Canadian Composers of Harp Music
Canada has been creating and encouraging contemporary, experimental and avant-garde music since the mid 20th century, heavily focused in Toronto and Montreal. John Weinzweig, a pioneer of 12-tone techniques (see below his music for harp!) is widely considered a founding influencer of Canadian modernism.
Perhaps it is the long winters and our profound connection to the seasons, geography and communities that is Canada. that inspires the wealth of new music that has been written in Canada, including for the harp. Perhaps it is the community of harp players and composers that has been delving into exploring new music for our instrument and passing this creative searching and openness to the next generations of harp players. There has been an active contemporary music scene in Canada since the 1950s with the forming of two vital organisations Canadian League of Composers (1951) and the Canadian Music Centre (1959). These composition communities guided the promotion of Canadian creations across the world stage. Canada also has had a rich history of electronic music that dates back to 1959 at the University of Toronto where the second studio of its kind in North America opened focusing on electronic music creation. The Canadian Creative Music Collective (1974) was a driving force for improvisation and elctro-acoustic music and In Québec the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (1966) has been performing and promoting contemporary music in Canada.
The Canadian Music Centre (CMC) is a thorough resource to explore these and more Canadian composers, scores and recordings HERE
Explore the following Canadian composers and examples of their solo and chamber works for harp.
- Abigail Richardson-Schulte about
Dissolve for piano, percussion and harp (2002) – CMC - Allen Rae
Winter Chinook trio for 3 harps (2006) – CMC - Alex Pauk about
Concerto for Harp and Orchestra – (for Erica Goodman) watch - Alexandra Fol about
Dawn. Lake. Glistening Light (2012) – harp/percussion CMC - Alexina Louie about
Cadenzas for Harp and Percussion (2012) – (commissioned by Ryan Scott and Sanya Eng)
From The Eastern Gate for harp solo – (commissioned by Erica Goodman)
Refuge (1997) – harp/accordion/vibraphone
The Glint in Tiger’s Eye (2022) – harp/dizi/erhu/percussion CMC
The Raven for String quartet/harp/narrator – (commissioned by Luminato Festival of the Arts and Ottawa ChamberFest – Lori Gemmell, Tom Allen) - Alice Ping Yee Ho about
Achavi (1992) – for accordion/harp/vibraphone CMC
Beyond the Erupting Skies. Silver Angels Sing Among the Gold Stars (2021) – harp/electronics (Teresa Suen-Campbell) about/listen
City Night (2010) – harp/flute/soprano CMC
From the Wind – flute/piccolo/harp/viola/cello/percussion about
Golden Fish – soprano/flute/harp about
The Mysterious Boot for flute, bassoon and harp (2016) – CMC - Amir Eslami about
Images for harp solo: 1.Miniature 2.Qajar Dance 3.Rajaz (2009) – (Elizabeth Volpé Bligh) - Andrew Creeggan
Going West – 2 harps listen - Andrew P. MacDonald about
Elektra of Atreus, op. 70 for solo harp (2006) – (Erica Goodman) CMC
The Eleusinian Mysteries, Op. 47 – for harp/gamelan (Erica Goodman and Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan) listen
Of Golden Apples, op. 80 (2012) – flute/harp
Pleiades Variations, op. 45 (1998) – flute/viola/harp CMC - Andrew Staniland
Equations/Constellations for harp and guitar (2015) – CMC
Exit Eden (2017) – harp/flute CMC
in between us, sea (2023) – harp/electronics about CMC
The Beauty of Reason (2013) – harp/cello CMC - Anne Crosby Gaudet – about
sheet music - Anthony Genge
Islands for harp, violin, viola, cello (2000) – CMC
Preludes and Dances for solo harp (2002) – CMC
Streams III for guitar, harp and percussion (1991) – CMC
Streams IV for harp and piano (1985) – CMC - Antoine Ouellette
Suite Celtique (2014) – Celtic or pedal harp CMC - Arsenio Giran (1932-2022)
Apra Sonata (2010) – harp/flute CMC
Pastorales for harp (2017) – CMC
Short Pieces for Harp (1992) – CMC
Studies for Harp (1992) – CMC - Barbara Pentland 1912-2000 about
Commenta for solo harp (1981) – CMC
Tides Trio for harp, marimba, violin – CMC
Trance – flute/harp CMC - Barry Cabena
Music Hath Charms op.145 – harp/piano/mixed chorus CMC - Bekah Simms about
Lunah for harp and percussion (2014) – CMC - Ben Steinberg
Suite for flute, viola harp – CMC
Three Songs for flute, viola and harp (1975) – CMC - Brent Lee
From Higher Ground (2008) – harp/violin/cello CMC
Landscapes in a Luminous Night (1993) – CMC - Brian Cherney
Music for a Summer Wedding (2000) – harp/flute/viola CMC
Music for Henry Mutsaers (1984) – harp/flute CMC
River of Fire – harp/oboe CMC
Une petite offrande musicale (2024) – harp/flute/mezzo - Brian Current
Music by way of you for flute, harp and the participation of children in the audience (2000) – CMC - Bruce Mather
A Child in Kiev (2014) – harp/soprano/cello CMC
Ausone – harp/flute – alto flute/2 harps (Jennifer Swartz & Lori Gemmell) CMC
Coulée de Serrant – harp/piano CMC
Sancerre (1999) – lever harp/harpsichord (Sharlene Wallace)
Vouvray – harp/oboe (Erica Goodman) CMC - Caroline Lizotte music CMC
Cadence de concert
Concerto Techno, opus 40
Kheirōn, Op 53 Nocturne for Harp
La Madone, berceuse pour harp solo, opus43
Odyssée, opus 37
Stella Sonata, opus 51 for electroacoustic harp
Suite Galactique, opus 39 for solo harp
Raga for two harps, opus 41 – listen
Stellae Saltantem, opus 49 for acoustic harp/electric harp
Close for Couloir, opus 48 for harp/cello
Partita, opus 52 for violin/harp
Arrangements for harp – about - Cecilia Livingston
Garden (2012) – harp/vibraphone (Angela Schwarzkopf) listen - Chan Ka Nin about
Concerto for Harp and Orchestra (2022) – (Teresa Suen-Campbell) listen
Glimpses of the Moon for voice and harp (1993) – CMC
Reflection – CMC - Christos Hatzis
Of threads and labyrinths for oboe, harp and tape (1994) – CMC - Colin Eatock
Fantasy (2014) – harp/flute CMC
Four Poems by Hart Crane (2024) – harp/tenor CMC - David Gordon Duke about
Sonatina for harp and soprano – CMC - David Occhipinti
Net of Gems (2020) – harp/flute CMC - Dean Burry
Ad astra for solo harp (2011) – CMC - Derek Charke about
Wired and Released for flute and harp – CMC - Derek Holman
Three Songs for high voice and harp – CMC - Dorothy Chang about
Shelter (2025) – solo harp (Janelle Nadeau) about
silken air, soft light (2020) – fl/alto fl, sheng, harp, erhu, cello – about - Edward Arteaga
Capriccio – harp/violin CMC
Waltz – CMC
Waltz (1993) – harp/violin CMC - Eileen Padgett
Memories in Water (2022) – CMC - Eric Robertson about
The Rings – for flute/harp (Erica Goodman) about - Elisha Denburg
Sonatina for Vibraphone & Harp (Angela Schwarzkopf) listen - Elizabeth Raum
Bridal Veil Falls (2021) – harp/flute/bassoon CMC
Northern Lights (1995) – harp/flute/percussion CMC - Elizabeth Volpé Bligh about
Dance of the Staggering Baby (2021) – CMC
Seasons in Vancouver Suite – CMC
Solos for Lever or Pedal Harp – CMC
Summer in Vancouver – CMC
Winter in Vancouver – CMC - Emily Doolittle CMC
Paths nine pieces (2008) – harp/flute CMC - Euphrosyne Keefer about
Persephone’s Garland for flute and harp (1988) – CMC
Thalia Dancing (1988) – CMC - Frank Horvat about
A Little Loopy – (Sharlene Wallace) about video
Music for Self-Isolation – harp – (Sharlene Wallace) sheet music listen
Sunken Carousel about video
Trees.Listen – co-composed with and for Sharlene Wallace about - George Fiala
Concertino Canadese CMC
Duettino Concertante – harp/clarinet CMC
Duo Sonata – harp/violin CMC
Sonata Breve – harp/clarinet CMC - Gilles Tremblay
L’Arbre de Borobudur (1994) – harp,ondes martenot/gamelan degung/percussion – CMC
Triojubilus for flute, harp and percussion – CMC - Glenn Buhr about
Cantilène elégiaque – harp/viola CMC
Concerto for Harp and Flute (1992) – (Judy Loman) CMC
Danses Abstraites (1986) – harp/flute (Commissioned by CBC premiered by Jan Kocman and Richard Turner)
The Tale of Tinuviel (tenor/harp) – Commissioned/premiered by Lyracord (1987)
thunder without rain (2006) – flute/viola/harp (Commissioned/premiered by Trio Lyra – Erica Goodman)
Tanzmusik 5 Pieces for solo harp (1986) – (Commissioned/premiered by Judy Loman) buy - Harry Freedman
Dances for solo harp (1997) – CMA
Touchpoints for flute, viola and harp (1994) – CMC - Harry Somers about
Suite for Harp and Chamber Orchestra – (Marie Lorcini) CMC - Jacqui Cook compositions
- James W. Campbell
Concerto for harp and Orchestra (2024) – (Teresa Suen-Campbell) listen CMC - James Harley
Jubilate Domino (1986) – harp/choir CMC
Lullaby (1986) – harp/choir CMC - Jana Skarecky
Rose of Sharon – CMC - Jason Noble about
River and Cave (2017) – for 2 harps (Kristan Toczko & Emily Belvedere) - Jean Anderson about
Five Easy Duets for lever harp (2009) – CMC
Out of Doors – Three pieces for flute and harp (2006) – CMC - Jean Coulthard
Frescoes for solo violin and harp – CMC
Of Fields and Forests A Roundelay for harp – CMC - Jean Papineau-Couture
Fantaisie pour harpe (1998) – CMC - Jeff Reilly
Harp Concerto – Unfathomable Presence for orchestra and improvising harpist (Ellen Gibling 2024) - Jeffrey Ryan about
Fata Morgana for flute, viola and harp (1998) – CMC
Stillpoint for flute, harp, violin, viola (1989) – CMC - Jérôme Langlois
Moon Mélodies, IX (2021) – harp/erhu CMC - Jim McGrath
Divertissement (2009) – CMC - Jocelyn Morlock
Nightsong for bassoon and harp (2007) – harp/bassoon CMC – listen
Three Meditations on Light (2011) – harp/cello CMC
Verspetine for flute and harp (2005) – harp/flute CMC - John Abram about
Frozen Chimney Lake for harp (1994) – CMC about/listen - John Beckwith 1927 about
Ringaround for harpsichord and Celtic harp (1998) – (Sharlene Wallace & vivienne spiteri) about - John Gordon Armstrong about harp
and one thing leads to another (2021) – harp/marimba CMC
Airisag (2020) – about/listen CMC
Burst! (2017) – harp quartet about CMC
Càol MacAoidh (2005) – harp/oboe (Elizabeth Volpé Bligh) about
What happens in Vegas (2019) – CMC
Wind-Earth-Sea (1985) – harp/soprano/violin (Elizabeth Volpé Bligh) about - John Hawkins
Three Songs – harp/tenor CMC - John Weinzweig 1913-2006 about Olympic silver medallist!
15 Pieces for Harp – (Judy Loman) listen about
Tango for Two about - John Wyre
Snowflake (1975) – harp/flute/percussion CMC - Jordan Nobles about | Janelle Nadeau
Cinquanta (2018) – about guitars, percission, pianos, harps
Temporal Waves (2001) – about harps
The Night Sky (2002) – 1 or more harps about - Julie Umbrico about
- Kelly Marie Murphy about
And Then At Night I Paint the Stars (2002) – harp/orchestra – (Judy Loman and Toronto Symphony) about
En el Escuro, es Todo Uno (2018) – harp/cello/orchestra – (Erica Goodman & McGill Chamber Orchestra) about
Illuminations (2001) – (Judy Loman) about
Lines of Movement (2011) – flute/viola/harp (Judy Loman) about
The Darkest Midnight in December – harp/treble voices (Judy Loman) about
Winter Songs (2015) – harp/soprano (Caroline Leonardelli) about
Si Veriash a La Rana (2021) – harp/cello (Valérie Milot) about
Scintillation (2002) – cadenza movement from And Then At Night I Paint the Stars purchase - Kevin Fox
Lily Lake Road – harp/steel pan (commissioned by Lori Gemmell) about - Kevin Lau about
Castles in the Sand (2013) – (Angela Schwarzkopf) listen CMC
Kumiko’s Pearl – harp/violin/cello/Japanese and western flutes (Mariko Anraku) about Juno Award Winner
Little Feng Huang (2021) – harp/flute (Angela Schwarzkopf) listen - Kirk Elliott
Insect Variations, My Life as a Bug – for Celtic harp/harpsichord/banjo (Sharlene Wallace) listen - Kristan Toczko about
Dystopia – watch buy
Snowfall – watch buy - Leslie Uyeda about
Three Lorca Songs (2019) – harp/soprano/marimba CMC - Kye Marshall about
Endangered Species (2015) – 2 harps (Kristan Toczko & Emily Belvedere) - Lothar Klein
Aoidoi an odyssey for horn and harp – CMC
Partita for flute, clarinet/viola and harp (1953) – CMC - Louis Applebaum about (a founder of the CMC)
Algoma Central “in the tracks of the black bear” – harp/soprano/flute – CMC
Duologue – harp/oboe CMC
Nightscape – (Erica Goodman) CMC
Wind-Earth-Sea – harp/soprano/violin – CMC - Louis Babin
L’Ange (2023) – CMC - Malcolm Forsyth
Andante from Saggitarius (1975) – harp/string orchestra CMC
Intimacies for flute, viola and harp (2000) – CMC
The Kora Dances (1990) – CMC
The Swan Sees His Reflection – harp/cello buy - Margaret Ashburner
Small Rooms Suite – (Lori Gemmell) about listen - Marc Bélanger
Concerto pour harpe (2014) – CMC - Marjan Mozetich about CMC music
A Veiled Dream for flute, viola and harp
Angels in Flight – flute/clarinet/harp/string quartet about
Apparition – harpsichord/harp/piano about
El Dorado – harp/string quartet about
Goodbye My friend (2002) – flute/viola/harp (Trio Lyra – Erica Goodman) about
Passion of Angels – 2 harps/orchestra about CMC
Sonata for flute & harp – (Erica Goodman and Robert Aitken) about
Songs of Nymphs (1988) – (Erica Goodman) about
Sweet Water Sea (2013) – harp/choir CMC
Transfigured Sentiment (2021) – harp/cello CMC - Mark Hand about
Reel mystérieux for flute and harp (1986) – CMC
Traces - Mark Mitchell
Harp Concerto (2001) – Lever harp/orchestra (Lucile Brais HIldesheim) – CMC - Mark Nerenberg
Contemplations – (Angela Schwarzkopf) listen - Michael Conway Baker about
Concerto for Harp and Orchestra
Intermezzo, op.80 – harp/flute CMC
Two Miniatures for Troubadour Harp (1972) – CMC - Michel Perrault
Sextuor (1955) – harp/clarinet/strings CMC - Milton Barnes
Dance of the Poplars – CMC
Divertimento for Harp and Strings (1993) – (Elizabeth Volpe Bligh) CMC
Harbord Street – harp/flute/viola
March of the Gamelan For Harp and Gamelan Orchestra (2000) – (Erica Goodman) CMC
Mozart Fantasy – CMC
Prelude and Scherzo (1978) – CMC
Scottish Folk Song Suite (1993) – CMC
Serenade – harp/celeste – CMC
Tango99 (2000) – harp/flute/viola – CMC
The Classical Cat – Minnie Minou (1999) – harp/flute/viola CMC
Variations for solo harp (1976) – CMC - Monica Pearce about
attach (2014) – (Angela Schwarzkopf) listen
detach (2016) – (Angela Schwarzkopf) listen - Nancy Telfer about
Noël – choir/flute/harp (Marie Lorcini)
The Song of the Angels (2002) – choir/flute/harp (Sharlene Wallace) – CMC - Nick Storring about
Hinting for solo harp (2013) – (Emma Blackburn) CMC - Norma Beecroft
Homage to Debussy (2009) – harp/flute – CMC
Interlude for flute, harp and percussion (2011) – CMC
Pas de Deux (2013) – harp/percussion CMC - Oskar Morawetz
Concerto for Harp and Orchestra (1976)
Sonata for harp and viola (1985) – CMC - Owen Underhill about
By backward steps (2000) – harp/violin CMC
Canzone petra (2004) – harp/flute CMC
Returning Home (2018) – harp/sheng/bassoon/pipa CMC - Parisa Sabet about
When the Roses Laugh in Full-blown Beauty (2015) – harp/marimba CMC - Patricia Holt about
Invocations for flute, cello and harp – CMC - Patricia Morehead
Zoological Garden (1990) – harp/flute/soprano CMC - Pierick Houdy (French/Canadian) about
Concerto français pour harpe et orchestre (1997) – CMC
NC77 (1984) – CMC
Quartes harpes celtes (2003) – CMC
Salve regina (2004) – harp/counter tenor/cello/harpsichord CMC
Suite pour violon et harpe – CMC
Telenn (1983) – CMC - Quenten Doolittle
Songs of Annoyance for soprano and harp (1994) – CMC - Ramona Luengen about
O magnum mysterium (2000) – harp/mixed chorus CMC - Raymond Luedeke
Aurora for flute and harp – CMC
Fairy tales for flute and harp – harp/flute CMC
The Lyre of Orpheus (1998) – CMC
The Moon in the Labyrinth for harp and string quartet – CMC - R. Murray Schafer 1933-2021 about CMC about
Concerto for Harp and Orchestra – watch music
Four Songs – harp/soprano
Patria 5: The Crown of Ariadne – (Judy Loman) listen CMC
Theseus for harp and string quartet – (Judy Loman) listen
Trio for flute, viola and harp – listen
Wild Bird – harp/violin CMC - RD Wraggett
Watery Traces (2025) – CMC - Riho Esko Maimets
lumena – harp/flute (Angela Schwarzkopf) listen - Robert Aitken
Lalità Part II: Shadows (1975) – harp/flute/cello/percussion CMC - Robert Bauer
Tears in the Fragile Web of Memory (2018) – harp/flute CMC - Robert Evans about
Rainsong (1995) – CMC
A Harper’s Ballad (1995) – CMC - Robert Turner
Suite for Harp – CMC
Fantasy and festivity for solo harp – CMC - Robin Engelman
Dance Movements for Harp and Marimba (2000) – about (Sanya Eng) - Rodney Sharman about
At dusk for solo bassoon, timpani, harp and string orchestra – (premiered Erica Goodman) CMC
Cordes vides – (premiered Erica Goodman) CMC
Dances for harp (2004) – CMC
Incantation (2007) – harp/bassoon/string quartet CMC
Piece for Celtic harp and Orchestra – (Sharlene Wallace and Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Glen Fast)
Six etudes for lever (Celtic) or pedal harp (2011) – watch CMC
Variations on a Quiet Song (1998) – listen CMC - Ronald Hannah about
Introduction and Dance of Qualified Joy (2012) – harp/flute/viola CMC
Suite of Antique Dances (2015) – harp/flute/viola or hurdy-gurdy CMC - Ruth Watson-Henderson
I shall not pass this way again (2004) – harp/women’s chorus CMC - Sandy Moore about
Night Song for string orchestra (1988) – CMC
Under stranded skies for violin, viola, piano and Irish harp (1991) – CMC
Winds of Lyra for Harp (1990) – harp/flute/percussion/synthesizer – CMC - Scott Macmillan
Celtic Mass for the Sea (1998) – Celtic harp/guitar/mandolin/flute/pipes/fiddle/strings/choir about - Scott WIlkinson
Legend a fantasy for harp and flute (1995) – CMC - Sharlene Wallace about explore
- Srul Irving Glick 1934-2002 about CMC about
King David Sonata for solo Harp (1998) – (Jennifer Swartz) listen CMC
Trio for Flute, Viola, Harp – CMC - Stephen Chapman
Creatures of Earth and Sky (1991) – CMC - Suzanne Hébert-Tremblay
Ah! Le vent se pose dans la couleur des arbres for flute, viola and harp (1991) – CMC - Sydney Hodkinson about
Hit and Run preambula for harp and percussion (1997) – CMC
Sprigs and Shards a December remnant for solo harp (2002) – CMC
Soliloquy for solo viola and harp (1984) – CMC
Winterwaltz (an encore) for marimba and harp – CMC - Tawnie Olson about
Scel lem duib (2012) – harp/mixed chorus CMC
Spinning and Weaving (2014) – 2 harps (Kristan Toczko & Emily Belvedere) about/listen
Two Tea Bowls (2018) – harp/cello/choir CMC - Tibor Polgar
Annabel Lee – harp/low voice/flute CMC
Frère Jacques – CMC
Preludio e Passacaglia – CMC
Rhapsody of Kallo – harp/violin CMC
Romantic Minutes (5 light sketches for harp) – CMC - William Beauvais about
Beginning of the Day for Adam Rinehart (2017) – CMC - Wolfgang Bottenberg
Trio for flute, viola and harp (1983) – CMC
Harp, Oh Canada 