Pedal or Lever Harp

A Cape Breton Bouquet by Brenda Bowen Cox PDF Download

Item #p7454
Write a Review
$12.95

For lever or pedal harp.

This book by Brenda Bowen Cox features the Celtic music of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. Cape Breton music, derived primarily from the Scottish Highlands, was handed down through the oral tradition since the early 1800s. Due to the remoteness of the island, the music remained untouched by the classical influences that spread across Europe at that time. The modem composers and musicians of Cape Breton still follow their traditional roots very closely. Typical instrumentation consists of fiddle, or sometimes bagpipes, with piano accompaniment, and often guitar. Music is a vital part of Cape Breton culture, even today. Having attended a number of concerts, ceilidhs, and dances in visits to the island over the years, Brenda fell in love with the music, and decided to adapt it for the harp. She has made the music "harp friendly" while still keeping true to the traditional Cape Breton style.

She chose ten pieces for this first book, arranging two pieces of each of the five forms traditionally found in the music of Cape Breton: air, march, strathspey, reel and jig. Because these are "fiddle tunes" she was careful to select pieces that lend themselves well to the harp. The left hand sometimes imitates the distinctive piano accompaniment style of Cape Breton, and the ornamentations reflect the original style of the music as well. The music is arranged for solo lever or pedal harp. Since many of the tunes should be played quickly, and some are rhythmically challenging, it is for intermediate players. Chord symbols are included for use by the harpist and other instrumentalists. The pieces are in the key of C, or 1, 2, or 3 sharps. Two of the pieces require sharping lever changes within the music. There are no fingerings. Brenda includes biographical sketches of the composers, and a useful discography of recordings of Cape Breton tunes. 24 pages.

Although this music is Celtic, it has its own flavor and style which will add some extra spice to your current Celtic repertoire.

This product is a PDF file, to be downloaded to your computer. We do not sell it as regular printed music. It is only available here in this PDF download format.

  • The Bridgeport Reel
  • David Bradley Beaton's Jig
  • The Lime Hill Strathspey
  • The Rosebud of Allenvale
  • Goose Cove
  • Cape Breton Favourite

  • The Ceilidh Set:
  • Memories of Father Charles MacDonald
  • Glencoe March
  • The Laddie with the Pladdie
  • The Spey in Spate

Customers Also Bought