Hartway/Allvin An Affair of the Harp An Affair of the Harp represents the current culmination of the music written by composer James Hartway for harpist Kerstin Allvin. The music showcases the harp in a variety of different settings. The compositions feature a multiplicity of styles, influences, moods, and techniques, but each is accessible in its own way. These pieces, which have been performed worldwide by many artists and different ensembles, speak in a universal language that is expressive, thoughtful, intelligent, humorous, and humane. James Hartway was born in Detroit, Michigan and began his involvement with music at age seven. His formal training was acquired at Wayne State University, in Detroit, where he worked on his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music degrees with Ruth Shaw Wylie. He earned his Ph.D. in Music Composition under the direction of H. Owen Reed at Michigan State University in 1972. Hartway has composed more than 50 commissioned pieces and has written more than 85 works which include orchestra pieces, concertos, opera, choral music, chamber and solo works. He has won the Young Musicians of Los Angeles Composition Award, the American Music Competition, the Arts Foundation of Michigan Music Award, 25 ASCAP Standard Panel Awards, and has received a Resolution of Tribute from the Michigan Senate. His music has been recorded, choreographed, and performed live and on radio and television throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, Japan, and China. Hartway is currently the Director of Music Composition and Theory at Wayne State University where he is a Distinguished Professor of Music. Kerstin Allvin was born in San Jose, California. She began playing the harp at age 10, and later pursued her studies at Indiana University with Susann McDonald, graduating with a Performer's Certificate and a Bachelor of Music with Distinction. Subsequently she received a Master of Music in Harp Performance from the University of Michigan studying with Lynne Aspnes. Her post- Master's work took place in Paris and Nice France where she had private studies with Jacqueline Borot, Honorary Professor of the Paris Superior Conservatory of Music. Allvin has won numerous awards and competitions, and has performed in concerts all over the globe. She has toured Japan as a soloist, performed at the Carnegie recital hall in New York, and has been featured with orchestras in the United State and abroad. She was the Principal Harpist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on their European Tour in 2001. Ms. Allvin has released a CD of original jazz/new age works entitled "Origins," and has made several other recordings of important solo and ensemble classical harp and modern repertoire. As a free-lance artist she is equally comfortable in a recording studio with Stevie Wonder, Oleta Adams, and R. Kelly, or "in the pit" playing Broadway musicals and shows. Images of Mogador (2002) 1. Trance Music 2. From the Minaret 3. Le Souk Images of Mogador was commissioned by André Azoulay, Conseiller de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI, of Morocco and Mohammed Enaji, Director of the Printemps Musical des Alizes for the annual classical music festival that takes place in Essaouira. The music is earthy, rhapsodic, and rhythmic, as it attempts to reflect the color, passion and sincerity of Morocco. The work was composed for the Woodland Trio. The Woodland Trio The Woodland Trio has performed throughout the Metropolitan Detroit area since 1999. Kerstin Allvin, Jeffery Zook, and Caroline Coade comprise the ensemble. The Trio was sponsored by the United States Embassy to premier Images of Mogador in Morocco, and was featured on national Moroccan television. Caroline Coade, viola Caroline currently performs as a violist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Ms. Coade has been an artist-in-residence at the Laurel Festival in Pennsylvania. She has taught viola at Temple University, and currently teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Wayne State University. Jeffery Zook, flute, piccolo, alto flute Jeff Zook has been a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra flute section since 1992. He has toured as guest piccoloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and soloed with the Detroit Symphony. Mr. Zook is a prize-winning flutist who is in demand as both a chamber music performer and featured artist. Detours (1988) 1. you turn 2. quiet zone 3. no exit Detours was commissioned by the Larson/Allvin Duo for a concert tour of the Far East. The work has become the Duo's signature piece. Detours has a distinctly American flavor that is achieved through the use of somewhat jazz-like harmonies and rhythms. Jeffery Zook performs with Kerstin on this recording. Basho (1990) This work is a set of eight short programmatic pieces based on the haiku of the 17th-century Japanese poet after whom they are named. In order to reflect the subtle colors of the poetry, the harp is "prepared" by wrapping strings with aluminum foil, attaching paper clips, and using brushes and coins to caress and strike the strings. Basho was composed through a Michigan Council for the Arts Creative Artist Grant. Eddie Collins, narrator Eddie Collins, a native of San Antonio, Texas, is a third-year Master of Fine Arts candidate in Acting at Wayne State University and a member of the Hilberry Company. He has acted regionally across the country. Handel Concerto in Bb Major for Harp, movt. II (1997) Larghetto/Hartway cadenza Kerstin Allvin has performed this wonderful concerto many times with various orchestras and ensembles, but she has never been satisfied with the rather "romantic" cadenzas that have been written by 19th century harpists. Since Handel did not provide a cadenza for this work, Kerstin asked Jim to compose a "Baroque" cadenza that would better match the style and flavor of the movement. Message from Garcia (1997) Message from Garcia was composed for Kerstin Allvin and Nadine Deleury for a special performance at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers Michigan. The work was inspired by the mystic quality, lyric beauty, and Andalusian perspective found in the poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca. Nadine Deleury, cello Nadine Deleury was born in France where she studied 'cello both privately and at the Paris Conservatory. She has a Master's of Music degree from Yale University. Ms. Deleury was a member of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, and is currently the Principal Cellist with the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra. She is co-founder and director as well as performer with the "Music at the Scarab Club" series in Detroit. April Sunrise (1986) This art song was commissioned by the Lyric Chamber Ensemble of Detroit and is a setting of a lovely poem by Ronald Leo Cooney. It is a brief, evocative, and somewhat innocent piece that was dedicated to the memory of the young, local poet who created them. Dana Lentini, soprano Lyric soprano Dana Lentini is a California native who has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Southern California. Ms. Lentini's operatic credits include roles with the Opera Theatre at Wildwood, the Toledo Opera Company, the Shreveport Opera, the Great Lakes Opera Company, and the Michigan Opera Theatre. Ms. Lentini is currently on the voice faculty of The College of New Jersey. Holiday in Paris (1998) 1. Driving by the Arc (de Triomphe) 2. Looking Inside the Cathedral (Notre Dame) 3. Walking in Paris with Claude (Debussy) Holiday in Paris was originally composed for French educational television at the request of producer/director David Berrebi. This is a set of "teaching pieces" for the advanced beginner in which several theoretical concepts as well as technical problems are to be found and solved. This set of short programmatic pieces is meant to be instructive, musical, and enjoyable to play and hear. Two Nights in Spain (1994) 1. Cuitat Vella (Old Town) 2. La Rambla (The Torrent) Two Nights in Spain was commissioned by Kerstin Allvin for the Arianna Harp Duo. The first movement sonically represents cathedrals, city walls, peaceful patios, narrow alleys and hidden squares of old Barcelona. The second suggests the endlessly interesting shapes, faces, facades, nature, fashion, and the current flow of humanity, instead of water, that can be observed on La Rambla. This composition was premiered on National Public Radio, WDET in Detroit. Lynne Aspnes, harp Lynne Aspnes is Professor of Harp and Chair of the String Department at the University of Michigan School of Music. Dr. Aspnes has served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University, and as Director of the Concert Artist Program of the American Harp Society. An active performer and teacher, she appears frequently in solo recital, chamber music collaborations, and as orchestral soloist. Produced and directed: Kerstin Allvin Recording engineer: James Kissling Sound technician: Tom Wilber Soup Can Music: Atanas Ilitch Photography and Design: Blake Discher Jim and Kerstin wish to thank all of their dear friends and colleagues who participated in the making of this CD. Caroline, Dana, Jeff, Lynne, and Nadine - you all have amazing talents and bring so much life, color and personality to our music and our lives. You have established the role and character of this music with your individual voices. Special thanks to Jim K. You are the best in the business. We would never have done this project without you running the show. Keep your hand on that mouse! Thank you also to Tom and Atanas for your enthusiasm and support throughout the process. Soup Can is a fabulous center of music-making and inspiration. Kudos to "first take" Eddie!! To Blake - many thanks for your incredible talents, expert eye, and artistic vision - and for working so patiently with us. We won't forget that rare sun-filled day in Detroit. The music on this compact disc was recorded, edited and mixed at Soup Can Music, Harper Woods during 2002 and 2003. Additional mixing at the Tempermill, Ferndale. Hardwall Publishing Company ASCAP is the exclusive publisher of James Hartway's compositions. This CD and the music contained herein are under copyright, and any reproduction or other use without written permission from the composer or publisher is prohibited. Please make all inquiries to the composer through Wayne State University Department of Music, Detroit, MI 48202. Email: james.hartway@wayne.edu Please visit it us at www.highheelrecords.com © James Hartway 2003 Kerstin recorded this CD on a Camac, Atlantide Prestige harp. P.S. Kerstin and Jim's mutual love of music, the harp, and each other led to their marriage in 1991. Images of Mogador copyright 2002 Detours copyright 1988 Basho copyright 1990 Handel Cadenza copyright 1997 Message from Garcia copyright 1997 April Sunrise copyright 1986 Holiday in Paris copyright 1998 Two Nights in Spain copyright 1994 Original harp music of award-winning composer James Hartway performed by Kerstin Allvin, the 1999 Detroit Music Awards "Outstanding Classical Insturmentalist," and Michigan's finest musicians . Images of Mogador (flute, viola, and harp) 1. Trance Music 5:24 2. From the Minaret 4:47 3. Le Souk 4:20 Detours (flute and harp) 4. you turn 4:20 5. quiet zone 4:15 6. no exit 3:41 Basho (narrator and harp) 7. sparrows in eves 1:26 8. yellow rose petals 2:25 9. old pond 1:41 10. however close 1:03 11. cuckoo 1:39 12. storming 2:13 13. fading bells 1:38 14. summer moon 2:46 Handel Concerto in Bb Major for Harp (harp solo) 15. Larghetto/Hartway cadenza 7:30 Message from Garcia ('cello and harp) 16. Mysterioso - ad libitum 8:24 April Sunrise (voice and harp) 17. Lyrically 3:21 Holiday in Paris (harp solo) 18. Driving by the Arc (deTriomphe) 1:20 19. Looking Inside the Cathedral (Notre Dame) 2:27 20. Walking in Paris with Claude (Debussy) 1:43 Two Nights in Spain (two harps) 21. Cuitat Vella (Old Town) 5:18 22. La Rambla (The Torrent) 4:47 Total Playing Time: 77:10