Preface by Zubin Mehta
«In my more than fifty years of conducting many orchestras around the world I have rarely come across a finer harpist than Judith Liber. She is the ideal orchestra musician who goes well beyond just having complete control over her instrument. Her personality, which projects her musical convictions, is so dominating that I feel she can sometimes lead an entire orchestra with her playing. The combination of multiple aspects that make a finished harpist, is what Ms. Liber has so admirably put forth in her book A Method for Harp – The Power of Music.
There are few instruments in the orchestra where the interpreter is almost alone on his or her musical island. (The timpani and the harp being such lonely figures amongst over 100 musicians.) A complete knowledge of what goes on in the various musical choirs of the orchestra is necessary for a harpist to come out with shining colours, as Judith always did, at the end of a massive Mahler symphony. The music that we perform in our classical world encompasses over 400 years of diversified repertoire. The harpist must adjust to all styles, having complete knowledge of how to make this wonderful instrument adapt to the many various sounds.[...]
The book she has so painstakingly written goes into the minutest details of everything one can think of to do with the harp. One could even imagine a beginner on the harp, perfecting his or her playing just by reading her book!!! The various chapters that she has so arduously thought out, and separated into various aspects of the harp in music, will become a handbook for all concerned. I would even say, it will open the wonderful world of harp playing to musicians – conductors in particular – and show them what this heavenly instrument is all about. I hope that A Method for Harp – The Power of Music will be translated into many languages and inspire harpists all over the world.»
(from the Preface by Zubin Mehta)
Judith Liber, acknowleged by Zubin Mehta, Leonard Bernstein and others to be one of the world’s leading orchestral harpists, was principal solo harpist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra from 1963 to 2000. Born and raised in USA, she graduated from Oberlin College and did graduate study at the University of Illinois and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Her musical training began at age five on the violin.
At age seven she also began lessons on the piano. The study of both violin and piano continued until she heard her first harp recital. At age 10 she began her studies on the harp with Dorothy Henschen, who prepared her for advanced study with Professor Lucy Lewis at Oberlin College and later, Carlos Salzedo at the Salzedo Harp Colony in Camden, Maine.
A career as soloist, chamber music player and orchestra musician put her in personal and artistic contact with the leading artists of our time. With Itzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic, she recorded the Bruch Scottish Fantasy and Bernstein’s Halil with J.P. Rampal, conducted by the composer. She enjoyed particular acclaim for her interpretation of the Ginastera Harp Concerto with Maestro Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Her unique sound can be heard in the many recordings of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra from 1963 to 2000.
Ms. Liber is an internationally renowned teacher. She taught at the Tel Aviv University, Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance and the Accademia Musicale in Florence, Italy. For several years she led the Course for Orchestral Performance at the Scuola di alto perfezionamento musicale in Saluzzo, Italy. She gives annual Master Classes in Florence for Amici della Musica and in Grandola ed Uniti on the Como Lake. Most recently, she taught at the A. Boito Conservatory in Parma, Italy and at the Julliard School of Music in New York. Her students include leading soloists and teachers the world over.
Judith Liber is Music Director and vice-president of the International Harp Contest in Israel and president of its International Jury.
She has published transcriptions for harp from the Preludes for piano by Claude Debussy as well as several articles on the harp and its place in music. Her solo CD, Recital, includes several of her own transcriptions.
Ms. Liber lives with her husband on the Como Lake in northern Italy. Many young harpists come to her from all over the world seeking to develop the beauty and projection of the harp sound.
She has lectured world wide on ‘The Power of Music’.
