minstrel: period harp music

[C&HWood]

At 10:26 AM 9/28/99 -0700, you wrote:
>Greetings,
>
>I am in contact with a young celtic harpist who is interested in learning
>some medieval repertoire.   As a singer, I can think of lots of nice
>medieval songs that would go well with harp, i.e. Trouvere, Cantigas, etc.
>and can point her in the direction to get music for them.  However, I was
>wondering if there are any books or sources out there on how to do proper
>accompaniment on harp, or some good arrangements already out there to start
>her off.
>
I use some of the songs in Deborah Friou's Early Music book, though
typically I've changed the arrangements a little.  Therese Honey's The
Royale Harpist is very good, and IMHO she has a good feel for
medieval-style arrangements.  Master Efenwealt's lady's father Karl Weigand
(sp?) has published several books with arrangements of medieval and
medieval-ish pieces.

<begin shameless plug> I'm absolutely not an expert, but I've done enough
reading and listening to people who supposedly are, that I feel (fairly)
comfortable arranging my own music.  In fact, I've just self-published via
the photocopier a little book of arrangements of music (medieval and
modern) for the SCA.  My book is different from any other of medieval harp
arrangements (that I know of) in that I include *words* for those who want
to sing the songs as well as play them.  Most of the medieval pieces are
given in the original and in lyric translation.  My arranging skills are
well, beginner at best, but I'm happy with most of the pieces and I have a
gotten a couple of compliments in its first month of sales.  <end shameless
plug>

One thing that's wonderful about medieval music is that our evidence is
that the accompaniment would have been fairly simple.  Not to say a
medieval performer wouldn't have pieces to show off virtuosity, but
arrangements wouldn't be filled with arpeggios etc., which modern-day
harpists consider part of a normal repertoire.  So a beginning or advanced
harper can play something simple and know that they're doing so for
authenticity and beauty and not simply because they can't play something
more complicated.

A variety of books by Timothy McGee, Christopher Page, Richard Hoppin,
Samuel Rosenberg, and Margaret Switten have all been invaluable to me in
learning about medieval music.  I'd have to hunt to find more specific
references regarding arrangements - which I can do if asked, but it will
take time.

>Recommendations for good cds would also be appreciated.
>
Andrew Lawrence-King is apparently considered a god in medieval harping, so
a CD with him on it might be good - BUT I have to say I have read his book
on medieval harping and I really really disagree with many of his
statements.  Of course, he's theoretically an expert and I'm certainly not,
so I could be very wrong.  I *really* wish he had given references to
contemporary sources for the statements he makes regarding medieval
technique and style.  For instance, he teaches that medieval technique uses
the thumb down, not up, and I think he claims to have proof - but doesn't
tell you where to find it.  While I acknowledge that it's unlikely that
medieval technique used the extreme thumb-up-hand-tilted methods common
today (from Grandjany and Salzedo), I've seen numerous illuminations of
harpers where the hand doesn't remotely resemble the depiction
Lawrence-King gives.  

Anyway, this may be getting more esoteric than you desired!  Please write
if you want to discuss anything further.

Linette de Gallardon


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this list, send email to majordomo at pbm.com containing
the words "unsubscribe minstrel". If you are subscribed to the digest version,
say "unsubscribe minstrel-digest". To contact a human about problems, send
mail to owner-minstrel at pbm.com