The Harp Concerto by Alberto Ginastera was composed in 1956 and first performed in 1965. It was promoted in the 1950s by Edna Phillips, the harpist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Philips had retired by the time the work was ready to be premiered, and the solo part was played by the Spanish harpist Nicanor Zabaleta with the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Eugene Ormandy.

In 2016, the centenary of the composer's birth, saw a number of performances including one by the French harpist Marie-Pierre Langlamet and the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Juanjo Mena.^[1]

Instrumentation

Woodwinds

2 flutes (Flute 2 doubling piccolo)

2 oboes

2 clarinets in B♭

2 bassoons

Brass

2 horns in F

2 trumpets in C

Percussion

Timpani

Tambourine

Field drum

Cymbals

Xylophone

Celesta

Various items of Latin percussion

Strings

Harp

Violin I

Violin II

Violas

Cellos

Double basses

Movements

1. Allegro giusto
2. Molto moderato
3. Liberamente capriccioso - Vivace