Description
Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz
Krumpholtz, Eight Preludes for the harp, selected and corrected by Madame Krumpholtz from op. 2
Harpiana is proud to present one of the greatest treasures of classical era harp history and literature: the “facsimile” edition of Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz’s Preludes. It is based on the Platts edition, published in London ca 1800-1810. Krumpholtz’s wife, the harp virtuoso Madame Krumpholtz, selected 8 out of the 12 original Préludes et petits airs, from the Cousineau edition op. 2 (Paris ca 1778).
Music editor Dominique Piana, came into possession of the over 200-year old volume through Mikki Henry. She thoroughly reviewed and annotated Madame Krumpholtz’s handiwork to present posterity with a cleaned up and preserved facsimile. She re-edited and visually enhanced musical text, added fingerings, pedal markings, and explanations to facilitate sight-reading and performance.
In these Preludes, Krumpholtz explores all the harp can do technically, while weaving together a world of sentiment that rises to extraordinary heights of expression.
Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz (1747-1790) has now been recognized as the foremost 18th century harp virtuoso, composer, teacher and innovator of the harp. During his apprentice years, he enjoyed close associations with the Viennese composers Wagenseil and Haydn, but came into his own after moving to Paris in 1878.
