Beartramka was formed by composer David Gough and harpist Danielle Perrett in 1999 in response to a need for some music for the harp which fulfilled the particular criteria of the Trinity College London (now TrinityGuildhall) harp exam syllabuses which Danielle was compiling. In particular, the Lever/non-pedal harp syllabus was being greatly expanded and there was little suitable music available to put into the syllabus, so they wrote some, commissioned some, and entered the music publishing business. They continue to add to the repertoire of exam pieces, not only for TrinityGuildhall. The ABRSM harp syllabus also uses some of their music, but more importantly they are adding to the general repertoire of music for both Pedal and Lever Harps. They have also expanded their range and added recordings to their activities, of which there are three currently available from Creighton's Collection.
Something of a prodigy, she gained diplomas in harp playing whilst still at school and the Royal College of Music Junior Department just five years after taking up the instrument. She studied with Daphne Boden and later Renata Scheffel-Stein and she can trace her harpist tuition lineage back to several of the great virtuoso harpist-composers of the 19th century. Subsequently, Danielle was the first person to gain a Master’s degree in Performance & Related Studies at Goldsmiths’ College, London University. She specialises in solo and chamber music on both modern and late eighteenth century harps and her recordings have been highly acclaimed.Her career has seen her perform solo and chamber music in the UK, USA, France, Austria, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, the Canary Islands, and Zimbabwe. She has also worked with students and their teachers around the world giving masterclasses and workshops as well as adjudicating. Danielle has broadcast a great deal internationally and writes articles and reviews about harp related and other musical topics. She composes, edits and arranges harp music as well as researching the instrument and its repertoire from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth centuries. An examiner for Trinity College, London, Danielle devised their international harp syllabuses. Danielle’s interest in good posture and healthy performance practice also led to her becoming a qualified Pilates teacher and she specialises in teaching this to harpists and other musicians. She has adjudicated the UFAM celtic harp competition in Paris and the London Harp Competition. She is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
"Sheer beauty of sound and virtuosity of technique were always subordinated to thoughtful musicianship and keen interpretative intellect." The Times "It is Danielle Perrett's stunning
solo harp playing which offers the deepest insight ..." "Danielle Perrett plays with
finesse and sensitivity..." "... the highly sensitive
harp playing of Danielle Perrett, an artist of great
sensitivity ..." "... the harp pieces are both
exquisitely played and could hardly be more authoritative." "[Ms. Perrett's busy and varied
musical life] perhaps explains the depth of artistry,
as well as superlative technique... a wide dynamic
continuum is always deployed with great taste and discretion
..."
The B-side, "When You Fly" was recently included on a CD of Liverpool cult classics. David eventually moved to London where he changed musical direction and continued his musical studies, leading to a BMus (1st Class Hons.) and MMus in Composing for Film and Television at the London College of Music & Media. In addition to David's music for Film, TV and the Theatre, his classical Concert music has been performed in many major venues in the UK and around the world. In 1995 he married Danielle Perrett, one of Britain's leading concert harpists. With Danielle, he has also set up a publishing company, Beartramka, specialising in music for the harp. They have published books, compositons and arrangements of harp music, and are now venturing into CD production with 3 recordings performed by Danielle. David also taught musicianship at the Royal College of Music, Junior Department for over nine years, involving teaching gifted students from about 8 years of age to school-leaving age those non-performing musical skills which are necessary to a budding professional musician, including music theory, aural, music history, etc
|
Beartramka
David
Gough| Click a title for further information |
| Three Gnossiennes (Erik Satie arranged for harp - Danielle Perrett) |
| Toccata (Domenico Paradisi arranged Danielle Perrett) This piece, from 4th Keyboard Sonata, is set for the Trinity Guildhall Non-Pedal Harp Syllabus Performers Certificate. |
| On
Christmas Night (Danielle Perrett) This piece is an arranged miscellany of well known and well loved Christmas carols for lever or pedal harp - Quelle est cette odeur? On Christmas Night (Sussex Carol), Good King Wenceslas, The First Noel, In the Bleak Midwinter, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good Christian Men Rejoice, The Holly and the Ivy, Deck the Halls, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Angel Gabriel, In Dulce Jubilo and I Saw Three Ships |
| So
Near, yet So Far (David Gough) The title refers both to the mood of the piece and the fact that it modulates from Eb to the aurally near, yet harmonically distant E major. It was chosen as a compulsory piece for the 2004 UFAM international harp competition. Advanced. |
| Three
Pieces for Lever Harp (Nicholas
Moor) Three short but very attractive new pieces for lever harp |
| The
Elements (Mary Doumany) A suite of truly enchanting pieces for lever harp (or pedal harp) by Australia’s highly talented harpist and composer. |
| Lever
Harp 2000 (Collection) The 11 pieces in this book were composed by eight different composers of accessible but varied styles for advanced players of the lever harp. They were designed to originally to complement the Trinity College, London harp exam syllabus, from Grade 7 upwards. |
| Lift-Off!
for Harp (David Gough & Danielle
Perrett) Pieces of Beginning Harpists. The 14 pieces in this book were composed by Danielle Perrett and David Gough for children learning to play the harp, with or without pedals. They were designed to originally to complement the Trinity College, London harp exam syllabus, from Initial to Grade 2. |
| Pre-Launch! for Harp (David Gough & Danielle
Perrett) A new and imaginative collection of short pieces for harpists at the start of their harp playing journey, whether on lever or pedal harp. |
| Lever
Harp World (Collection) Intermediate pieces for Lever Harp commissioned & edited by David Gough & Danielle Perrett. The 13 pieces in this book were composed by seven composers of accessible but varied styles for intermediate players of the lever harp. They were designed to complement the Trinity Guildhall harp exam syllabus, from Grade 4-7. |
| Click a title for further information |
| Ballade (David
Gough) This piece belongs to the genre created by F. Chopin, but also has a flavour of French impressionist influence. |
| Ondine (David
Gough) This was commissioned by someone who asked for something along the lines of Hasselman’s “La Source”. The name is of course taken from the myth of the water nymph and has previously been referred to in pieces by Ravel and Debussy among others. |
| Three Gnossiennes (Erik Satie arranged for harp - Danielle Perrett) |
| On
Christmas Night (Danielle Perrett) This piece is an arranged miscellany of well known and well loved Christmas carols for lever or pedal harp - Quelle est cette odeur? On Christmas Night (Sussex Carol), Good King Wenceslas, The First Noel, In the Bleak Midwinter, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good Christian Men Rejoice, The Holly and the Ivy, Deck the Halls, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Angel Gabriel, In Dulce Jubilo and I Saw Three Ships |
| The
Firebird’s
Feather (David Gough) This piece was inspired by Russian Romantic repertoire and is a semi-programmatical piece based on a Russian folk-tale, Princess Vassilissi and the Firebird’s Feather. Advanced. |
| The
Elements (Mary Doumany) A suite of truly enchanting pieces for lever harp (or pedal harp) by Australia’s highly talented harpist and composer. |
| Lift-Off!
for Harp (David Gough & Danielle Perrett) Pieces of Beginning Harpists. The 14 pieces in this book were composed by Danielle Perrett and David Gough for children learning to play the harp, with or without pedals. They were designed to originally to complement the Trinity College, London harp exam syllabus, from Initial to Grade 2. |
| Pre-Launch! for Harp (David Gough & Danielle
Perrett) A new and imaginative collection of short pieces for harpists at the start of their harp playing journey, whether on lever or pedal harp. |
| Pedal
Harp World (Collection) Intermediate pieces for Pedal Harp commissioned & edited by David Gough & Danielle Perrett. The 11 pieces in this book were composed by eight composers of accessible but varied styles for intermediate players of the pedal harp. They were designed to complement the Trinity Guildhall harp exam syllabus, from Grade 4-7. |
| Click a title for further information |
| Flute and Harp |
| Lore
of the Land (David Gough) A somewhat celtic-sounding, folk-song inspired piece. |
| Harp, violin and cello |
| Scylla & Charybdis (David
Gough) Music based on the stories of these monsters of Greek mythology who inhabited opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria, in Italy. Both Odysseus and Jason and the Argonauts had to confront them! Versions also available (by special order) for: Flute, Viola & Harp / Clarinet, Horn & Harp |
| Harp and cello |
| Reminiscence (David
Gough) This piece was inspired by the slow movement of Rachmaninov's cello Sonata and is a favourite with audiences. |
| Albums - click cover for details | ||
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| The Firebird's Feather | Sept Sonates Progressives |
Castle Music |