Cowichan Classical Concerts

Tag: Josh Layne

  • Once upon a Harp

    Josh Layne, harp

    Sunday, May 4 at 2pm

    Harpist/composer Josh Layne started studying the harp at age 13, and soon excelled at the instrument. Praised for his virtuosity and the sensitivity of his playing, he has recorded several CD’s, and has performed across North and South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Layne’s concert of solo harp music will include some of his original compositions, and will culminate in a stunning arrangement of Smetana’s “The Moldau”, telling the story of the river’s journey through the Czech Republic.

    Programme

    Baroque Flamenco  — Deborah Henson-Conant (1953- ) 
                                            
    Concierto de Aranjuez — Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999), arr. Josh Layne
    2nd Movement: Adagio

    Uncharted Shores (2020) — Josh Layne (1977— )     

    Légende — inspired by Les Elfes by Leconte de Lisle — Henriette Renié (1875-1956)

    Winter — Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741), arr. Josh Layne   

    Allegro non molto   
    Largo
    Allegro

    The Lark — Mikhail Glinka/Mily Balakirev (1804-1857/1837-1910), arr. Josh Layne

    The Moldau — Bedřich Smetana (1824-1888), arr. Hans Trneček

    Background information

    Harpist and composer Josh Layne is well-known as a consummate musician and has even been called a “harp genius”. He has performed extensively across Canada, USA, Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand, and has been praised for both his virtuosity and the sensitivity of his playing.

    Josh has recorded 4 albums of solo harp music, including his 2013 CD  which features three of his original compositions for harp. Recent projects include a revival of Bochsa’s long dormant “Concerto No. 1 in
    D minor” with a performance at the World Harp Congress in Wales in July 2022.

    Josh’s biweekly YouTube series “It’s Tuesday… It’s Harp Tuesday!” was born out of a passion for teaching, and launched in 2010. The series covers all aspects of playing the harp, from the first lesson to in-depth looks at advanced music. With 250+ episodes and over 2 million views, Harp Tuesday is an amazing resource for harpists all over the world.

    Josh’s most recent YouTube project is “Harpist in the Wild”, a new video series combining his love of music and the outdoors.