Description
Johann Dubez Imitation de la Harpe Éolienne, or Aeolsharfe op. 48
The Dubez musical family of Vienna occupies a unique position in the harp world. This family of 4 siblings who made a name for themselves on harp, guitar and zither, the three instruments still used in plucked string folk trios in South Germany and Austria. Johann’s siblings Anna, Joseph and Peter had freelance careers that took them places, locally and further away. Peter was the one who worked with Liszt in Weimar. He transcribed various pieces by him, most notably Two Ave Maria (previously published by Harpiana and available here under Liszt).
Aeolsharfe
Johann Dubez’s Aeolsharfe makes a good companion for comparison with Godefroid’s La Harpe éolienne and Hasselmans’ Harpe d’Éole. All three titles can be translated into paraphrased English as “Aeolian Harp”. Dubez’s composition dating from the mid 19th century is the earliest of them.
For brevity’s sake that we use the German subtitle Aeolsharfe. The formal French title is due to the dedication to the Grand-Duke Frederick Francis II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The connection here is that his sister Anna was the harpist in the duke’s orchestra. Aeolsharfe shows the influence of Parish Alvars, to whom Dubez succeeded as harpist to Countess Jeanette Bathyány Esterházy after the former’s early demise. It demonstrates that Johann fully understood the enchanting capabilities of the harp in relation to the use of glissandos as chords, which requires much pedaling due to the generous use of enharmonics (synonym notes). Dubez’s work comes closest to the imagery of a swarm of bees, the sound that will arise even from a normal pedal harp when exposed to the elements in a location with heavy winds. In all of Johann’s works comes to the fore the sweet “Viennese” style of singing music that touches the heart, without much contrasting or contrary sentiment.
