NZSM First Year Harp Recital - Jessica MacBrayne

NZSM First Year Learning Record
Recorded on the 30th of October 2023
Nocturne in Eb - Mikhail Glinka
Mikhail Glinka was a Russian composer who lived during 1804-1857. Considered by many to be the ‘father of Russian music’, he was influenced by the Russian folk music that he heard as a child.
He lived with his grandmother for much of his childhood and was noted for having a particularly sensitive nature. He first became interested in music aged 10 when he heard his uncle’s private orchestra perform. As he came from a wealthy family, he then received private music training in the form of piano lessons. During 1818-1822 he was a student at the Chief Pedagogic Institute in St Petersburg where he continued his piano studies at tertiary level.
During the 1820’s he travelled around Russia. The scenery he saw around the country inspired him to start composing.
Nocturne in Eb was one of Glinka’s earlier compositions and is in the Romantic style. It was composed in 1828, but not published until 50 years later. The smooth, continuous motion provided by the left hand arpeggiation during much of the piece reflects the beautiful scenery Glinka would have seen during his travels, and the softness of the piece fits well with a composer of sensitive nature.
This composition was originally intended to be played on the piano. However, the gentleness of this piece lends itself well to the harp.
Toccata - Aram Ilyich Khachaturian
Aram Ilyich Khachaturian was a Soviet Armenian composer. He lived during 1903-1978 when the new 20th Century composition style was gaining popularity.
He was born into a family of craftsmen and went to university to study biology. A late starter in the musical world, he only began his musical training at 22 when he joined a composition class at university. He soon caught up to his musical classmates and became recognised as an excellent music student. His brilliance was such that after completing his biology degree, he was one of the very few admitted to study at the prestigious Moscow Conservatory in 1929.
Another composer inspired by the folk music of his country, Khachaturian’s music is characterised by lots of energy, bright harmonic colours and a unique Eastern sound achieved by his use of Eastern scales (as opposed to regular major and minor keys).
Toccata is a piece taken from a book of piano pieces entitled “Album for Children No.2” which he composed in 1965.
This piece has been transcribed for the harp by Russian harpist, Vera Dulova.
The energy of Khachaturian’s composing style can be heard in the constant quaver rhythm, moving forward at all times. The bright harmonic colours are particularly noticeable during very high passages of this piece. The shortest strings at the top of the harp accentuates the sharpness and dissonances in this piece.

[@mandyb6088]

Fabulous Jessica!!!

[@jessicamacbrayne]

thanks!! I'm glad I was finally able to get a copy of it! (I can feel myself starting shake again just watching though 🤣🤣)

[@julierayner9506]

Beautiful ❤❤❤❤❤

[@jessicamacbrayne]

thank you!!