Revising her classic 1989 book Harps and Harpists, Roslyn Rensch expands her authoritative history of this timeless instrument.
This book is a veritable encyclopedia of six thousand years of lavishly illustrated harp history. Written by a musician who is also an art historian, this book surveys the progress of the harp from antiquity to the present day, from the simple bowlike early harp to the gleaming modern pedal harp.
This new edition (2007), with 137 black-and-white images and 24 color plates,
includes two new chapters; an extensive bibliography and index; personal anecdotes of the author's studies under Alberto Salvi; an appendix on the Roslyn Rensch Papers and Harp Collection, which are housed at the University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign; and an hour-long CD of harp music.
This is THE harp history book.
364 pages, hardback, with 137 black and white photos, and 24 color photos.
Contents of included CD:
Prelude from Violin Partita No. 3 (J.S. Bach, arr. by Grandjany). Performed by Catrin Finch.
Sonata No. 1 in D Major, 1st movement. (John Parry). Performed by Dan Yu.
Introduction, Cadenza and Rondo from Fantasia on an Italian Air (Elias Parish-Alvars arr. by Watkins). Performed by Letizia Belmondo.
Le Rossignol (Franz Liszt transcribed by H. Renie). Performed by Dan Yu.
Féerie: Prélude et danse (Marcel Tournier). Performed by Sarah Bullen.
Excerpt from Variations on a Theme in the Ancient Style (excerpt). (Carlos Salzedo) Performed by Gwyneth Wentink.
Fantasie on a Theme by Haydn (Marcel Grandjany). Performed by Jane Yoon.
Suite for Harp, Op. 83, 3rd and 4th movements (Benjamin Britten). Performed by Catrin Finch.
Viejo Zortzico (Zortzico Zarra) (Jesus Guridi). Performed by Maria Luisa Rayan.
Madalena (Meko). Performed by Meko on an electric harp.
