solo harp composition

anton lukoszevieze - H.ARP - photograph by kathryn faulkner

solo harp repertoire

The aim of the project is to build a repertoire of new works for harp of an experimental, reductionist or improvisatory nature.

 

solo harp improvisation

photo by alexis o'hara

trem

“These interesting sonic experiments do not disguise Rhodri’s high degree of skill as an improviser, and one who knows his chosen instrument back to front and inside out; he is fully informed as to the liberties he may take. ‘Plosif’ and ‘Berant’ deliver some of the strongest, most innovative and most accomplished playing I’ve heard anywhere, on any instrument.” ed pinsent of trem, the sound projector, issue 12, 2004

 
rhodri davies: trem  (confront cd 011, 2001)

perdereau
 

“Rhodri Davies' "Perdereau" belongs more to the domain of composition than improvisation - though, as I've argued on numerous occasions, the distinction is becoming ever less important - using no fewer than four players (the other performers are John Wall, Jonathan Dunstan and Taku Unami), Davies' objective was to sound as many strings as possible, 40 out of a possible 47, and record the resulting clusters from inside the soundboard. The first section plays on the idea of decay, and the latter half of the piece concentrates on sustain through the use of e-bows. It's a solemn slab of music, in keeping with its dedication to the memory of French new music promoter and journalist Jacques Perdereau, whom Davies met at the Rencontres Européennes de Musiques Improvisées in Paris in 1998.”

dan warburton, paris transatlantic, october, 2004


rhodri davies: london strings: perdereau  (absinth records cd 04, 2004)
 

over shadows

"Davies's work is about sound and sonic relationships rather than technique or spontaneous self-expression. Here, poised somewhere between improvisation and composition, he transforms the harp into a vibrant and responsive tone generator."

will montgomery, the wire, december 2007

rhodri davies: over shadows   (confront cd 016, 2007)
 

camber

rhodri davies: camber (track for leonardo music journal CD, volume 17, 2007)