Montsalvatge’s Harp concerto (OBC’s recording)

Concerto Capriccio for harp and orchestra is the result of an assignment by the Spanish National Orchestra and harpist Nicanor Zabaleta, to whom the piece is dedicated. It was first officially performed on 18 April 1975 in the Royal Theatre of Madrid, with these same figures, and conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. It is one of the composer’s preferred works, perhaps, as the musician admits “because of the sheer amount of work that it took me to resolve the problems involved in composing for the harp and coupling it with the orchestra. The work was so interesting… and exhausting! The piece has a distinctly rhythmic nature with impressionist features that allow a soloist instrument to appear delicate and yet dynamic, thanks to the inner rhythm that invites dance. The last movement is based on the Guarani song “The bell bird”, which is popularly performed on the Creole harp and has been spread around the world by the Paraguayan musician Félix Pérez Cardozo, known as "America’s First Great Harpist”.
David Puertas

A special magic

Despite the fact that some people believe that the harp cannot adapt to contemporary atonal music, I think that it is still an exceptionally beautiful instrument. Like all instruments, it has its quirks and the composer has to know how to write idiomatically, being aware of the pedal technique and what is more or less suitable. The tone of the harp is incomparable and unique. The world of harmonics, glissandi chords and arpeggios contain a special magic.
Salvador Brotons

MPC is going to be at Musikmesse 2009!

The Musikmesse in Frankfurt am Main is the world's leading trade fair for musical-instruments, music software, computer hardware, sheet music and accessories and has been the most important meeting place for the musical-instrument industry for over 25 years. Musikmesse 2009 will be held in Frankfurt am Main from 1 to 4 April 2009.

Harp players and composers from Catalonia

We have good harp players in Catalonia, as we have composers who, with a more or less realistic awareness of the instrument’s possibilities, have composed works for it. But in fact, harp composers are practically non-existent in Catalonia outside the field of folkloric and ancient music - without wishing to overlook either of these two genres, rather to bear in mind that the harp does not have a tradition as a popular instrument in Catalonia. In any case, there remains no doubt that the Catalan repertoire is lacking ambitious works for harp that are composed for specialists of this instrument.

Furthermore, it would not hurt if the Catalan Association of Harpists (with twenty years behind them) had the good idea of creating a website or another kind of space on the Internet where we might be able to find information about their activities and where they could share their experience with harp fans and professionals.

Galceran Marti

Harp in Catalonia

It seems as though harp-related activity is starting to show signs of good health in Catalonia. We should highlight the International Harp Festival of Sentmenat, directed by luthier Germán Ocaña.

This year marks the second year of the event, which will be held from the 19^th to the 21^st June, calling artists of all styles from all over the world. We have to hope that this festival will revitalise the interest for this instrument in Catalonia.