The first edition of Harfenlabor’s Harp Biennale, titled Haydn’s Folk Harp, unfolded as an artistic-scientific duel between the Single-Action-Harp around Haydn and its Alpine counterpart, the Tyrolean Folk Harp. The festival took place November 11–14, 2021, at Haus der Musik Innsbruck and Tiroler Landesmuseen Ferdinandeum. Haydn’s Folk Harp presented a diverse and lively harp repertoire in Concerts and Concert-Lectures, as well as up to date artistic and scientific research in a Symposium and an Exhibition.
Haydn's Folk Harp: Partners and Support
The first edition of the Harp Biennale, Haydn’s Folk Harp, would not have been possible without the generous support of our funders, cooperation partners and sponsors. Harfenlabor wishes to thank the following institutions for their commitment to our work. Funding support by: Cooperation Partners: Sponsors:
Haydn's Folk Harp: About the Festival
Harfenlabor's founder Margret Koell introduces Haydn' Folk Harp, the first edition of the Harp Biennale with a brief overview of the Symposia, Concerts and Concert-Lectures, as well as an overview of the Harp Biennale as a new, innovative festival bringing historical harp into contemporary contexts.
Haydn's Folk Harp, the Opening
The first edition of the Harp Biennale opens with the world premiere of Himmels We, by the Tyrolean composer Christof Dienz, performed by the Knoedel, as well as pieces performed by the Innsbrucker Volksmusikanten, Duo Gasteiger-Waldek, and Duo Ehrenstrasser-Reitmeir.
The first day began with symposium contributions and a concert-lecture addressing the topic of Harp at the Time of Haydn, to in the afternoon address The Tyrolean Folk Harp, including a roundtable discussion and, finally, the concert An Evening of Folk Music.
The second day morning session saw symposium contributions on the topic of Regionalities, and a concert-lecture. The afternoon was devoted to Single-Action Harp: Construction and Playing. The day was rounded off with the evening concert Tullochgorum – Haydn – Harp – Scotland.
On the final day, the festival presented two concerts: the Young Harpists' Concert Single Action bedeutet nicht Isolation and the Matinée-Concert The God of Harmony and a gifted pupil by Mara Galassi on the harp and Jovanka Marville on fortepiano.
Haydn's Folk Harp, the Exhibition
In collaboration with Armin Linke, Harfenlabor staged an exhibition to accompany the first edition of the Harp Biennale. The exhibition extended through two "playgrounds," with the historical instruments presented at the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, and images and video works at the Haus der Musik.