It is really quite an experience to sit down and watch a Marx Brother's movie. I am a fan of the Marx Brothers as well as many other old black and white comedic moves like Jerry Lewis, The Stooges, and the list goes on. One of the things that I find separates a Marx Brother movie from other movies of the time is not just the style of comedy but the instrumentation that went on. It takes skill to do what Chico did on the piano. Then, of course, you have Harpo's harp playing.
According to "Epinions" Adolph, who later became known as "Harpo" tuned his harp off of one note on the piano. This lead to the advantage that while his harp was out of tune with traditionally tuned harps the tension was weaker so that the harp did not break during his over the road trips. This fact however made his playing more extraordinary. While his harp did not have the same tuning as other instruments he could still play these musically complicated pieces by ear.The other extraordinary thing is that he learned how to play this particular instrument as an adult. According to his son's current website, "Harpo's Place" his dad practiced for several hours a day. The fact that his harp had a different tuning and that he had learned the harp as an adult did not hinder him from playing traditional classical pieces.
It is a curious experience to be caught up in the hilarity of the movie and then next thing we see is a harp in the scene and Harpo is somberly playing it. This is an unusual quality in an otherwise comedic movie and it took a kind of courage. I do not remember which movie but the brothers are hastily running from somebody and then they all stop and turn around as there is a piano in the room.They stop to play and listen to it being played. Another time Chico is playing the piano and the humor is that it is a kind of dumb piece but Chico loves it and we see Harpo get aggravated. However with the harp all comedy is suspended and we see a musician completely entrenched in doing something that he loves.
How remarkable that he did that with such an unusual instrument. The harp is an instrument that has a reputation for difficulty. There are quotes that it is a difficult instrument to tune. Normally it is an instrument that is associated with an orchestra and that it is played by those well schooled in the skill and theories of music. On the website "Harpo's Place" his son says that many people have been inspired to learn the harp through his dad. How remarkable then that most of the playing should take place in a black and white comedy and through somebody who did not learn the harp until he was an adult. I am so glad that the Marx Brothers did not take the easy way out and go along traditional thinking and format about comedy to not include his harp playing in their scenes. He has easily become a part of a rich cultural heritage in American music and apparently quite an influence in today's harp playing.
The source for the best guitar tuner can be found at the "Guitar Tuner Shop". Come on by to check out more great articles and information on guitar tuners!
http://www.theguitartunershop.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment