These ensemble arrangements were written over a period of 25 years for harp students who were studying with Muckle in both private lessons and group classes.
158 pages
8 Duets
1 Trio
3 Quartets
1 Sextet
1 Voice/Harp Duet
1 Flute/Harp/Piano Trio
Includes history, suggestions, and explanations of how and why the arrangements were created. A must for teachers.
A few quotes from Mary Muckle which also highlight her philosophy of learning:
An important goal for me in my teaching has been to encourage musical companionship and to build team spirit among students, usually as level-matched duet partners but also as members of much larger groups of mixed-level players. In group classes, I wanted to encourage student confidence in playing for each other and ultimately for sharing their talents and love of music with a wider audience.
Where rhythmic patterns are challenging for harpists individually or in ensemble, I have given made up “word aids” to facilitate learning.
In duets, especially, I wanted both harp parts to be melodically interesting, even independent in character, to encourage the interest of both players in the material.
Ensemble playing is an excellent way to develop listening skills.
Harpists within ensembles learn by playing together to hold a steady tempo, how to ease into a relaxed tempo, how to play expressively together and how to listen for breath and visual cues given by a lead player or players so that beginnings, pauses and endings are synchronized.
The beauty of the melody is such that it can be played as a single line solo as a prelude to playing the duet arrangement.
In general, when one part has a run of eighth or sixteenth notes, the second part is chordal and plays strongly on the beat. This is helpful for ensemble playing. There is a challenge in some phrases to keep the coordination between the two harp parts precisely on beat.
Table of Contents:
Ensembles for Two Harps
All The Pretty Little Horses…………………………………………………………………………. Traditional American
Page 7
Amazing Grace Version 1……………………………………………………………………Traditional American Hymn
Page 18
Amazing Grace Version 2……………………………………………………………………Traditional American Hymn
Page 22
Bransle…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..C. Gervaise
Page 28
Fairy Lullaby…………………………………………………………………………………………………Traditional Scottish
Page 50
Mama Gone A’Mountain…………………………………………………………………..Traditional Trinidad/Tobago
Page 107
She’s Like the Swallow…………………………………………………………………………Traditional Newfoundland
Page 124
V’la le bon vent (harp duet)………………………………………………………………Traditional French Canadian
Page 143
Ensemble for Three Harps
The Merry Widow Waltz………………………………………………………………………………………………..F. Lehar
Page 136
Ensembles for Four Harps
En roulant ma boule…………………………………………………………………………Traditional French Canadian
Page 36
Frère Jacques Roundabout………………………………………………………………………………Traditional French
Page 57
Harp and Soul………………………………………………………………………..Carmichael, Loesser, Rodgers, Hart
Page 72
Ensemble for Six Harps
Carillon………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Mary Muckle
Page 32
Ensemble for Flute, Harp and Piano
March of the Toy Soldiers……………………………………………………………………………………P.I. Tchaikovsky
Page 114
Ensemble for Voice and Harp
V’la le bon vent (voice & harp)…………………………………………………………..Traditional French Canadian
Page 153
Ensembles for Two Harps
All The Pretty Little Horses…………………………………………………………………………. Traditional American
Page 7
Amazing Grace Version 1……………………………………………………………………Traditional American Hymn
Page 18
Amazing Grace Version 2……………………………………………………………………Traditional American Hymn
Page 22
Bransle…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..C. Gervaise
Page 28
Fairy Lullaby…………………………………………………………………………………………………Traditional Scottish
Page 50
Mama Gone A’Mountain…………………………………………………………………..Traditional Trinidad/Tobago
Page 107
She’s Like the Swallow…………………………………………………………………………Traditional Newfoundland
Page 124
V’la le bon vent (harp duet)………………………………………………………………Traditional French Canadian
Page 143
Ensemble for Three Harps
The Merry Widow Waltz………………………………………………………………………………………………..F. Lehar
Page 136
Ensembles for Four Harps
En roulant ma boule…………………………………………………………………………Traditional French Canadian
Page 36
Frère Jacques Roundabout………………………………………………………………………………Traditional French
Page 57
Harp and Soul………………………………………………………………………..Carmichael, Loesser, Rodgers, Hart
Page 72
Ensemble for Six Harps
Carillon………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Mary Muckle
Page 32
Ensemble for Flute, Harp and Piano
March of the Toy Soldiers……………………………………………………………………………………P.I. Tchaikovsky
Page 114
Ensemble for Voice and Harp
V’la le bon vent (voice & harp)…………………………………………………………..Traditional French Canadian
Page 153
Because of copyright restrictions, this book is available only as a paper book. If we remove the “Harp and Soul” portion, we could sell it as a digital download, but we have not yet decided and welcome your input.
