Impromptu-Caprice, Op. 9
by Gabriel Pierné
Gabriel Pierné (1863–1937), organist, conductor, and composer, composed this sparkling showpiece for solo harp around 1885. The Impromptu-Caprice is one of the cornerstone works of the standard harp repertoire: a rapid, glittering piece of impeccable idiomatic writing, demanding fluent runs, arpeggios, and harmonics throughout. Its playful, mercurial character makes it a favourite for the demanding repertoire lists of major harp competitions including the International Harp Contest in Israel. Pierné was a pupil of César Franck and Jules Massenet at the Paris Conservatoire; his sympathetic understanding of the instrument is evident in every bar.
Editions
Alphonse Leduc
Gabriel Pierné, 1885
Original publication; still the standard edition and the version used in virtually all competitions and recitals.
Alphonse Leduc
Revised edition, 1960
Later revised edition with some editorial additions; the version most commonly found in modern print.