Hasselmans – Étude Mélodique op. 35

Alphonse Hasselmans Étude Mélodique, op. 35
4 pages

Difficulty (4/5)

Alphonse Hasselmans, who has been universally celebrated as the Father of the French School of Harp, actually followed in the footsteps of the better of his predecessors (Godefroid for ex.), while showing a particular knack for synthesizing and codifying what the French sound is all about. First and foremost, good hand-position; second, the thumb as a glorious singer. Everyone of his over 50 compositions for the harp demonstrates his keen understanding of the inner workings – in other words, the pedagogy – of the harpist’s hands at the harp. This forgotten Étude Mélodique serves as a great technical and musical preparation for some of his more advanced pieces, such as Chanson de Mai and La Source.