Harp
Note from the Composer: Greetings harpists! I was a harpist for 15 years, focusing mostly on lever harp with a few years playing pedal harp at school. I love the instrument and am always excited to connect with other harpists! While I have a few pieces for harp, I hope to write a lot more for it in the near future—so reach out if you’re interested in commissioning something new! In the meantime, I’m always happy to recommend works by other living composers.
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Solo and Duo Harp Works
New Music Cookbook: Chocolate Mousse for solo lever harp (2022)
All proceeds from works in the New Music Cookbook project are donated to a local food bank (if one is not specified by purchaser, funds are sent to Oregon Food Bank).
Duration: 2’45”
Commissioner: Shana Norton (Website | YouTube)
Commissioned as part of the New Music Cookbook series, Chocolate Mousse is a short, sweet work inspired by the traditional dessert of the same name. A key step in the preparation of this dish, stirring, beating, and whisking motions permeate throughout. Given the simple nature of the dish, the piece uses a compact range, a simple melody-and-accompaniment feel throughout, and only a few moments of darker colors—making this a sweet, simple piece for any harpist!
Pricing
Digital: $8
PDF includes a harp score formatted for page turns.
Jabberwocky for solo lever harp with vocalizations (2021)
This piece includes a speaking part for the harpist, but can also be done with a separate person acting as narrator.
Duration: 7’30”
Commissioner: Shana Norton (Website | YouTube)
Jabberwocky was commissioned by Shana Norton as part of the Neighbor Tones initiative to write works for non-concert-hall performance settings. I loved that Shana regularly plays concerts in her neighborhood and around her community, and was especially inspired by her duo's infusion of text into many of their programs. When talking about a short, fun work that would fit well into a program of "wild things," Lewis Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky" immediately came to mind. As a piece, I sought to use the wide array of sounds the harp can produce without losing the lyrical quality of the original poem. Playful melodies, theatrical gestures, lush chords, and dynamic contrasts make this work a fun, engaging work for both performer and listener. Callooh, callay!
Pricing
Digital: $12
PDF includes a harp score formatted for page turns.
Porch Dance for solo harp (2020)
This work has not yet been recorded—a MIDI rendering is available above.
Duration: 2’00”
Commissioner: Alison Reed
Commissioned during the pandemic as part of an at-home recital, Porch Dance is a short, vibrant work with dance-like rhythms and tuneful melodies. The lilting feel, dramatic glissandi, and moments of lush harmonies provide ample opportunity for the intermediate harpist to showcase both color and power on the instrument—making this a great addition to any recital.
Pricing
Digital: $8
PDF includes a harp score formatted for page turns.
Ravage of the Harpies for solo pedal harp or harp duo** (2015, arr. 2025)
Duration: 7’45”
Written for the advanced harpist, Ravage of the Harpies is a showcase work for both performer and instrument. The mythological namesake of the piece were once depicted as beautiful bird-women who sought to bring swift justice—but overtime were turned into vengeful and vile creatures to be feared. The work follows this transformation, taking the beautiful, lyrical capacity of the harp and—overtime—showing a different side to the harp completely. Ferocious hand sweeps, pedal buzzing, thunderous slaps, and dramatic gestures take over the texture as the harp becomes almost unrecognizable. This showcase piece is available both as a virtuosic solo, or as a slightly more approachable duo work—though equally destructive.
Note: individual pedal markings can be removed from score upon request
Pricing
Solo Version
Digital: $15
PDF includes a full harp score formatted for page turns.
Duo Version**
Digital: $25
PDF includes a harp score, as well as solo parts formatted for page turns.
**pre-orders available June 2025
Trios and Quartets with Harp
Night Lights for flute, viola, and pedal harp (2023)
This work has not yet been recorded—a MIDI rendering is available above.
This work is in three movements:
1. Headlights Wreathed in Fog (3’45”)
2. Fireflies Among the Trees (4’00”)
3. Cinders in the Air (4’30”)
Duration: 12’15”
Commissioner: Michelle Lundy, Beau Soir Ensemble (Website)
Commissioned by Michelle Lundy (harpist), Night Lights is inspired by different sources of light at night. The first movement features a gentle and mysterious ostinato in the harp, the viola and flute trading moments to soar above, as well as playful wrap between the melody and accompaniment. In the second movement, woody effects and buzzing punctuations pulse in the background as bright accents peak out from the texture before giving way to sparkling and lush outbursts of lyricism. The dancelike third movement lilts and breezes as each instrument takes it’s turn with the unfurling melody and pulsing accompaniment. The infectious joy of the final movement builds to a triumphant finale, making this an excellent closing work for any trio.
Pricing**
Full score, digital: $35
Per movement, digital: $15
PDF includes a full score, as well as solo parts for the flute, viola, and harp formatted for page turns.
Every Day, Everywhere for trumpet in C, trombone, and harp (2019)
This work has not yet been recorded—a MIDI rendering is available above.
Duration: 5’00”
Commissioner: Matthew Driscoll (Website)
Mutes used: None
Commissioned by Matthew Driscoll, Every Day, Everywhere is dedicated to Josh Bynum, in memory of Josh’s grandmother and her loving spirit. The piece uses this unusual ensemble to create a warm, sweet soundscape, giving each instrumental voice a moment to shine. Sweet, lullaby-like melodies contrast with lilting bursts of energy, making this short work an ideal addition to any recital or public performance.
Pricing
Digital: $15
PDF includes a full score, and solo parts for each performer, formatted for page turns.
Prairie Rain for two harps and two marimbas (2011)
Recording from premiere performance by Leif Larson, Christopher Smith, Lisbet Finseth, and Emily Wonder.
Duration: 4’30”
This entrancing work was inspired by the opening of Ole Rølvaag’s novel, Giants in the Earth, in which the protagonists make their way through the vast American prairie for the first time. The work mirrors the breath-taking openness of the prairie and the subtle dread felt by the pioneers, with small outbursts of cascading musical gestures.
”‘Tish-ah!’ said the grass. . . .‘T’ish-ah! Tish-ah!’ . . . Never had it said anything else—never would it say anything else.”
—Giants in the Earth (pg 1)
Pricing
Digital: $15
PDF includes a full score, and solo parts for each performer, formatted for page turns.
Chamber Ensemble Works with Harp
Just Another Climb for flute, oboe, clarinet, viola, and harp (2020)
Duration: 4’30”
Commissioner: Merian Ensemble (Website | YouTube)
Commissioned by Elizabeth Remy Johnson (harp) for the Merian Ensemble as part of the Project 12 commissioning series, this work was inspired by the first “manless” ascent of the Grand Tetons (by Margaret Bedell, Anne Sharples, Margaret Smith Craighead, and Mary Whittemore). I loved that they had worked together as a team to reach the summit, which I felt was a great parallel to The Merian Ensemble's dedication to raising awareness of the contributions of overlooked women throughout history. When interviewed about the historic climbing experience, Craighead simply said, “This may have been of importance to the record of events, but to us it was just another climb.” You can read more about this work on my blog—including score excerpts—linked here.
Pricing
Digital: $25
PDF includes a full score (transposing and/or in C) and individual parts for each player formatted for page turns.
Looking for more?
You may also find more works for harp in the Large Mixed Ensemble section of The Library—or reach out to me directly! If I don’t have what you’re looking for, I’m always happy to recommend other living composers who might have just the thing!