Chroma Harp Duo 11th April 2024 For the final concert of the season, the Assembly Room at Grimsby Town Hall was graced by harpists Lucy Nolan & Becki Luff. Their exciting and skilled performance spanned 200 years and included g round breaking music from the contemporary harp repertoire. The concert balanced and contrasted classical harp music against the patterns of atonal music and music based on Indian scales; a range of special effects were added piquing audience interest. Godefroid’s La priere des Bardes provided a delicate opening to the concert before a dramatic sforzando led to an arpeggio cascade; reminiscent of a sonatina, a range of moods provided fascination and calm. Piece pour deux harpes a pedals , Soulage, developed delightfully through a hypnotic scene of constantly changing colours to a discordant interlude, resolving into harmonious arpeggios and an assured promenade. Turk’s s ynesthesia   influenced   Odyssey   began   with   the   robotic   Bronze   movement   using   percussive   effects   –   thrumming   and   finger- clicks   subsumed   by   the   emerging   music.   Inspired   by   Artemis   hunting   in   moonlight,   Silver   saw   the   use   of   a   screwdriver   slid   against plucked   strings   providing   a   backdrop   to   a   melodic   development,   fading   away   as   the   hunters   retired. Accompanied   by   finger   clicks   and taps   Gold   had   a   delicate   and   enchanting   opening.   The   piece   gained   momentum   and   driven   on   by   rhythmic   slapping   the   listener   was lifted on a magic ride. The   Indian   inspired   Raga ,   Lizotte,     opened   with   a   lament   –   a   moaning   sound   created   by   a   rubber   mallet   slid   against   strings   on   one harp   whilst   tear   drop   notes   were   plucked   on   the   other. The   music   swelled   and   ebbed   before   abruptly   ending   at   the   striking   of   a   temple bell. Also   built   around   Indian   raga   (scales)   in   Monsoon   Rains ,   Nagarajan and Baskar, each scale is used to represent a different type of rain. A delightful melodic opening, laid over a bolero-like rhythm that added freshness to the classic harp sound. The first section closed with a curtain-like arpeggio; the music moved through a variety of scenes, moods and keys to a final animated allegro. Becki and Lucy switched to Clarsach harps to perform two folk tunes: The Mermaids Croon , arr.Dearnley, a beautifully played Hebridean tune with delicate arpeggios underpinning the melody. Kronos Reel, McKay, right-hand strumming gave way to fascinating interweaving lines of music, the simultaneous product of four hands plucking – rhythmic and engaging. Then with their orchestral harps, four movements from the witty avant-garde Pentacle Suite , written about 100 years ago by Salzedo. Echoes of a revolution in Steel ; the sounds of cats in Felines and the apt use of Screwdriver slide, string-bends, scratching to support music suggestive of prowling and arguing cats. The eerie Catacombs and finally Pantomime presenting a variety of creepy characters, before a lighter dance-like mood to finish. Lucy & Becki brought the concert to a close with a scintillating performance of Spanish Dance No1 , de Falla, arranged for two harps and castanets. The duo delighted the audience with an encore, the slow movement from Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Mandolins - musical magic. IM
Chroma Harp Duo 11th April 2024 For the final concert of the season, the Assembly Room at Grimsby Town Hall was graced by harpists Lucy Nolan & Becki Luff. Their exciting and skilled performance spanned 200 years and included ground breaking music from the contemporary harp repertoire. The concert balanced and contrasted classical harp music against the patterns of atonal music and music based on Indian scales; a range of special effects were added piquing audience interest. Godefroid’s La priere des Bardes provided a delicate opening to the concert before a dramatic sforzando led to an arpeggio cascade; reminiscent of a sonatina, a range of moods provided fascination and calm. Piece pour deux harpes a pedals , Soulage, developed delightfully through a hypnotic scene of constantly changing colours to a discordant interlude, resolving into harmonious arpeggios and an assured promenade. Turk’s s ynesthesia   influenced   Odyssey   began   with   the   robotic   Bronze   movement   using percussive   effects   –   thrumming   and   finger-clicks   subsumed   by   the   emerging   music. Inspired   by Artemis   hunting   in   moonlight,   Silver   saw   the   use   of   a   screwdriver   slid   against plucked   strings   providing   a   backdrop   to   a   melodic   development,   fading   away   as   the hunters    retired.    Accompanied    by    finger    clicks    and    taps    Gold    had    a    delicate    and enchanting   opening.   The   piece   gained   momentum   and   driven   on   by   rhythmic   slapping the listener was lifted on a magic ride. The   Indian   inspired   Raga ,   Lizotte,     opened   with   a   lament   –   a   moaning   sound   created   by a   rubber   mallet   slid   against   strings   on   one   harp   whilst   tear   drop   notes   were   plucked   on the   other. The   music   swelled   and   ebbed   before   abruptly   ending   at   the   striking   of   a   temple bell.   Also   built   around   Indian   raga   (scales)   in   Monsoon   Rains ,   Nagarajan and Baskar, each scale is used to represent a different type of rain. A delightful melodic opening, laid over a bolero-like rhythm that added freshness to the classic harp sound. The first section closed with a curtain-like arpeggio; the music moved through a variety of scenes, moods and keys to a final animated allegro. Becki and Lucy switched to Clarsach harps to perform two folk tunes: The Mermaids Croon , arr.Dearnley, a beautifully played Hebridean tune with delicate arpeggios underpinning the melody. Kronos Reel, McKay, right-hand strumming gave way to fascinating interweaving lines of music, the simultaneous product of four hands plucking – rhythmic and engaging. Then with their orchestral harps, four movements from the witty avant-garde Pentacle Suite , written about 100 years ago by Salzedo. Echoes of a revolution in Steel ; the sounds of cats in Felines and the apt use of Screwdriver slide, string-bends, scratching to support music suggestive of prowling and arguing cats. The eerie Catacombs and finally Pantomime presenting a variety of creepy characters, before a lighter dance-like mood to finish. Lucy & Becki brought the concert to a close with a scintillating performance of Spanish Dance No1 , de Falla, arranged for two harps and castanets. The duo delighted the audience with an encore, the slow movement from Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Mandolins - musical magic. IM