4 Girls 4 Harps (From The Oxford Times)

4 Girls 4 Harps

9:02am Thursday 19th January 2012 in Music By Nicola Lisle

For a quartet with a difference you could do a lot worse than 4 Girls 4 Harps — a group that does exactly what it says on the tin. The harp is traditionally the instrument of angels, and this quartet certainly played in angelic style, in a varied programme that was interspersed with informal chat about the pieces they were playing.

This is a group that believes in having fun, but they combine that fun with serious musicianship. Harriet Adie, Eleanor Turner, Keziah Thomas and Angharad Wyn Jones are experts in their field, all with international awards under the belts, and it showed in their technical wizardry and meticulous interpretations.

Sunday’s programme was typical 4 Girls 4 Harps fare — from classical pieces transcribed for harp by the group to their own compositions. Fauré’s gorgeous Sicilienne showed the instruments at their lyrical, sublime best, while Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik caught the girls in exuberant mood as they teased a wonderfully buoyant sound out of their harps. Music by Piazzolla and De Falla lent itself well to the harp treatment, but it was the more modern pieces that surprised the audience, showing just what a versatile instrument this is.

In Paul Patterson’s evocative Avian Arabesques, they captured the sounds of three legendary birds — falcon, anka and phoenix — with a wonderful variety of effects and techniques, while a jazz medley, put together by all four girls, showed the harp’s funkier capabilities.

I also enjoyed Eleanor Turner’s Rambla!, based on an area of Spain prone to flooding, and she captured the rushing force of the waters very effectively.

If 4 Girls 4 Harps come this way again, catch them if you can. You will be in for a very pleasant couple of hours. For more information visit the website (www.4girls4harps.co.uk)