Alessandro Palazzani:
HARPING THROUGH
PACHELBEL’S CANON
a comprehensive method for the harp
Over 770 technical exercises based on Pachelbel’s Canon harmonic progression collected in four volumes ordered by level of difficulty and containing all the topics of harp technique
FOR EVERY KIND OF HARP
Download a free sample score:
from GoogleDrive (click here)
from Mega.nz (click here)
This book collection has been written with the intention of providing harpists with a valuable study tool, combining what is useful but often not enjoyable (technical exercises) with what everyone loves to play (Pachelbel's Canon in D).
We are so proud to present to you this extensive collection of over 770 exercises based on the harmony of Pachelbel's Canon. These exercises cover all aspects of playing the harp and are published in four volumes the first three are organized into three difficulty levels (basic, intermediate, and advanced). In each volume, thirteen different topics are explored, each with three levels of complexity. The fourth volume (miscellanea) completes the range of subjects with ten additional chapters.
Vol. 1 BASIC LEVEL - Vol. 2 INTERMEDIATE LEVEL - Vol. 3 ADVANCED LEVEL
Topics of each volume: 1. Articulation - 2. Scales - 3. Slides - 4. Glissandos - 5. Parallel Intervals - 6. Chords - 7. Arpeggios - 8. Batteries - 9. Thumb Extension & Melody - 10. Harmonics - 11. Mufflings - 12. Cross Fingering - 13. Trills, Tremolos & Bisbigliando
Vol. 4 MISCELLANEA
Topics of vol. 4: 1. Ornaments - 2. Timbral Alterations - 3. Polyrythms - 4. Accompaniment Patterns - 5. Polyphony - 6. Lever Changes - 7. Pedal Changes - 8. Various Etudes - 9. Warm-up Routine - 10. Pachelbel’s Canon
We hope that this work can become a reference point in your daily practice and warm-up routine, making even those moments in your practice session that are often dry and musically uninteresting more enjoyable and satisfying.
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Buy your copy at Amazon, Lulu or SheetMusicPlus.
Here's the links, click on your interested volume:
PDF EDITION at SheetMusicPlus
Vol. 1 BASIC LEVEL
Vol. 2 INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Vol. 3 ADVANCED LEVEL
Vol. 4 MISCELLANEA
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Vol. 1 BASIC LEVEL
Vol. 2 INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Vol. 3 ADVANCED LEVEL
Vol. 4 MISCELLANEA
Blank Work Sheet Block
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Vol. 1 BASIC LEVEL
Vol. 2 INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Vol. 3 ADVANCED LEVEL
Vol. 4 MISCELLANEA
Blank Work Sheet Block
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BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES
To compile these exercises, inspiration has been drawn from some of the leading educational works for the harp, methods and exercises written by Naderman, Bochsa, Zabel, Renie, Godefroid, etc... These books are highly recommended for reading and in-depth study by every student and enthusiast. All titles are in the public domain and are readily available online through the IMSLP.ORG website (a reference site for every musician).
You can also find the pdf files at these links:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/methods
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
To make the most of the opportunities provided by these exercises and to organize a structured learning path, we recommend using the "Work Sheets." You can print or photocopy as many sheets as you need and keep them in a binder. Alternatively, you can purchase a pre-printed workbook. In these "Work Sheets," you can easily keep track of your study plan, your progress, and make helpful notes on the execution of the exercises.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This book will help you develop strength, agility, suppleness, and stamina. Starting with the Basic level is recommended even for more experienced players as a technical refresher. We also suggest tackling the topics found in Volume 4, Miscellanea, right from the beginning to complement the technical aspects covered in the other three volumes.
The choice to write the exercises in the key of E-flat major was made because it's the natural key for lever harps (we recommend tuning your instrument to E-flat from the start, as most of the repertoire is written with this tuning). Additionally, E-flat is a very common key for pedal harps as well.
While a 36-string instrument is recommended, many of the exercises can be performed on smaller harps.
Plan your practice sessions to optimize the time you dedicate to them. Start by tuning your harp; this will train your musical ear for proper pitch.
Choose the exercises you want to focus on for a certain period of time. They can all be from a single topic you want to develop or just one exercise from various topics. It's up to you to decide which aspects of technique you need to concentrate on.
During your practice sessions, remember to begin with proper warm-up, and especially when studying more complex exercises, take breaks to relax your body, shaking out your arms, hands, fingers, and legs. Stand up occasionally.
Play with a steady tempo and increase the speed very gradually. While a metronome is a valuable tool, it's true that hardly any musician enjoys its ticking. Alternatively, since the exercises in this book are all based on the same harmonic sequence, you can replace the metronome with an app that plays musical accompaniments automatically. There are many options available, and once you've set the necessary chords (Eb, Bb, C-, G-, Ab, Eb, Ab, Bb) and your desired BPM, it will provide a pleasant musical backdrop for your exercises instead of the metronome. Among the many online alternatives, we recommend ChordBot Lite, a free and user-friendly app.
Lastly, it's important to maintain good hand and body posture. This has a positive impact on many factors: sound quality, execution agility, your body's health, and even the aesthetic aspect of your posture. The harp is an instrument that requires appropriate body movements; don't be afraid to move and let the sound flow from the body of the instrument.
We hope you will enjoy making this book a part of your daily harp routine.
