Harp Recital: Review
The concert on Sunday 26th August 2012 at St Bartholomew's Church,
Sproxton, was a first for me. The harp was played by Elizabeth Bass, a
young performer of whom we should take notice. The whole concert lasted
for about three quarters of an hour and consisted of pieces by Benjamin
Britten, C.P.E. Bach, Tzvi Avni and Marcel Grandjamy.
The Britten piece (Suite for Harp, Op, 43) was astringent and varied.
Accessible and well within the comfort zone of many of us brought up, as I
was, in the fifties. The four movements, majestic, fast and gay, slow and
quiet, lively (I do like Britten's use of English rather than Italian!) provided
contrasting styles and allowed Elizabeth to introduce us to her considerable
powers as an interpreter.
The CPE Bach (Sonata in G major) was a delight for us all. This is very
exacting music, delightful but hard work to get right. Elizabeth played and
finished the piece with a delight that was evident to us all. For me this was
the music right within my comfort zone but nonetheless exciting for that.
The Avni (Fantasy for Harp) and Granjany (Rhapsodie) were pieces quite
outside my experience and require, for me, a second and third hearing.
Very modern and exploiting many modern techniques for extracting
different colours and percussive sounds from the harp. Very interesting
stuff and looked fiendishly difficult to play.
After the music Elizabeth described the working of her harp and gave some
historical information. This was most welcome to many of us who are
unaware of the developments that have taken place in its power and
sophistication.
Elizabeth Bass is the principle harpist to the National Youth Orchestra and
many of us saw and heard her in a Prom Concert which was televised
earlier in the season. If you missed it have a look on iPlayer, She started
learning the harp when she was seven. Her mother, Rowena Bass, was
her first tutor. Her current tutor is Eleanor Turner. She will be competing in
the 18th International Harp Contest in Israel which will take place from 22nd
November. We wish her well for that.