STYLES AND ORNAMENTS

 

Letters and Numbers apply to marks in the attached sheet music.

 

Vocal Performance Types:

1) Free range

Example: storytelling with no apparent verse structure

 

2) Spoken verse/ poetry

Example: sonnet, edda, Minstrel Boy

 

3) Song (ballad)
Example: Maddy Grove, Barbara Allen

 

 

Stylistic Choices on the Harp:

A) Freeform

Example: Wandering play, accent phrases and low-complexity musical moments

Suggested use: meditative exposition, comedy or improv, Verses from Beowulf

 

B) Rhythm

Example: chords, regular arpeggios

Suggested use: a rehearsed story or poem, early-period poetry, song

 

C) Tune

Example: melody line, melody with bass

Suggested use: song, late-period poetry

 

[Note: these vocal performance types are mapped to specific stylistic choices for illustration only. Any of them can be mapped to any other, when the choice fits.]

 

Ornaments

1. cross-harp
2. arpeggios, walking chords
3. harmonics
4. call-and-response
5. echo the last few notes of the melody line
6. vary internal tempi

 

Suggested Reading:

Harp Exercises for Agility and Speed, by Deborah Friou

 

“Locksley’s E-Z Harp Method”, web article by Joe Bethancourt which may be found at:

http://www.whitetreeaz.com/ezharp/ezharp.htm