BBO: Harps

BBO Harps

BBO Harps by Vienna Symphonic Library is a harp ensemble sample library for film scoring and orchestral arrangements, featuring three harpists recorded together on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage. It combines ensemble glissandos, chords, bisbigliandos, and evolving textures with multiple microphone perspectives and Flow View for quick access.

Three Harps. Big Magic.

• Ensemble of three harps, recorded together on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage
• Glissandos in all keys and modes, up and down, in various tempos and lengths
• Chords, bisbigliandos, looped and random performances, plus gong and thunder effects
• Multiple microphone positions, including two different close mics per harp
• Flow View for quick access

When three harps play together on the large Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage, something magical happens. Glissandos, chords and arpeggios played simultaneously by three harpists merge in the hall’s exceptional acoustics into a shimmering tapestry of sound that fills the room, and now your studio. BBO Harps brings this rare orchestral color to the Big Bang Orchestra and adds a touch of magic to grand orchestral swells, enchanting transitions and every moment that calls for wonder.

Three Harps, One Voice

When one harp isn’t enough, the lush sound of three harps playing together adds rich, radiant and resonant colors to your arrangement. Composers have long known this: Rimsky-Korsakov writes in his orchestration treatise that at least three harps are needed if they are to be heard against the full orchestra. Stravinsky scored his original Firebird for three, Bruckner asks for three harps in his Eighth Symphony, and Richard Wagner called for no fewer than six in his Ring cycle. Modern film scores continue this tradition, doubling and tripling harps for that unmistakable sense of wonder.

Live on Stage A

BBO Harps is an all-new collection, recorded exclusively for the Big Bang Orchestra Series by Tina Žerdin, Veronika Villányi and Magdalena Fürntratt. All three harpists performed together, each one adjusting phrasing, timing and touch to the ensemble. That gives a natural, organic blend that no layering of single-harp recordings could ever achieve. Each harp was captured with two different close microphones, along with mid, Decca tree, surround and high surround setups, so you have complete control over your mix, from intimate detail to cinematic spaciousness.

Glissandos, Chords & Effects

With a solo harp such as Synchron Harp, you can play glissandos by sliding your hand across the keys. For an ensemble of three harps, that simply wouldn’t make sense. BBO Harps instead captures the three players’ performances, perfectly synchronized and blended into one glowing voice. Simply select a scale or mode and a key, press a note, and let the magic unfold. You get glissandos up and down in various tempos and lengths, chords in all keys and scales, delicate bisbigliandos, looped performances and random playing for evolving, ethereal textures. Gong and thunder effects reveal the harps’ darker, more explosive and mysterious side.

FAQ

What is BBO Harps?

BBO Harps is a Vienna Symphonic Library sample collection featuring three harpists recorded together on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage. It includes ensemble glissandos, chords, bisbigliandos, looped and random performances, and gong and thunder effects.

Were the three harps recorded together?

Yes. Tina Žerdin, Veronika Villányi, and Magdalena Fürntratt performed as an ensemble, responding to one another's phrasing, timing, and touch. The collection captures those shared performances in the hall.

How do I play the glissandos?

Select a scale or mode and a key, then press a note to trigger a recorded ensemble performance. Glissandos are available up and down in various tempos and lengths.

How does it differ from Synchron Harp?

Synchron Harp is a solo harp instrument that lets you play glissandos by sliding your hand across the keys. BBO Harps uses recorded performances by three harpists playing together, so a single triggered performance captures the full ensemble gesture.

Can I adjust the microphone mix?

Yes. Two different close microphones per harp are complemented by mid, Decca tree, surround, and high surround setups, letting you balance close detail with the sound of the ensemble in the hall.