Top 10 Solo Harp Pieces

The harp has the ability to sound so delicate yet so bold, making it one of the most beautiful instruments.

With its expressive capabilities in mind, there are lots of repertoire that test the instrument’s capabilities and allow it to really shine.

Here, we’ll go through what I believe are the top 10 solo harp pieces out there.

On the subject of solo harp pieces, feel free to click here to check out my work for harp called Exploration (Direction). The piece was largely inspired by all of the works mentioned in this blog, so be sure to give that a listen if you’re curious.

Furthermore, let’s dive into some of my favorite solo harp pieces to date.

1. Henriette Renié – Contemplation

First on the list is 5 minutes of pure harp magic, composed by the legendary harpist Henriette Renié.

The 1902 piece is a prime example of how to work in melodic line with the characteristic arpeggios of the harp in a very balanced manner.

The piece rapidly shifts from one key center to another, but it feels so whimsical and never sounds abrupt.

This is definitely a highlight in the solo harp repertoire.

2. Paul Hindemith – Sonata for Harp

Next on the list is Sonata for Harp, composed by the iconic German composer Paul Hindemith.

Hindemith built his career writing for all sorts of instruments. From several concerti to solo piano music, his legacy has existed all over the classical idiom.

One of his more overlooked pieces, in my opinion, is this Sonata for Harp.

It contains Hindemith’s signature harmonic palette, and combines it with a well written harp part that feels super idiomatic to the instrument.

3. Camille Saint-Saêns – Fantasie for Harp, Op. 95

Saint-Saêns’ Fantasie for Harp has some of the most beautiful uses of contrast and mood setting in a work for solo harp.

He constantly flips between a lush, warm array of arpeggios to a bare, held back melodic section that feels super intimate.

For this reason this work feels like the perfect addition to this list of best harp pieces.

4. Gaetano Donizetti – Harp solo from ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’

This wouldn’t be a list of harp pieces without including the iconic harp solo from Gaetano Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor”.

It communicates so much of the opera’s drama in its 3 minutes, while being unafraid to show off the harp’s technical capabilities.

Expressive glissandi and lyrical melodies give this piece a signature sound indicative of the late bel-canto era, and it’s iconic role makes it a must include on this list.

5. Luciano Berio – Sequenza II

Now stepping across the isle from romantic lyricality to 20th century experimentation, we have Luciano Berio’s Sequenza II.

One glance at the score will make clear the level of attention to detail Berio applies to his work, with each system offering a glimpse into creative ways to notate the harp’s mechanisms.

A feature I appreciate of Berio’s music is his choice to use bar lines as opportunities to line up the staves for easy coordination, rather than indicating some sort of consistent pulse. This is why Berio neglects to include a time signature at the beginning of the piece, despite the measures appearing quite regular.

This is something I frequently looked back at when composing my harp piece Exploration (Direction), since I found that this approach is super effective for writing more “senza misura” music.

All in all, even though this piece might not be as easy of a listen, it’s still worth a listen to see what an application of the harp in contemporary music can look and sound like.

6. Gabriel Fauré – Une châtelaine en sa tour, Op. 110

Similar to the Renié at the beginning of this post, Fauré’s Une châtelaine en sa tour is a beautifully composed work that just sounds so idiomatic, despite him not having ever played the harp.

This is a piece that I can frequently revisit and will always be impressed by the music’s understanding of not only the harp but how to make a harp sing.

7. Elias Parish-Alvars – La Mandoline, Op. 84

Now stepping back 50 years, we arrive at Elias Parish-Alvars’ 1854 composition “La Mandoline”. At moments, this piece feels very 19th century in its sense of harmonic progression. At others, it seems very forward-thinking in its approach to texture and development.

The moments in which the harp is churning out single note steady tremolos connect the piece to the subject of the mandolin, but also give the piece a unique sound which allows it to stand out amongst the rest of the standardized harp repertoire.

8. Alfredo Casella – Sonata for Harp, Op. 68

This 3 movement sonata feels like it’s always pushing for new ideas before the previous idea is even finished.

This is not to say the piece is incoherent, because all of the ideas are linked and there is a motific bond throughout the piece.

What I mean is that this is an incredibly fast-paced piece that will keep the audience on the edge of their seat the entire time. Just when you fall into the comfort of the softer sections, Casella rips you out and transports you into an entirely different sound world.

This is what makes Alfredo Casella’s Sonata for Harp so intriguing, and the fact that his sense of harmony is so thorough makes this piece such a beautiful listen.

9. Josef Tal – Intrada

This might be for me the most mesmerizing piece on this list.

20th century Israeli composer Josef Tal really understood how to music for the harp that is not only very idiomatic to the instrument but is also extremely exotic in its musical character.

I absolutely love the little wisps of sound, the random melodies and the aggressive octaves that all mix together in this fantasie-like piece of music.

josef tal intrada score excerpt — Score excerpt from Josef Tal’s “Intrada”

10. Shai Cohen – Nuance

Closing off the list, we’ve got something a little more fun.

This is Shai Cohen’s piece for harp and electronics, titled “Nuance”.

Inspired by Takemitsu’s “Stanza II”, Cohen applies live processing to the harp’s acoustic sound to give it this very warped, funky timbral quality.

Cohen incorporated graphic notational elements really nicely that, rather than distracting from the piece’s musical contents, really aids the harpists understanding of the piece.

Even if you’re not the biggest electro-acoustic fan, still be sure to give this piece a listen, otherwise you’re missing out on some super fun harp music.