New Beginnings: Far From Home

Far From Home: New American Harp Music 

Overview:

Conceived by harpist Kristina Finch, the "Far From Home" project brings together the talents of five well established American composers with the aim of creating not only new music for solo harp, but establishing a new American voice for the instrument.  Each composer has, at one point or another, previously written for harp in a chamber or orchestral setting, but never as a solo voice: a fact that was paramount in the inclusion of these specific individuals.

Through working one-on-one with Ms. Finch, composers Gregory Wanamaker, Clare Shore, Benjamin Broening, Nancy Bloomer Deussen, and Cary Ratcliff will each compose a 5-8 minute work for solo harp on the thematic concept "Far From Home."  Each of these works can serve either as a movement under the heading "Far From Home," or as individual pieces of solo harp repertoire, diversifying the future performance potential of these works.

Purpose:

If one were to ask you how much you know about the modern pedal harp, how would you answer? Most people know little to nothing about the harp, how it works, and how to compose in such a way that is not only playable but is also idiomatic and approachable.  The goals for this project are threefold: 1. to create exciting new music for the modern solo pedal harp, 2. to ignite an interest in the importance of new music in both students and audiences, and 3. to stimulate the creation of more new music for solo harp.

The world of American harp music has become stagnant.  Fewer works for solo harp are being written every year, and those that are written simply are not being played.  Without the re-ignition of excitement in the harp community the future of an American voice for harp seems bleak indeed.

Future:

The goal for the completion of the "Far From Home" Project is early 2016.  Kristina Finch will hold a non-traditional exclusivity agreement with each composer that states: once a performance of the work has been completed at an institute of higher education (college, university or conservatory) it will become available to the students and faculty of that establishment. Performances will be given at higher education institutions, new music festivals, community concert venues and series, national conferences, and YouTube videos.

From the Performer:

This project is very close to my heart. After completing my doctoral studies I found myself wondering what kind of music I wanted to be performing; upon initial searches for new American music for solo harp I came to the conclusion that this genre seems to be slowly dying.  Through the creating and performance of these five new works for solo harp by my "Mighty 5," I hope to stimulate further interest in composition for the instrument. Beyond this, I hope to also foster an excitement for new music in the young harp community with a grass-roots style movement: exemplifying that creation, interpretation and expression are not only for the powerful, but can be achieved by anyone with an idea and motivation.