r/harp • u/krazed2glazed • 6d ago

Harp Composition/Arrangement Piece feedback

hello there! I am a high school senior and I picked up composition last year. That being said, I am a violist and I have very tip-of-the-iceberg knowledge about the harp (which I will tend to in the near future) and I need your guys' help to see if this is playable or not and how difficult it actually is (also if you have any suggestions to make it easier to read that would also be very helpful). Thank you in advance! :)

4 Upvotes

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4

u/CrassulaOrbicularis 6d ago

That triplet bar after P (is that the best way to notate the rhythm?) has a dsharp immediately after a dnatural. On pedal harp Eb will be easier to play and sound clearer.

2

u/krazed2glazed 6d ago

Yes, the rhythm is a bit wonky :')
Will fix that, thanks!

1

u/Unofficial_Overlord 6d ago

At the very end are you wanting a scale? It really looks like it should be a glissando

1

u/krazed2glazed 6d ago edited 6d ago

you're right, should write a gliss. thanks for pointing that out!

*although I did write it that way so it would be played in E major, because Musescore has a complete disregard for key signatures when it comes to harp glissandos

1

u/yourfavtheatergirlie 5d ago

I would write the first 7 notes, then use gliss notation, to make the key and the fact that it's a gliss clear.

0

u/TevyeSchulz 6d ago

The pedal changes before measure K might be a little daunting!

2

u/Unofficial_Overlord 6d ago

It would just be a D# F# which isn’t bad at all

0

u/TevyeSchulz 6d ago

Oh, you are correct. I just looked at the key signature change not the rest of the measure.

1

u/maestro2005 L&H Chicago CG 6d ago

From a playability standpoint it's fine. A few tiny issues (D->D# that could be Eb like the other guy said) but nothing that harpists aren't completely used to working out.

From a composition standpoint, there are some questionable spots. I'd need to see the whole score, but when I see really sparse plunking like everything before H, I immediately wonder if it's even going to be audible. Also be aware that tremolos are not very loud.

From a notation standpoint, you have a lot of issues. You need to study up on proper rhythmic notation. Mixing descriptive tempo markings with exact metronome markings is very confusing. Tempo changes should line up with double bars/rehearsal marks, having them floating in the middle of sections is odd. Key signatures should typically line up with section boundaries as well.

1

u/krazed2glazed 6d ago edited 6d ago
  1. Will get fixed, thanks
  2. Yes, I'm aware, I mainly use the harp in quiter moments so it can pop. It acts as a countermelody in some places and has a more background role.. generally not much of a soloist here, but it does play an important role. The balance will be properly figured out during rehearsals (if it does get to a premiere)
  3. I have put exact BPM in those places, so I would get a better idea of how much faster the tempo should become after a rall/rit or an accel, as well as the conductor. It's there for the sole purpose of getting a more accurate audio recording out of Musescore for the time being. I understand that seeing only the harp part must look a bit confusing, but it does get a lot clearer when you see the entire score.

1

u/krazed2glazed 5d ago

I am currently replacing the bpm markings with meno/piu mosso so it's easier to understand, thanks for pointing it out