Repertoire
Split into 3 categories, you will find here :
-a list of concerti with orchestras
-suggestions of ensembles for chamber music
-explanations about the recital repertoire
Concerti
François-Adrien BOIELDIEU (1775-1834)
CONCERTO IN C MAJOR - 20'
Orchestration : Str, 2fl, 2ob, 2bn, 2hn
Marius CONSTANT (1925-2004)
HARPALYCÉ - 10'
Orchestration : Str
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
DANSES SACRÉE ET PROFANE - 10'
Orchestration : Str
Théodore DUBOIS (1837-1924)
FANTAISIE FOR HARP AND ORCHESTRA - 15'
Orchestration : Str, ww(2,2,2,2), 4hn, 2tpt, timp
Alberto GINASTERA (1916-1983)
CONCERTO, OP. 25 - 22'
Orchestration : Str (8,8,6,6,4), ww(2,2,2,2), 2hn, 2tpt, timp, cel, 4perc
Radamès gnattali (1906-1988)
CONCERTO FOR HARP - 25'
Orchestration : St
Reinhold GLIERE (1874-1956)
HARP CONCERTO, OP. 34 - 25'
Orchestration : Str, ww(2,2,2,2), 3hn, timp, triangle
Georg-Friedrich HÄNDEL (1685-1759)
CONCERTO IN B FLAT MAJOR, HWV 294 - 15'
Orchestration : Str
Hans Werner HENZE (born in 1926)
I SENTIMENTI DI CPE BACH, FOR FLUTE AND HARP - 15'
Orchestration : Str
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
CONCERTO FOR FLUTE AND HARP, K.29 - 25'
Orchestration : Mozart orch.
Elias PARISH-ALVARS (1808-1849)
CONCERTINO FOR 2 HARPS, OP. 91 - 20'
Orchestration : St, ww(2,2,2,2), 2hn, 2tpt, timp
Gabriel PIERNE (1863-1937)
CONCERTSTÜCK - 15'
Orchestration : St, ww(2,2,0,2), 2hn, 2tp, 2tbn, timp
Carl REINECKE (1824-1910)
CONCERTO IN E MINOR, OP. 182 - 20'
Orchestration : St, ww(2,2,2,2), 2hn, 2tpt, timp
Henriette RENIé (1875-1956)
CONCERTO IN C MINOR - 25'
Orchestration : St, ww(2,2,2,2), 2hn, timp
Joaquin RODRIGO (1901-1999)
CONCIERTO SERENATA - 25'
Orchestration : St, ww(2,2,2,2), 2hn, 2tpt
Joaquin RODRIGO (1901-1999)
CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ - 25'
Orchestration : St, ww(2,2,0,2), 2hn, 2tpt
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
MORCEAU DE CONCERT - 15'
Orchestration : St, ww(2,2,2,2), 2hn, 2tpt, timp
Albert ZABEL (1834-1910)
CONCERTO IN C MINOR, OP. 35 - 25'
Orchestration : St, ww(2,2,2,2), 2hn, 2tpt, 3tb, timp, 2perc
Chamber music
Far from representing an exhaustive depiction, the following list has to be considered more like suggestions :
Flute and harp
Various concert programs including works by Johann-Sebastian Bach, Christoph-Willibald Gluck, Robert-Charles Bochsa, Gioachino Rossini, Richard Wagner, Georges Bizet (Carmen Fantaisie), Jean Cras, Gabriel Fauré (Mélodies), Claude Debussy, Toru Takemitsu (Towards the Sea), Heitor Villa-Lobos…
Viola and harp
Famous Arias from Operas and Ballets by : Henri Purcell (Dido and Aeneas), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Don Giovanni), Gioachino Rossini (Cenerentola), Pyotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (Eugène Onéguine), Richard Wagner (Tannhäuser), etc... recorded on the CD l’Opéra en Duo. Arpeggione Sonata by Franz Schubert, Lachrymae by Benjamin Britten, extracts from César Franck Sonata for violin etc.
Cello and harp
Elégie, Papillons by Gabriel Fauré, Romance to the stars (Tannhäuser) by Richard Wagner, The Swan by Camille Saint-Saens, Arpeggione Sonata by Franz Schubert, extracts from César Franck Sonata for violin etc.
Violin and harp
Sonatas by Louis Spohr, Fantaisie by Camille Saint-Saens, Suite en Duo by Jean Cras, Romanian Dances by Béla Bartók etc.
Flute, viola and harp
Sonate by Claude Debussy, Elegiac Trio by Arnold Bax, Pièces by Max Bruch, Deux interludes by Jacques Ibert, And then I knew ‘t was wind by Toru Takemitsu, New Gates by Kaija Saarahiao, Debussy's Suite bergamasque arranged by Jean-Michel Damase, Ravel's Sonatine arranged by Carlos Salzedo
Flute, string trio and harp
Quintette by Jean Cras, Chant de Linos by André Jolivet, Quintette by Jean Françaix, Debussy's Prelude to the afternoon of a faun arranged by Emmanuel Ceysson
String quartet and harp
Conte fantastique by André Caplet, Rhapsodie by Marcel Grandjany, Féerie by Marcel Tournier, Red quintet by Gustavo Leone (2010), transcriptions of Danses sacrée et profane by Claude Debussy, and of Concerti by Georg-Friedrich Haendel and François-Adrien Boieldieu.
Septet : flute, clarinet, string quartet and harp
Introduction et Allegro by Maurice Ravel, transcriptions of Debussy's Rhapsody for clarinet by David Walter, Ravel's Mother Goose suite by Emmanuel Ceysson
Piano and harp (transcriptions)
Ouverture from Zauberflöte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (transcription Frederico Busoni), Mother Goose (extracts) by Maurice Ravel, Dolly by Gabriel Fauré, Prelude and Death of Isolde From Tristan by Richard Wagner, Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens etc.
Recitals
A few words from emmanuel :
«I never quite understood the opposition of concert or festival organizers to present a harp recital. A fear of not selling tickets, of an empty and boring repertoire, limited to "wedding music" maybe?
The truth is, every time a good quality solo harp performance is presented, the audience is usually baffled by what it hears and sees...
The harp is very versatile : its wide palette of tones sets it apart from all the other polyphonic instruments, making it at ease in any style, from early music to very modern contemporary pieces, also crossing over to jazz or pop music!
In addition to a specialized repertoire composed by harpists (Elias Parish-Alvars, Henriette Renié, Marcel Grandjany, Carlos Salzedo and many others), which is interesting because it uses the instrument knowledgeably, most of the harpsichord, piano, organ and guitar repertoire can be transcribed, allowing for an almost infinite number of programs.
As I love to cook, I am always fond using a culinary metaphor : when imagining a recital program, I see myself like a chef, presented with the likes and dislikes of his clients, and preparing a menu tailored to their need, trying to surprise them with spices or exotic ingredients sometimes, but NEVER serving bland food.
So my suggestion to the presenters out there : be audacious, get your audiences out of their comfort zone, and dare to present a solo harpist one day. They will be surprised, but they are certainly going to LOVE it! »