Godefroid, Le Berceuse, Morceau de Concert
Composer Felix Godefroid (1818-1897) was a Belgian harpist who was also a prolific composer. He studied the single-action pedal harp in Paris with François Joseph Naderman and then the recently developed double-action pedal harp with Elias Parish Alvars. Godefroid's music falls naturally into the harpists' hands. Melody - whether in the right or left hand - reigns supreme, rising out of shimmery repeated note patterns such as cross fingering, trills and thumb slides and singing out in harmonics or imitating the dark tones of the cello. Arpeggios prolong the ringing of pivotal chords, quick grace notes render heroic or elfin moods. Delightful filigree climbs over the whole range of the harp, while tremolo and bisbigliando effects over synonym notes whisper and quiver.
Godefroid's subject matters evoke the beauty of nature, the moods or popular tunes, romantic myths and fairy legends, exotic locales and sentimental religiosity. A master enchanter, he blazed a magic trail and, in retracing his steps, the works republished here will reveal, like sleeping beauties, the spell hiding behind their deceptive simplicity. La Berceuse is an ideal piece to introduce moderately advanced players to Godefroid's musical language. It starts with a caressing and playful tune whose repetitious accompaniment effectively lulls the ear, then goes into a middle section of effusive character, as if sleep came from within to overcome us with a powerful rush. The melody is fleshed out by a cross-fingered pattern, a device used by Godefroid in many pieces to help build the emotional climax. A small cadenza serves as a transition to bring back the first theme, which soon repeats itself into oblivion.
For the intermediate-advanced pedal harpist.
5 pages.
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