REVIEW OF PLUCK ON ‘THE CRITIC’S
CHAIR’ Radio New Zealand NOVEMBER 2012
Thankyou for tuning in to The Critic’s
Chair. I’m Ken Young and finally today we have a brand new release of New
Zealand works for solo harp by the Principal Harpist of the Christchurch
Symphony Orchestra Helen Webby. The first of these is by Anthony Ritchie, (one) of ten works on this excellent collection entitled Pluck, performed
by Helen Webby and released on the Ode label.
“Harps make fine companions in
disaster......you can float on a harp as the ship goes down.”
These words by Canterbury poet Fiona
Farrell were written after the earthquake that struck and devastated
Christchurch and its population on the 22nd of February 2011.
Helen Webby evacuated herself to Dunedin
shortly afterwards and with time on her hands decided to launch into a massive
and absorbing project of commissioning nine short new works from New Zealand
composers. The tenth work on the disc is by Gareth Farr and was previously
commissioned by Helen in 2006. I have actually observed Gareth performing on
the harp rather successfully; such was his commitment to understanding the
technical ins and outs of this compositionally elusive instrument.
Some of the works make use of instruments
other than the standard orchestra pedal harp. Instruments such as the Irish
lever harp, lap harp and a wire strung medieval harp are employed. Here is an
excerpt from a work featuring the latter instrument by Ross Carey.
The album was recorded in the University of
Otago’s Albany Street studio, a southern hemisphere version of the famous Abbey
Road studio in London. The expert recording and production is by John Egenes
from the University of Otago Department of Music. I feel compelled to mention
him as there are occasions when the harps are enhanced through the use of
digital technology. There is also some marvellous balancing of timbres when in
some of the pieces Helen is required to record more than one part on different
harps. Full credit must be given to the performer as this can be a very
exacting task in a recording studio. There is a beautiful example of this in
Claire Cowan’s piece for lap harp and pedal harp entitled The Sleeping Keeper.
That Helen Webby is a fine harpist there
was never any doubt but what many won’t know is that her brother, Kim, is one
of the world’s finest and most sought after harp makers. He made his first harp
when Helen decided she would like to play one. What a cool brother. Since then
he has hand-crafted scores of lever harps and several concert grand pedal
harps. They are internationally acclaimed for their warmth, clarity and
responsiveness as well as supreme craftsmanship. Kim uses New Zealand and North
American timbers to create unique designs inspired by New Zealand flora and
traditional art. They really are beautiful works of art as well as wonderful
musical instruments.
Another feature of this interesting and
varied collection of miniatures is the use of the human voice. There are pieces
by Gillian Whitehead and Lyell Cresswell which, along with the harp, feature
vocal lines based on the poetry of Fiona Farrell and Rachel Bush sung by Pepe
Becker. Becker also sings wordlessly in a composition of her own on the disc
entitled Capricorn 1: Pluto in Terra.
Other works on the disc from Graeme Downes,
Mark Smythe and Chris Adams explore many interesting and thoroughly idiomatic
aspects of the harp. All of the works are superbly conceived for the variety of
instruments available to them. Many composers and arrangers make the mistake of
treating the harp in much the same way as they would a piano. A huge mistake
which frequently frustrates harpists as they struggle with 47 strings and 21
possible positions combined for the seven foot pedals. No such fraughtness
here. This is an exciting and valuable collection of works and Helen Webby is
to be roundly congratulated for her vision and advocacy. The title of the CD is
Pluck and it is available on the Ode label.
You’ve been listening to The Critic’s Chair
here on Radio New Zealand Concert. I’m Ken Young and thanks for tuning in
today.
I’d like to leave you with one last track
off Helen Webby’s album. It is by Gareth Farr, is written for both lever harp
and wirestrung harp and is entitled Frozen Landscapes 1. Enjoy. ..... Ken Young
New Zealander Kim Webby built his first
harp when his sister Helen began to play. Since then he has hand-crafted scores
of lever harps and several concert grand pedal harps, internationally acclaimed
for their warmth, clarity, and responsiveness, as well as supreme
craftsmanship.
Kim uses New Zealand and North American
timbers to create his own unique designs, inspired by NZ flora and traditional
art
New Zealander Kim Webby built his first
harp when his sister Helen began to play. Since then he has hand-crafted scores
of lever harps and several concert grand pedal harps, internationally acclaimed
for their warmth, clarity, and responsiveness, as well as supreme
craftsmanship.
Kim uses New Zealand and North American
timbers to create his own unique designs, inspired by NZ flora and traditional
art