Harpo Marx Plays Serious
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- Опубліковано 24 сер 2024
- Harpo Marx, one of the Marx Brothers, was a comedian who was noted for his on-stage antics with the harp. He'd shoot arrows into the audience, he'd bust strings, he'd slip & fall, generally hilarious stuff that earned him his claim to fame and it was all great comedy.
But not alot of folks were aware that Harpo also could play serious and very beautiful music on the harp. Here's Harpo in his appearence on Bob Hope's 1945 presentation called 'The All-Star Bond Rally.'
I've captured this from a very rare 16mm film print of which a friend of mine owns.
I once asked a friend of mine, Ed Druzinski, who was harpist for the Chicago Symphony, what he thought of Harpo Marx. His comment was that Harpo was a master of the instrument. High praise, coming from a man who spent thirty years as harpist for the Chicago Symphony!
Yes I agree he was magnificent on the Harp.
Harpo was Truely a beautiful harp player, and a sweet person in real life! I wish he was still around!
Harpo always plays serious... he never touches the harp without respect. he makes jokes, while playing piano, but never while playing harp. immediately after he stops playing the harp, he is playing the fool again. For that I love Harpo
I seen him rip all the strings off as he made funny faces, I'm sure you can find it on youtube
Angelika van Coevenhoven he was a tremendous talent...
Angelika van Coevenhoven 🤗❤️
When Harpo sat down to play the harp the clown stepped away for a few moments and Arthur Marx would take over. He was, is and always will remain one of the great musical talents of the 20th century.
In his book, he mentioned that he was once asked how much of the character was himself. He said that it was all an act. Except when he played the harp. "That's all me" he said.
There was ornamentation in his exemplary harp playing. Harpo was also the quintessential family man who loved his lifelong partner and wife, Susan very much. They both raised four children together. Although he and Susan did not have children of their own, they magnanimously adopted four children: Bill, Alex, Jimmy, and Minnie. In 1948 Harpo was once asked by George Burns how many children he planned to adopt to which Harpo graciously answered, "I’d like to adopt as many children as I have windows in my house. So when I leave for work, I want a kid in every window, waving goodbye." (1888 -1964) RIP Harpo 😢
aweee 1 of harpos kids had the same name as his mom! 💓
I read that years ago and I still well up at the sweetness of it.
Fantastic
There will always be harpists but there will never be another harpo
I remember this guy. I'm 70 and still amazed.
amen!
It was the highlight of every film. Grew up with it. Fabulous.
Our world was better to have had this man in it for 75 years.
If only we could have kept him for another 75!
He always played it serious. Harpo at his instrument was a moment of beauty in those movies, where he would slightly get out of character and give us some awe inspiring joyful music.
The only harpist I ever saw that could make it sound like Spanish Guitar.
Then you have to know Xavier de Maistre👍
That peaceful look to the heavens in Night at the Opera, while hugging his harp for a few seconds prior to playing a mind-blowing masterpiece...classic
Immortal talent
Harpo is my favorite of the Marx brothers. I love them all but Harpo was special. He was a genius. Truly funny and talented
Love harpo I remember when I was young every Sunday after church we all watched all the old movies. Ioved the marx's brothers. They all made me laugh
As much as I loved watching the comedic antics of The Marx Brothers, I especially looked forward to the moments when Harpo played the harp. He obviously was a serious musician, gracefully executing various glissando articulations, in particular, the bisbigliando glissando, as well as harmonics. I enjoyed watching Chico perform on piano, but Harpo demonstrated a very serious talent for the harp.
Just look at his perfect hand position and relaxation as he plays.... amazing
After seeing Harpo play, I so wanted to play a harp, too. It was my favorite instrument.
Alas, my mom could not afford to give me lessons or buy a harp - so it never happened.
I'm still grateful to Harpo - and to my mom for saving up $1 so I could go to the Young People's Concert at Severance Hall in Cleveland -- conducted by George Szell.
Wow!
I'm sure you know Harpo taught himself. The family was too poor to pay for lessons. His maternal grandmother was also a harpist.
@@juliewitt7496 that was back before giant corporations, greed, and extortion. TODAY people cant "find" a harp. OR a sax, OR a trumpet. TODAY, those instruments are an arm and a leg. TODAY< wages are worse than the past, in comparison to buying power. If not for the so called "socialist" assistance, food itself would be hard to buy if left solely up to the wages corporate america is paying most americans.
Occasionally, Harpo consulted master Harp instructors. (One was Maryjane Barton, my own
fundamental teacher, in L.A.)
@@themtb2003 I call BS
I've never seen anyone play the harp as great as the incomparable Harpo.
You're damned right! If there is some other harpist who can play like Harpo, why don't they do it?
His performances almost bring me to tears.
Thanks Harpo.Practice makes wonderful.
i have yet to see anyone anywhere close to trying to play like this man did on a harp.
In later yrs he went to take harp lessons as he was completely self taught. A very respected teacher admitted she could teach him nothing.
I never thought to hear this! In 1962, I wrote Harpo, asking his permission to enter the Israel Harp Contest (Guardian Angels
as my American choice). From El Rancho Harpo, he answered:
Inviting me there-to share his harp version, as the published piece was for piano... I was not good enough to enter-and had to decline Harpo’s kindness.
I hope you kept that note! What a wonderful story!
What an artist this man really was.🌹
I've been reading his autobiography he was a genius
He was wonderful and gifted
One thing I do not think anyone has mentioned yet is that (I think) Harpo was donating his time and talent for this performance as this program was a War Bond rally meant to raise funds to support our soldiers fighting in the last weeks of World War II.
I have always loved Harpo
AND, Chico was a great piano player. These guys were EXTREMELY talented. His entrance was hilarious.
This man could be anything... and anything in between.
The story is that Harpo picked up the harp on his own and played for several years before he concluded did not have proper technique. . He hired harp several teachers, who instead of teaching him, one after the other, just watched him in awe. He was a brilliant player.
Phenomenal talent and so Natural no computers either
He was stupendous.
Genius takes on many forms.
I'm happy to see this..high talent...A gifted performer...there is much to be learned about past entertainers and performers...UA-cam is really a TIME Machine ...amazing the PRIVILEGES our Modern day affords us..
When I was a kid I seen Harpo and wanted a harp. I think I must have gone on about it, because one Christmas morning there was a present so big we couldn't see the Christmas tree. I remember being a little disappointed, because I had forgot about asking for a harp and thought it was a large pond yacht, and I remember dad complaining his armchair had been given to the neighbor to make room - I never did learn to play it - it's still at my parents house. My dad was not very sophisticated and wanted me to be the same and he never let me forget about the harp. Whenever, I would have a house, car or boat repossessed by the loan company, my dad would say, _'You couldn't just want a harmonica like most kids'_ That's probably why they call it _'harping on'_ ...
Never learning to read music he played by ear. An amazing talent. I love the harp and Harpo was a master at it. Extraordinary
This is called Guardian Angel. Composed by Harpo Marx himself
What Harpo is playing here (and improvising upon) is the song, “Guardian Angels” - for which Harpo composed the music. Mario Lanza recorded that same song, and his rendition is available here on UA-cam.
Guardian Angels was also recorded by gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Harpo played the harp on her cover version.
Thank you so very much for posting this!
I love how he pulls the harmonics, a master at comedy & a legend as musician, Harpo was awesome.
No one can come close to Harpo's harp playing; no offense to those who play the harp. Harpo played with passion and feeling, it was almost like a love story, magical. I can listen to Harpo play all day long. Absolutely stunning. R.I.P. Harp Marx
Classical, enjoyed the brothers growin up. Thank you !
Harpo always was very serious about his harp playing.
Love this what a genius
OMG! Throat-chokingly beautiful! Thank you for sharing this...
Harpo was such a versatile comedian and musician.
Mad genius on that harp!
He was so good!
Thanks so much for uploading this and especially for taking the time to capture it from the print!
What an amazing mind to be able to switch from slapstick to classical in a second or two.
essex peter I was thinking the same thing!
Harpo needs to be installed into hall of fame of comedy n music too
Sublime
"Guardian Angels", composed by Harpo Marx. Lyrics by Gerda Beilensen.
I've never been one for musicals, but the Marx Brothers' movies are the exception, as I enjoy the piano playing of Chico and Harpo's harp playing. My favorite part of Harpo's playing is his usual finishing up of the piece he's playing, like the one here. His hands move so fast on those strings, but lightly. I've got a copy of his book, "Harpo Speaks" and he admitted that he couldn't read music, but there it is.
It made me very happy...and cry...I have an angel son, Nicholas ,in heaven
The man was a treasure.
Probably my favorite. Probably.
He is great!
as fan of marx brothers. enjoy the films, and music
Harpo is the BEST of the Marx Brothers,PERIOD can play all instruments,do all his sketches on his own,with out talking,just pantomime,HE'S THE GOAT
He’s my hero , I always wanted to learn to play after I saw him on I love lucy (take me out to the ball game) what a genius!!!!
I love watching his face while he plays. It's the only time his face looks natural.
Thanks for this, it's a gem!
My favorite marx brother
brilliant.
When Harpo played his harp.....
In my opinion because, he didn't use traditional tunings it made him a better harp player. Also he mixed in a lot of chords with the melodies.
What a talented man.
This is an original composition of Harpo's called Gaurdian Angels
A genius.
Amazing, He' has to be the best player around! He's like The Eddie Van halen of the Harp!
I've read this is a Harpo composition called 'Guardian Angels', but some people here says is a song known as "When The Moon Shines on the Moonshine", and that song sounds a little similar. So... I don´t know, but this is awesome.
Great
Read Harpo Speaks. You will laugh from page one to the last. All time favorite book. Pinchie Winchie!
Knowing him, it's probably an original improvisation.
Ha! I wonder where he got his 'name' from!? But seriously, this is wonderful! I just wish i could tell Harpo just how amazing he was/is. What an incredible talent! Just lovely... \m/ (:o)
klistarf Apparently he was a lovely man in real life with a loving/loved family. A really special man
The name ‘Harpo’ derives from the word Harp which is the instrument he plays
genius
Saint!
I want to hear that through todays distortion sound labs
Remarkable!
Un. Muestro arpa. Muy difícil 😂❤
God…he was great!
Wow
The Marx Brothers were REAL TALENT.
I know nothing about harp playing, but I've read where Harpo plays it on the "wrong" shoulder
Harpo's Harp
"Guardian Angels" which He'd written Himself,with Words by a Woman called Gerta.
I have enough trouble playing 6 strings😂
I have trouble playing four strings 😭
never saw this 1 b4
I think the song is "When The Moon Shines on the Moonshine"; can anyone confirm this? If so, it's certainly a bizarre choice of song to be given the "classical" treatment. (Well, that's how good a harpist Harpo was!)
+Rich in 212 I think you're right, and thanks a lot for the clue! I would have never found it :D
+Voodoo Cat Here's a link the album on which I first (and so far, only) have heard that song: www.allmusic.com/album/music-of-prohibition-mw0000594700
It's the soundtrack to an A&E documentary about Prohibition. Take a listen to it and tell me if you think I've nailed it.
+Rich in 212: "When the Moon Shines on the Moonshine," a song associated with the "Follies" legend Bert Williams in the 1910's, is an entirely different melody than this one.
No, the song is "Guardian Angels", the music of which Harpo wrote himself. ua-cam.com/video/WgeAO3oQ28E/v-deo.html
wow ^^
"Guardian Angels"
Famtastic
What is the name of that song he is playing?
I miss movies like the Marx brothers they were full of fun and so not PC we need more of this humour today instead of all the crap we get on TV an Movies Jackie Chan is the closest thing we have now to that comedy
What's the name of the song harpo is playing ???
Tyler Johnson I think it sounds like "If you go away" or "Ne me quitte pas"
Actually, the Marx Brothers started as musicians. Only later they found that they had more success as comedians.
glpxt Right. There was a commotion outside one of their performances and Julius (Groucho) made a bunch of snappy remarks about it that everyone thought was funny, and it just grew from there.
harpists must have massive callouses, eh?
What's the name of the song he is playing ???
What is the song he's playing?
Self taught...
FANTÀSTIC 🔥🙏🌀🌀🍇🍇🍇🌈