Terpsichore in Tandem for harp solo or duo by Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher PDF Download

For lever or pedal harp.

The name Terpsichore is taken from Greek mythology. Terpsichore was one of the nine muses and ruled over dance and choral singing. She is usually depicted seated, holding a lyre, accompanying dancers' choirs. Terpsichore is certainly an appropriate title for the huge 1612 dance tune compilation by German composer Michael Praetorius (aka Schultze). Most of the 300+ tunes in the collection are listed as being by either Praetorius himself or a composer-colleague named Pierre-Francisque Caroubel. However, quite a few tunes have the author listed as "uncertain." Praetorius may not have actually composed all of the tunes attributed to him in the collection; he likely borrowed some tunes that were in popular use. In fact, similar tunes appear in other historical collections, most notably John Playford's English Dancing Master of 1651.

This collection contains 20 melodies from the 1612 Terpsichore collection, arranged for lever harp solo or duo by Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher. The arrangements definitely have a "period flavor" to them and are suitable for actual dancing when repeated. The arrangements are written using only the key signatures of C and G (or their relative minors) and placed in an order that presents varied tempo, tonality, mood and meter. Some of the arrangements were transposed from their original Terpsichore keys in order to be better suited to the range of the harp, and to facilitate lever changes on harps employing a C tuning.

The primo harp part is designed as a complete harp arrangement so that this collection can be used for harp solo as well as harp duet. Guitar chords are included so that this book can be used to accompany a solo instrumentalist playing the melody line of the primo part.

Lever changes are indicated between the staves by octave number and diamond-shaped notes, while pedal changes are listed below the bass staff. Some suggested fingerings and dynamics are also included. This book was laid out with each harp score on facing pages so that each harper may follow the opposite part.

The total range needed to play all pieces in the keys indicated is four octaves C2 to C6, although several of the pieces require considerably less range. The harper should feel free to add appropriate ornamentation in order to enhance the selections. Feel free to rearrange the pieces to best facilitate performance, no matter what this book says! ----Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher

Fingerings, dynamics, chord symbols, and lever and pedal changes are included. This PDF is 47 pages, including 40 pages of music.

Contents:
Bransle Simple de Novelle #2 (Praetorius) - 4/4 - C major
Courante #134 (Praetorius) - 3/2 - A minor
La Canarie #31 (Praetorius) - 6/4 - C major
La Bourée #32-2 (Praetorius) - 2/2 - A minor
Ballet des Matelotz #280 (Praetorius) - 4/4 - C major
Courante #62 (Praetorius) - 6/4 - A minor
Ballet des Baccanales #278 (Unknown) - 4/4 - C major
Ballet des Amazones #270 (Unknown) - 4/4 - A minor
Galliarde #285 (Caroubel) - 3/2 - C major
Pavane de Spaigne #29 (Caroubel) - 4/4 - A minor
Volte #211 (Praetorius) - 6/4 - C major
Gavottes de Montirande #1 (Caroubel) - 4/4 - G major
Galliarde #300 (Unknown) - 3/2 - G major
Philov #22 (Praetorius) - 4/4 - G major
La Rosette #109 (Unknown) - 6/4 - E minor
La Bourée #32-1 (Praetorius) - 2/2 - G major
Volte #210 (Praetorius) - 3/2 - G major
Ballet de la Royne #263 (Praetorius) - 4/4 - G major
Courante #73 (Praetorius) - 3/2 - G major
Gavotte and Gilotte #1 (Caroubel) - 4/4 - G major

Click on the blue titles below to see a sample of the first few lines of music.