By Tara Lane
Harp (noun): a musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame formed by a soundbox, a pillar, and a curved neck, and having strings stretched between the soundbox and the neck that are plucked with the fingers.
BYU harpists will puck their way into the hearts of the audience as they present their semi-annual Harp Solo and Ensemble concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Madsen Recital Hall, HFAC.
“It”s a lot of fun, a really neat experience,” said ensemble director Anamae Anderson. “People often comment and tell me they”ve never seen or heard a harp before. These performances give them the chance to see eight or nine harps on stage at once.”
The concert will feature songs such as “The Carnival of Venice” by Wilhelm Posse, “Cecilia” by Paul Simon and “Sweet Georgia Brown” by Ben Bernie. They will also play the traditional Christmas song, “Silent Night.” The ensemble, a mix of music and non-music majors, will play seven songs. Selected harp students will do solo performances, with one featuring a piano and flute accompaniment.
*”I try to find new music each semester,” Anderson said. “There isn”t as wide of a variety of selections for harp ensembles, so sometimes I really have to look hard.”
Members of the ensemble range in their levels of playing from beginning students to advanced, Anderson said.
“Many students have taken lessons before college, but some started learning when they came to BYU,” she said.
The harp ensemble is not an auditioned group, rather students join by enrolling in Music 160R, and rehearse once a week as an ensemble.*
This concert has been a tradition for more than nine years and has gained quite a bit of popularity, Anderson said.
“If you want to come, come early,” she said. “I”ve seen people turned away. It fills up fast.”
Admission is free. Refreshments will be served following the concert.
For more information, contact Anamae Anderson at (801) 310-5152, or visit performances.byu.edu.
