13 Harp Pieces to Explore in the Mixolydian Mode
Have you ever played a piece that sounds warm and familiar, but also has a slightly open, folk-like quality? You may have been hearing the Mixolydian mode.
Mixolydian is similar to a major scale, but its seventh note is lowered by a half step. That one small change gives the music a distinctive character. It can sound spacious, earthy, peaceful, or quietly uplifting, which makes it especially lovely on the harp.
If you would like to become more familiar with this mode, one of the best ways is simply to play music that uses it. Here are 13 Mixolydian harp pieces from the Music Discoveries collection, arranged by level.
Elementary
1. Shenandoah
This elementary arrangement of the beautiful American folk song has a slow, steady rhythm that helps you develop secure finger placement and smooth linking. The middle section includes F-sharp lever changes, and a free mini lesson is available to guide you through them.
Early Intermediate
2. Blueberry Acres
Originally composed for my Hills and Coves collection, Blueberry Acres is a playful solo in G Mixolydian with a lighthearted lilt and an easy-to-memorize structure. The bass C is the lowest note required, making it accessible for small harps, and the download includes versions with and without fingering suggestions. A free mini lesson offers slow practice segments and a step-by-step metronome plan.
3. Gratitude
Gratitude is an early intermediate solo that captures a feeling of warmth and joy through gentle, flowing patterns. Versions for both large and small harps are included, along with phrasing and select courtesy fingering to support expressive playing.
Mid-Intermediate
4. Golden Hour
Golden Hour is a mid-intermediate lever harp solo that celebrates the beauty and stillness of the summer solstice. Composed in G Mixolydian, its gentle 6/8 rhythm and flowing phrases evoke the warmth and ease of a lazy day at the lake.
5. Open Your Eyes
Open Your Eyes is an expressive original solo for the mid-intermediate harpist, inspired by Emma Boge Whisenand’s poem of the same name. Its open Mixolydian sound complements the poem’s invitation to notice the beauty of dawn, sky, and the world around us.
6. Prayer
Prayer is a calming mid-intermediate solo designed to keep technical challenges to a minimum so you can focus on tone, phrasing, and musical expression. A gentle, restful pulse allows the music to unfold naturally, creating a quiet moment of stillness, reflection, and peace at the harp.
7. Sambro Creek
I composed Sambro Creek for my sister in 2012 while she was in the hospital, telling her it was light and sparkly just like her. She chose the title because the music reminded her of Sambro Creek in Nova Scotia, a beautiful place where a freshwater creek meets the ocean. This mid-intermediate solo is written in G Mixolydian.
8. Stillness
Stillness creates a meditative space by delicately weaving eighth notes between the hands, followed by expressive moments that invite you to listen. Lower left-hand patterns bring warmth and resonance to the middle section, making this mid-intermediate solo a beautiful choice for meditation, yoga, or harp therapy.
Late Intermediate
9. Miss You
Miss You is a late intermediate solo in G Mixolydian. Its lilting 6/8 meter creates a gentle, comforting character, like someone sitting in a rocking chair and quietly remembering a loved one. The music was inspired by the poem “Miss You” by an unknown author.
10. No Friend Like Music
No Friend Like Music was inspired by D. W. Hicky’s poem of the same name, which describes music as a friend that can comfort a broken heart and help it take flight again. This late intermediate lever harp solo celebrates the companionship and healing presence music can offer.
11. Set the Echoes Ringing
Set the Echoes Ringing is a late intermediate solo in C Mixolydian, inspired by the poem “A Good Creed” by an unknown author. Originally published in the Remembrance collection, this expressive piece celebrates kindness, connection, and the gentle ways music can lift the spirit.
12. To the Edge of the River
To the Edge of the River was inspired by the idea of using the phrasing, pitch, and flow of speech to compose music. Like an artist painting a portrait, this expressive late intermediate solo creates a musical portrait of a real voice. Changing time signatures and expressive fermatas encourage you to play with freedom and feel as though you are speaking through the music.
13. The White Caps
Inspired by ocean imagery, The White Caps brings energy and movement to the Mixolydian sound. This late intermediate piece is written for large harp and offers a lively contrast to the more meditative selections in this collection.
Discovering the Sound of Mixolydian
As you listen to or play these pieces, notice how the lowered seventh changes the feeling of the music. Mixolydian can be joyful without sounding overly bright, and peaceful without sounding sad. It often feels grounded and natural, which may be why it appears so often in folk music and music inspired by the landscape.
You do not need to memorize the theory before you can enjoy the sound. Begin with a piece that suits your level, listen for its distinctive colour, and let your ear become your guide. It is a wonderful way to discover more in your music.
