‘With universal applause’ - Performing and contextualising the eighteenth-century harp concerto

With the invention of the pedal harp in the early eighteenth century, the role and perception of the instrument changed substantially. Renowned harp virtuosos performed concertos in Europe’s musical capitals, making the instrument desirable both for professionals and amateur musicians alike. The proposed research focuses on the harp concerto, taking it as a representative genre to discuss the changes and developments of its technique, its idiomatic writing and cultural standing during the eighteenth century. By means of historical sources such as period instructional methods and instruments as well as archival documents, I will recreate historical playing techniques using the methods of HIP practice. By doing so I will gain tools to recreate the performance of a harp concerto in the style of the eighteenth century and will shed new light on the genre. This research will result in recordings, (lecture-)recitals and written academic output. Developing a state-of-the-art methodology will give new insights into the general performance practice of eighteenth-century music which will be especially helpful to fellow musicians - harpists and HIP specialists - as well as researchers aiming at a better historical and contextual understanding of the role and development of the (harp) concerto and music performance in the period.