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WHC 2011 - The Happening Harp

The Happending Harp ...   ...  How to become a more versatile player and arrange harp music

– compiled by Stacey Berkley (USA), July 2011 World Harp Congress

I) Listen!The single most important thing one can do is to listen!  (ha ha, you can listen to the background song 'Water is wide' for this article and count how many different types of techniques it has applied!)Listen to other harpists whose music you enjoy.
Listen also to guitarists & pianists. Find your muses and influences.
Copy them - imitation is the highest form of flattery. Transcribe some of their songs and solos.

II) How to Build an Arrangement / Lead Sheets* Buy sheet music with complete arrangments. (The quick and easy method)!
* Lead sheet interpretation
* Learn your chord symbols
* Simple improvisation

1. Lead sheets = melody w/chords. (Basic, right?)
2. Add bass line. (Still basic.)
3. Add chords (Slight improvement)
4. With arpeggios (Continued Improvement)
5. With chord rhythm (Getting better & better)
6. Vary melody, add fills, simple improvisation (Wow!)
7. Add intro - (You're Happening Now!)

III) I've Got Rhythm / Rhythm is my friend!* Slap Bass
* Rhythm as a vamp
* Rhythm as a fill
* Syncopated Rhythms: play bass, rhythm AND melody, all at the same time!
(a) latin (cha cha, bolero, tango, bossa)
(b) swing
(c) waltz
(d) calypso

Meter Changes
(a) rubato to tempo &vice versa
(b) 4/4 to 3/4
(c) straight feel to swing

Rhythmic Shift/Displacement
The same pattern of idea, but played in a different part of the measure)
Faster ( Pick up the speed )


IV) Variety is the spice of lifeEasy ways to change/enhance a melody
1 Dynamic Changes

2 Embellishment
(a) arpeggios
(b) p.d.l.t.
(c) glisses (use sparingly, less is more!)
(d) alter the octave for RH or LH
(e) passing tones
(f) ornaments, grace notes
(g) pedal slides
(h) muffles
(i) stops
(j) play the wires
(k) string bends
(I) soundboard
(m) cadenzas
(n) melodic variation & improvisation
(o) harmonics
(p) tuning key on string
(q) fingernails
(r) tremolo
(s) slap bass / walking bass line
(s) electronic effects (delay, chorus)
(u) open chords to closed chords

3 Augmentation
( increase notes in duration usually by doubling the duration of the value of the notes (slower)

4 Melodic Extensions
( lengthening phrases by adding notes to the ends of them )

V. Basic for you to learn(1) "Don't Panic" as you discover your chords!
Root, 1st & 2nd Inversions
Major, Minor, Augmented, & Diminished

(2) "Stay cool" as you learn the 'steps' within each scale
Which are major & which are minor, etc.
( I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii dim. )

(3) "Modulation is a piece of cake!"
To get from one key to another, example: from C to G
First play a C chord (original key),
next play your pivotal chord ( either a ii or vi in the same key )
next, play a dominant V of new key ( D ),
Presto, you've arrived in the key of ( G ).
Works like a charm every time.

(4) "Extensions make you soar out this world!"
We're not talking hair here. Master Major & Minor,
flat, natural &sharp 7ths, 9ths, llths, & 13th's.
Watch your arrangements take off.

(5) Backwards / Upside Down

(6) Transposition
(modulation, rewriting the melody in different key, major to minor or vice versa)

(7) Phrasing Alter the written phrasing.

Classical performance of the Debussy Danses Sacree et Profane



Jazz Harp Interpretation of the Debussy Danses Sacrée et Profane: Park Stickney performed at WHC 2011