear may pick up a snippet of the main theme from Gustav Mahler's Fifth Symphony in C-sharp minor. Lastly, rich in traditional Soviet drama and melancholy is "Romance" from the film The Gadfly. '51 Strings' not only demonstrates a more unique and aurally pleasing pairing of instruments but it also boasts a diverse assortment of musical styles sure to please any classical music lovers palette.' Review by: Kelly O'Neil Rating: 5 stars (out of 5) 'Peter Kent and Amy Shulman are each accomplished artists unto themselves. Harpist Amy Shulman, a graduate of Juilliard, has performed with numerous orchestral, chamber and contemporary music groups. She has also been heard in motion pictures, on television and on recordings by such greats as Frank Sinatra, Placido Domingo and Aretha Franklin. Violinist Peter Kent is a concertmaster in several orchestras in the Los Angeles area, and has performed on recordings by artists such as Michael Feinstein, Fiona Apple, Mariah Carey, Cracker and Shirley Horn. Beginning in 1982, the pair formed the Kent/Shulman duo, and has toured nationally to critical and popular praise. In 2012, the Kent/Shulman duo released their debut album 51 Strings. 51 Strings strikes it's first chord with Camille Saint-Saens' 'Fantaisie', a beautiful marriage of harp and violin that is subtly cast and sublime. Kent creates a beautiful framework from through which Kent's violin may dance. 'Spanish Dance No. 1' (Manuel de Falla) is a delightful turn, full of amazing energy and brilliant rhythmic counterpoints between Kent and Shulman. In contrast, the lyric beauty of Ralph Vaughan Williams' 'The Lark Ascending' is absolutely breathtaking, with Shulman providing subtle textures to highlight Kent's soaring melody lines. Johann Sebastian Bach gets fair time with "Adagio" and "Allegro". 'Adagio' mixes texture and lyricism, with each player carving out their own musical geography. There are moments of simple grace blending into sublime beauty here that captivate the listener's attention. Kent and Shulman build their resolutions slowly, leaving listeners on the very edges if their seats. 'Allegro' is a much more manic experience, with Kent bowing his way through undulating lines. 'Thais Meditation' (Jules Massenet) is contemplative and sweet, with a quiet vibrancy running underneath. The violin lines here are nothing short of gorgeous, most especially the high resolution with about 30 seconds to go. 'Berceuse' (Gabriel Fauré) finds Shulman as the perpetual 'yes, and' in a vibrant story told on four strings. It's a moment of beauty almost perfect in it's nature and mien. ?? Kent and Shulman close things out with three numbers from Dmitri Shostakovich. 'Prelude No. 1' plays off a vaguely Middle Eastern theme but quickly moves to a more classic Italian sound. The violin is vibrant here, while the harp is the glue that holds everything together. 'Prelude No. 2' is 93 seconds of quiet grace in song, with a subtle melody line that dances and lilts as if it were the air itself. Kent and Shulman close with 'Romance', with the harp marking off time as Kent tells a love story on violin. Peter Kent and Amy Shulman don't have much to prove at this point. As musicians they are acknowledged as some of the finest in their respective crafts. Yet on 51 Strings they find a way to move together beyond simple mastery into fine art. The ability to play notes with precision and a certain amount of grace is the mark of a master. The ability to breathe life through your instrument into a composition and bring it to life is the mark of an artisan. Both Kent and Shulman exhibit that ability in significant measure on 51 Strings. This is pure chamber music, much too expressive and full of life to ever be relegated to the background.' Review by: Wildy Haskell Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)? An excellent album this. Violinist Peter Kent and harpist Amy Shulman have put together a varied and colorful program that plays to the strengths of their unusual combination of instruments. Musical variety is achieved through subtle gradations of dynamics, and through a wide range of tone colors. Peter Kent is clearly a versatile violinist, and he knows exactly the tone to go for to complement the harp. Amy Shulman is also capable of varying her timbre as the music demands, through differing percussive levels in her attack, and by allowing the reverberation of the strings to overlap and mix into each other's harmonics. Most of the works on the program are arrangements, but the first piece, Saint-Saëns' Fantaisie, is a violin and harp original. And what a wonderful piece it is. The composer makes adventurous use of the harp, employing it as a full duo partner and never as mere accompaniment. His use of repeated note effects is particularly effective, as are his endlessly varied broken chords. And most importantly of all, he conjures some magical melodies, ideally suited to both instruments. In Manuel de Falla's Spanish Dance No. 1, the harp takes the role of the flamenco guitar, providing the ideal Iberian flavor and gentle propulsion throughout. The Lark Ascending is well-known in a wide range of settings and transcriptions, but the advantage of the harp here is that the violin does not have to compete to be heard. Even in it's original orchestral form, the piece presents a paradox: how can the soloist float on the breeze when the orchestral backing dem
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 24.46 EUR excl. shipping
  • Thumbnail
    Fonnsheen
    Fiona Davidson is a Scottish harpist, singer and storyteller who has enthralled audiences in the Celtic world and beyond for over ten years with her spirited performances of songs, legends, new compositions and traditional airs. In Fonnsheen she collaborates with leading exponents of the pipes, flute, whistle and fiddle to breathe new life into a collection of Scottish, Irish, and Welsh tunes and to record for the first time some new works.
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 25.44 EUR excl. shipping
  • Thumbnail
    Bach to Brazil
    A captivating musical experience, led by a duo with a distinctive sound and an eclectic repertoire, Brewer & Deroche are delighting Chicago-area audiences. The gifted hands of guitarist Jason Deroche and harpist Mark Brewer create magically transcendent sonorities, embracing a broad range of timbres, textures and emotions. You will find something truly memorable in Bach to Brazil's lively and thoughtful mix of solo and duo selections filled with surprise and charm. The duo breaks new ground with original improvisations on Bach and Bonfa and plucky transcriptions of keyboard classics by Scarlatti. Deroche and Brewer are fixtures on the Chicago music scene, long regarded for their high standards of musicianship, performances of great beauty and warmth, and virtuosic command of their instruments. Both are restless explorers of musical styles and instrumental combinations. And in Bach to Brazil each has discovered a kindred spirit and exciting new possibilities in the simpatico blend of harp and guitar.
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 21.91 EUR excl. shipping
  • Thumbnail
    Song & Dance
    Bonnie L. Cochran is a Boston area flutist, composer and teacher. As a flutist, she performs regularly throughout the Boston area. An avid chamber musician, Bonnie founded The Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble in 2000 and performs regularly with that ensemble. She has also performed with Willow Flute Ensemble, Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra, Metrowest Symphony, the National Flute Association (NFA) Professional Flute Choir and the Harvard Square Chamber Orchestra among others. Bonnie was a 2004 winner of the NFA's Convention Performer Competition, where she performed the newly rediscovered CPE Bach Concerto in D Major. Other solo appearances include a performance of the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 with the Waldorf School Orchestra (March 2006) and Chaminade's Concertino with the Agnes Scott College Orchestra (1998). In the past few years, Bonnie performed with Willow Flute Ensemble at the NFA Flute Convention (2002), and as a soloist on a recital series at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2001, 2000, 2005). She, along with harpist Sarah Anne Manning, were featured performers at Old South Meeting House for the 2006 First Night Boston celebration. Jessica Kriley of Old South Meeting House described that performance as 'awe-inspiring and truly memorable. Their talent and demeanor are traits of exceptional musicians. Sarah and Bonnie's artistic ability is astounding.' In December 2005, Bonnie released her first CD, Song and Dance, a collection of flute music, including several of her original compositions. She is joined by harpist Sarah Anne Manning for four selections on this CD. Bonnie can also be heard on the Willow Flute Ensemble CD, which was released in 2000 and on the 2004 Holiday CD produced by the Minor Chord School of Music. Her primary teachers have included Linda Toote, Elinor Preble and Paul Brittan, and she has performed in master classes with Keith Underwood, Susan Glaser, Paul Edmund-Davies and Laura Barron. Bonnie holds a MM in Flute Performance from The Boston Conservatory and BA's in Music and Religious Studies from Agnes Scott College. In addition to performing, Bonnie teaches private flute lessons and enjoys composing music. Bonnie's compositions have been performed on numerous concerts in Atlanta, Boston, New York and Cape Cod, including performances at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (2005), the Greater Boston Flute Association Flute Fair (2002), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, The Boston Conservatory and Agnes Scott College. In addition, her arrangement of Silent Night was recently recorded on Harpist Sarah Anne Manning's Winter Wonderland CD. Bonnie has studied composition with John Heiss, John Clement Adams, Larry Bell, and Ronald Byrnside. Bonnie is a member of the Boston Musician's Association, the National Flute Association, the Greater Boston Flute Association, the American Music Center and the International Alliance for Women in Music.
    • Shop: odax
    • Price: 26.65 EUR excl. shipping

Similar searches: