Harps & Harpists - Hardcover

Rensch, Roslyn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0253349036 ISBN 13: 9780253349033

Publisher: Indiana University Press, 1999

Synopsis

Beautifully illustrated with more than 130 photographs and drawings, this book surveys the progress of the harp from antiquity to the present day -- from the simple bow-like early harp to the gleaming modern pedal harp, most recently equipped with the refinements of electronic sound.

Part I considers the harps of the ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Cycladic peoples, those of the fabled Scythians, and traditional instruments still played in Burma and Afghanistan. Part II presents the non-pedal harp in the Western world, from early in the Christian era to the 20th-century. Examples from art and literature are discussed, along with extant early harps and some important harpists and their music. Part III traces the development of the pedal harp over the last 300 years. Famous performers, teachers, and harps are highlighted. The book concludes with information on the modern study of the harp, on harp societies, conferences and competitions, and on the burgeoning repertoire of harp musi

About this title

Review

The 2007 revision of Harps and Harpists by Roslyn Rensch is the fourth in its line by the author. Even cursory glances at the precursors of the present work show her lifetime odyssey and love affair with her instrument, and make interesting comparisons with one another.June 2008 (Notes)

About the Author

Roslyn Rensch, musician and art historian, studied harp with Alberto Salvi and Joseph Vito. She is author of The Harp; The Harp, Its History, Technique and Repertoire; and most recently, Three Centuries of Harpmaking.

Edition details

• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0253349036
• ISBN 13: 9780253349033
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 334