University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

How to Harpo: A performer's guide and analysis of compositional and theatrical techniques in the cinematic, televised, and recorded pedal harp performances of Harpo Marx

O'Roark, Molly Noble

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/103624

Description

Title
How to Harpo: A performer's guide and analysis of compositional and theatrical techniques in the cinematic, televised, and recorded pedal harp performances of Harpo Marx
Author(s)
O'Roark, Molly Noble
Issue Date
2019
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Yeung, Ann
Committee Member(s)
  • Kinderman, William
  • Pugh, Jim
  • Ross, Michael
Department of Study
School of Music
Discipline
Music
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
A.Mus.D. (doctoral)
Keyword(s)
  • Harpo Marx
  • pedal harp
  • Marx Brothers
  • swing harp
  • film history
  • Mildred Dilling
  • Bill Marx
  • Guardian Angels
Language
en
Abstract
Harpo Marx, née Arthur Marx, was one of the most important harpists in the twentieth century. Although he began as a self-taught musician and never learned to read music, he introduced the harp to millions of people all over the United States and abroad through the Marx Brothers films. Harpo played the harp in eleven out of the thirteen films displaying his unique swing-harp arranging techniques. The purpose of this project is to preserve this great artist’s legacy as it relates to harpists and to create a guide to arrange and to create works in the style of Harpo Marx. This thesis tracks Harpo’s stylistic evolution over his long career in entertainment. It explores the compositional, technical, and performance style of Harpo Marx from his first film to his final commercial recording made just a few months before he died. The pieces that Harpo arranged demonstrate significant and innovative techniques that have been transcribed by the author and compiled in a compendium titled “How to Harpo.” This performer’s guide will enable modern harpists to apply Harpo’s techniques in order to make new arrangements in a Harpo-style.
Type of Resource
  • text
  • image
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/103624
Copyright and License Information
© Molly Noble O’Roark 2019

Owning Collections

Doctoral Project Theses [Option 2] - Music PRIMARY