Maria Wilhelmina Wandscheer (Dutch, 1856-1936). A harpist
One of my current projects is a series of etudes for harp. The series started simply because two of my friends are harpists (and also happen to be sisters.) I figured composing a bunch of harp music would be the easiest way to get hang out with them more...and to learn more about the harp I guess...
Anyways, These beautiful harp sisters have both mentioned a few times that I should compose some harp music for them. In the past I have shied away from writing for harp because it is vastly different from any other instrument and there are so many special techniques and notations (also, I never knew a harpist before.) So, After piddling around the idea for some time I finally decided take my friends up on their offer and use the experience to learn as much as I can about the harp. As a composer it is alway exciting when you have a chance to work closely with a performer, In doing so you learn so much more about techniques and performance practices than you can from an orchestration text book.
The first few etudes in the set are fairly simple. As I learn more about the harp I hope to write some etudes showcasing the many colorful extended techniques capable on the harp.