ARRANGED FOR PEDAL HARP DUET

Six Studies in Canonic Form for Pedal Piano, Op.56 are a fascinating confluence of Baroque and Romantic sensibilities, and were written by German Romantic composer Robert Schumann (1810-1856). Schumann is renowned particularly for his piano music, orchestral compositions, and lieder.

Schumann owned the most comprehensive collection of Bach’s organ chorales in print at the time, and some of his personal scores show hand-written brackets identifying every instance of canon. A musical canon is created by having two or more voices sing the same melody with staggered entrances, creating harmonies from the manner in which they overlap, and “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” is the classic example from childhood.

This arrangement for two harps is largely based on Debussy’s two piano arrangement, wherein both parts use the full treble and bass range of the instrument and divide canonic entrances and material in a conversational way. This two-harp arrangement makes a few significant changes from Debussy’s two piano arrangement, in addition to frequent enharmonic respellings. 

“Performers of these etudes are challenged to bring together diverse musical impulses, including the mathematical structure and imitation of canons, and the emotion and rubato of a Romantic piano work. They are fascinating short pieces in which the ingenuity of Bach and Schumann can come together to create a wholly unique work.”

Instrumentation: Pedal Harp Duet

Publisher: Lyon & Healy