Harp of Ages
for solo harp and orchestra (2023)

1. Sappho
2. Sister Juana’s Hymn
3. Uhura’s Song
4. David’s Prayer
5. Harpo Speaks
6. Detroit Blue
7. Irish Wedding

World Premiere: May 12, 2023 | Courtney Hershey Bress, solo harp, with the Colorado Symphony | Conducted by Andrew Litton |  Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex

Instrumentation:
Piccolo/Alto Flute
Flute
Oboe
English Horn
Bb Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
2 F Horns (Brass Stop mute, straight metal mute)
2 C Trumpets (straight metal and harmon mute, stem out)

Percussion; 2 players (instruments are not shared):

Percussion 1:
Glockenspiel, plastic and “Magic Flute” mallets
Marimba, hard yarn mallets
Vibraphone, medium hard yarn mallets and bow
Maracas
Large Shaker
2 Woodblocks, hard mallets
Percussion 2:
2 Triangles, large and small, on stand
Metal Wind Chimes
Guiro
Castanets, on stand
Claves
Large Whip
Tambourine
Finger Cymbals
Concert Bass Drum
Suspended Cymbal, yarn mallets
Chimes

Solo Harp (slight amplification recommended)
Strings

Duration: 30 minutes

Composer’s Note:

Harp of Ages (2023) for harp and orchestra was commissioned by the Colorado Symphony for Principal Harpist,
Courtney Hershey Bress. The world premiere was given by Courtney Hershey Bress, solo harp, with the Colorado
Symphony conducted by Andrew Litton , at the Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex on May 12,
2023.

The harp is one of the oldest and most beautiful instruments, from early civilizations to the present. Like the seven
pedals on the modern harp, my concerto is divided into seven movements that reflect on many ages of the harp.
Each movement is associated with a memorable figure associated with the harp:

1. Sappho Leaps
   Sappho (seventh century BC): a Greek lyric poet who played the harp and (according to ancient lore) leaped from a
   cliff
2.  Sister Juana’s Hymn
   Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1648-1695): a Mexican nun who became famous as a poet, scholar and composer of music
   accompanied by harp
3. Uhura’s Song
   Nyoata Uhura (ca. 23rd century): fictional character from Africa, and communications officer on the USS Enterprise,
   who sang and played the harp on the original Star Trek television series (1964-1967)
4. David’s Prayer
   David (ca. 1000 BC): young shepherd from the Old Testament who played the harp to soothe the spirits of King Saul
5. Harpo Speaks
   Harpo Marx (1888-1954): mute member of the Marx Brothers comedy team who played the harp in their numerous
   Hollywood films of the 1930s and 1940s.
6. Detroit Blue
   Dorothy Ashby (1932-1986) and Alice Coltrane (1937-2007): innovators of the jazz harp from Detroit, Michigan
7. Irish Wedding
   Since the thirteen century, the Irish harp been associated with songs of war, dance and weddings. As the heraldic
   symbol of Ireland, the harp has been championed by Irish harpists from Turlough O’ Carolan

– Michael Daugherty (2023)