Harpo Marx

[ali04455]

He taught himself something the wrong way,but they use it as a technique in harp playing nowadays!

[ladyraven30]

oh my gosh, this man was breathtaking!

[malexandrec]

Wow. Thanks.

[iFreeCarve]

he was self taught, and for the first 3 years didn't know how to tune it "properly"... so the tuning he plays here is his own invention.

[LoserBabyLuna]

A Marx brother and a harp, boy am I smiling. :D 

[beatriz15272]

Que tipo tan brillante!!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx­x

[navylaks2]

Did Harpo ever say anything because i remember a movie with a guy who looks a bit like him and it was some sort of musical and it had alot of the same humor as the Marx brothers but the lead actor who looked like Harpo spoke and sang in the film.

I'm sorry i don't remember the name of the film or any of the actors, all i can remeber is that he ends becoming the major of the small city in which the story takes place.

[JimmiSez]

He's to the harp what Neal Peart is to the drums. Genius!

[Starrman69]

I noticed how serious he got when it came to playing the harp.  It was fun the way that he would "jazz" up a serious piece. Then acting "crazy" when he was done playing.

[Dfrankjazz]

Enjoy a fantastic master class on the music of Harpo and Chico! Type in "Dave Frank" Marx on youtube. Huge fun and very educational!

[allthings509]

amazing

[Babyluvstheblues]

Not to take away from the total amazement that is Harpo, I'm just imagining how Stairway To Heaven would be played by him. An love!

[JimmiSez]

@Babyluvstheblues There's a girl that does Stairway to heaven on the harp on stupidvideos. Not a 'Harpo' but if ya want to hear it on harp.

[spacecowboy95]

This guy always managed to find a harp lying around. Like "oh cool a harp, i think ill just bust out some genius tunes"

[jazzharpTV]

SlaytanicED-Actually, on the harp, you don't play with your little finger, and it's unused. I just thought that it wass ironic that someone would say that :D

[conservanazi]

Yes , It does suck these days.

No talent needed when you have 50 million to spend on computerized special effects.

[SparklingMinx]

I like this one because Chico plays it on the piano in another of the Marx Brothers films

[TheThomsonator]

This from one of their last films in the lead roles, "A Night in Casablanca".

[CDurkan]

I love how the camera can't keep up!!!

[awesomewelles90]

Which film is this from?

[simmo303]

@awesomewelles90 A Night in Casablanca

[wurly164]

lovely playing Adolph ( His real name)

[janiscortese]

DAMN. I've only ever seen Gabriela Montero do that sort of thing!

[SlaytanicEd]

I can play this song...on my stereo. I wish that I had as much talent as Harpo had in his little finger.

[venomx2]

Hey its japer hale!!!!!

[ICameAsARat94]

Happy Birthday Harpo.

[sjmhappyangel]

i absolutlly love the marx brothers, they really r the top of my favourite movies, nothing i love more than 2 watch these classics with popcorn and a cup of tea.

and OFCOURSE HARPO IS MY FAVOROITE!!!!

HES GREAT.

XX

[cutefidgety]

wow! he has big hands... he can 'connect' all the octaves on the harp when he plays them... i'm so jealous...

*sighs for being an asian female with really small hands...* my hands are smaller than anyone else's i know, except for one...

[muncleike]

small hands on a girl are nice,and asian girls are babes ( well some lol) you sould be happy to be you...i mean you could be me eeekkkk !!!!

[awesomewelles90]

lol, asians

[oakhill49]

they're all accomplished at something, harpo's great. favorite movie

[MelonHeadFilmz]

I think this less good quality version ismactually quite fitting. It just goes with Harpo and the song. I've got a better quality version myself, but i still think this is authentic

[plasticjesus108]

I found the digitally remaster vid and audio and have it posted for all to see.

[peacemtn]

Great

[thedukeofantioch]

when he playes the harp you see the reall musician who should have been and was too

[julianozain]

Thank you very much for this treasure

[GuinnevereB]

A self-taught musical prodigy who used his own tuning, called "incorrect" by some, but with it Harpo produced such heavenly music! His speaking voice can be heard elsewhere on the 'net, and it was such a beautifully modulated baritone that he couldn't SOUND funny, so he played a mute character and was hilarious! I too think I would have liked him best; people's reminiscences make him seem like a genuinely kind person, and a good family man.

(Even so, Groucho was soooo witty...)

[phendformyself]

I'm only in my 20's but I think Harpo ROCKS!!!! XD

Marx Brothers are great.

[MelonHeadFilmz]

hey, phendformyself, i'm in my teens and i think he rocks

[phendformyself]

Well, then you, my friend, ROCK as well!!!

XD

Back when these guys were around, people actually had talent. Nowadays, people can be famous for doing nothing!!O_O

[MelonHeadFilmz]

well said, sir!

[JimmiSez]

@phendformyself .... I disagree, rappers can say things like , "My name is Mikey, I have a great bikie, gotta girl name Suzie, she gotta nice _ _ _ _ _ and make millions.

[phendformyself]

@JimmiSez Yeah. You disagree because you misunderstand the comment. Do you take everything you hear or read so literally?

[FetaCheese222]

@phendformyself I'm sure there were people famous for doing nothing back then too. They're just totally forgotten nowdays.

[phendformyself]

@FetaCheese222 That is true. I was just generalizing.

[Marxfan58]

@phendformyself I've though all the Marx brothers were great since i was around 9 or 10... i'm 15 now

[Rumpio]

Does anyone know what tune Harpo starts playing on the piano on A Day at the Races? It's infuriatingly familiar, but I can't place it.

[aznbabessz]

That;s beautiful!

[daughterrevolution]

Anyone who plays the harp is a genius. It's a very hard instrument to play.

[connect2reality]

I think that Harpo even had his tuning for the thing.

[Rumpio]

I remember in Room Service he plays bedsprings as a harp. Those Marxes though, so talented musically as well as funny. In Horse Feathers Groucho even plays the guitar. I really hope someone does a biopic of them one day.  The stories I've heard make them sound like real characters

[TikTakSambo]

@daughterrevolution it's hard as any other instrument you dingus

[bigeasy171717]

@TikTakSambo wrong! ukelele, flute, guitar, saxophone, all are far far easier

[TikTakSambo]

@bigeasy171717 ukuelele and guitar yes. not flute and saxophone. and you're still a close-minded dingus.

[bigeasy171717]

@TikTakSambo nope. proof by counterexample: ukulele, flute, saxophone, guitar, harmonica, drums etc

[tonyvanelli]

@daughterrevolution anyone who can self teach themselves to play a harp that's been stringed and tuned incorrectly, like Harpo, is beyond genius.

[ThatOneDude88]

A definite treasure here.

[GalaxyDestroyer77]

from which movie is this from?

[mgushulak]

I'm almost certain it's from A Night in Casablanca. I haven't seen it, but I've seen stills from it, and Harpo's hair looked unusually fluffy in them, as it does here.

[rbtNoNo]

A Night in Casablanca

[Badunkawank13]

Holy Poop

[DirtyDenL]

I find it very ironic that he should be christened Harpo and eventually become such a great player, i wonder if he was inspired by the name to get good at it.

[chaussee123]

he was named Adolph, but changed it to Arthur.

[Mayanbookkeeper]

I always loved When Harpo a Chico played their Music. It's great to be able to reply these videos over and over.

Harpo your long gone but the your talent will live forever.

Simply Awesome!

[Gildbro]

He don´t say much ... but he can play loud

[UdontDeserveGGAllin]

wow, that's all there is to say.

[chucku00]

Harpo was contemporary to Charles Trenet : both of them had this little light in their eyes!

[elevenway]

This is from "A Night in Casablanca".

[DrCox8D]

Ya know, I love it how Chico will play a song on the piano in a movie, and then in a later movie Harpo will go back and play the same song on the harp. Because, if I'm not mistaken, Chico played this song in A Day At The Races too.

Also, in Animal Crackers, Chico plays his song "I'm Daffy Over You" (the one he plays over 'n' over), and then in the next film, Monkey Business, Harpo goes back and plays it during the party scene towards the end.

To put it simply: these guys are just great!

x3

[misterbuckethead]

amazing!!!!!1

[CSERIOS]

Quite possibly,the Greatest Harpist this world has ever known..Talentwise!

[PerniciousKane]

He's very good, but I suggest Carlos Salzedo or Macel Grandjanay as alternatives =)

[chucku00]

another one -in aother register- : Alan Stivell

[Moodymongul]

Awesome! i've aways loved his style of mixing contemporary riffs and rhythms of his time with a classical repertoire. Inspired me, and probably many others, to pick up an instrument and learn. Harpo rules :)

[Misha0875]

He was my favorite Marx brother. I had a little crush on him. And he made me have goosebumps with his harp. He was fantastic!Thank you for this.

[Papstfaust]

Harpo is my favorite member of NSYNC.

[moonmonster1066]

Is there a Harpo? ...If not...there should be.

[wcbombers21]

Wow HARPO is one of thee most amazing people to ever walk this planet! (simply amazing)

[Hhharpo]

Shut your mouth.

[alexmovies]

pun intended?

[Cicciopollazzetta]

The same piece is featured in that Tom&Jerry cartoon, "The cat concerto", which is also so great. :)

[quadroonlicious]

did you know he SELF TAUGHT himself? I learned it by training for seven years!

[doomedpiglet13]

Legend has it that one day Harpo finally went to a harp teacher, who began by telling him he was doing it all wrong. The lesson ended with Harpo teaching the teacher to play the instrument his (Harpo's) way.

[mcmlxvi]

You are both wrong. His mother Minnie Marx played the harp and she tought music to all her children since they little. Although she wantted them to play the piano (as chico did) she couldn't make Harpo be interested in any instrument. Finally his mother gave him a harp as a gift and while it is true that he learned by himself how to play it, he had already a strong knowledge of music from his mother and his brother. Without his mother's teachings he wouln't have been able to play at all.

[cnevel1]

mcmlxvi, Please check the facts before just making things up.

Minnie Marx did not play the harp or the piano. She wanted her sons to play the piano in order for them to break into some kind of show business.

She could only afford to pay for lessons for 1 son, Chico, the oldest. Chico was to teach the others. Harpo was fascinated by music and wanted to play the piano, he was very disappointed at not getting to take lessons.

[cnevel1]

Chico only taught harpo to play two songs, he never learned any others and never learned to read music. While on the road doing vaudville Harpo saw a harp in a store window and decided that he wanted to learn to play in order to define his character in thier vaudville act. Groucho wrote to his mother that "audie" as harpo was called, "I don't remember if the spelling is correct", wanted a harp.

[cnevel1]

Being poor Minnie bought a beat-up old harp for a few dollars and shipped it to Harpo by train. The train derailed and the harp was destroyed. The insurance adjuster did not know that the harp was a piece of junk so harpo was paid enough to buy a much better harp. Harpo taught himself to play but never having seen a harp played he played with the harp on the left shoulder instead of his right. Many years later, before their film career, vanity forced him to change.

[cnevel1]

He also tuned it himself and did it wrong. He tuned the strings to lower notes than they should have been so that the strings were not as taught as the should have been. He sometimes plucked the strings so hard that if he had tightened them to the correct notes he would have broken the strings. He did break a string in one film. Later in life he did take lessons but playing the correct way did not suit him and His teachers were more fascinated by his playing than he was with theirs.

[maniac2011]

it is a pleasure to read the tales of these incredible people.

thank you both.

[PaulMurphyJazzDrum]

thank you so much for posting.

paul.

[daughterMYslaughter]

Nope,just a matter of determination.

[spectrum7virkeytroni]

I think it's cool that he breaks up the piece by ad libbing a bit of syncopated boogie-woogie rhythm in the middle!

[Harpochief]

Who's arrangement is this?! I want to play it! Is it Harpo's own or Salzedo maybe?

[bchfront]

For the person who asked 2-years ago, not from "Love Happy", but "A Night in Casablanca". My grandfather used to play piano w/Chico in the days of the "nickelodeons", and one always saw Grouch in later-years in Bev. Hills (and yes, he wasn't pleasant), but Harpo I never laid eyes-on. Wish I had -- we share the same B'day! A friend of mine I went all thru school with in B.H. did have lunch with Harp once, however. "What'd he say?" I asked, excitedly. "Not much", my friend-replied. R.J.

[rh117]

Harpoooo :[

[loriensbrother]

Being a harpist myself, I love to watch harpo's technique. It's amazing he didn't hurt himself, being self-taught. Especially considering that the pinky isn't supposed to be used to play the harp. It's too weak and cumbersome for comfortable use. Amazing. I'll stick with Salzedo method myself though. :-)

[mcul2112]

What rakshasa said...

[Mystyred]

Harpo was the best. I just love to listen to him.

[duhCider]

His wings are showin'.

[changvang16]

I know an elderly lady whose husband was an announcer for NBC. She knew all the Marx brothers and had Groucho at her house a few times, much to her disgust. She hated Groucho("he was mean!") but she said Harpo was absolutely a lovely gentleman who loved kids. I no longer discuss Groucho with her though...

[witness64]

I always loved Harpo.

[Dutkowski]

GIFTED --- from The GOD!

[maddanana]

of all the 21 musical instruments I can play, the harp isn't one of them :(

[chuckkottke]

If you play piano - it's a harp with hammers!  :.>

[NihonShorty]

yes, but still not a harp :D

[booschman]

What a genius.  He was truly one of the greatest harpists of all time, and without any formal training even.

[tazer5]

its funny how he never got a lesson to play the harp..but plays better than anyone who did!

[ChopperSix]

"never got a lesson to play the harp"

I'm not certain that's correct, although I haven't read his autobiography yet. However, I read Groucho's (tho about 40+ yrs ago) and I seem to recall that their mother Minnie insisted that each of them take music lessons. Groucho, I believe, played either violin or piano, and bragged later that his only money from music came from playing in a whorehouse, but Minnie never knew.

Just operating from old memory, though, I must admit.

[NihonShorty]

i THINK he said he went in to get a lesson once but realized the teacher was only trying to trick him into learning hgis technique.

but like ChopperSix im just remembering i could be wrong. either way his autobiography "Harpo Speaks" is awesome.

[squanto2]

What a great video. The Marx Bros. were, in so many ways, Renaissance Men. This piece is played with such sensitivity and respect for the music! Then Harpo SWINGS IT for a few bars. WoNDeRfuL>

[reetpeet]

Harpo was always my favourite Marx brother.

[rovingeye5]

I think he might have studied with harpist Lucille Lawrence

[louswire]

at approx 1:58 Harpo goes into a riff that sounds like something by Bix Biederbeck... and sounds really good... nobody played harp like Harpo did... too bad he didn't do a bit more jazz.

thanks for posting these together like this... makes it easier to watch.

[operacaster]

after being gone all these years, harpo is still makin people happy and smile...

starting life as a poor undersized jewish kid from poverty he became a great great man. what a memory to post on any mans tombstone. i love to see and hear harpo even today. he's inspiring

[operacaster]

did someone say harpo was self taught harpist? is that true?

proof that not only angels played the harp. i loved harpo

[wonkadayspa]

He taught himself to play, yup. =D He saw a picture of a little girl playing the harp and thats how he knew how to hold it. Its quite fascinating, I think!

[beharp82]

Jeah, because before he had hold the harp on the wrong side. His Grandma played the harp back in Germany. He had later on even some lessons with Carlos Salzedo and Mildred Dilling!!! I love it when he changes into this sensitive Person when he starts to play te harp as if he's kind of lost in the way he's playing... he was geat!!

[rakshasa7]

That's what I love most about Harpo...he has this manic character most of the time, and then, when he picks up the harp, he softens into a man who obviously loves his music. I had a friend like that - Dan Schatz - who, when he picked up his autoharp and played it, he cradled it in his arms like a lover. It was as enjoyable to *watch* him play as to hear him.

[marieloupe]

Ther s no artist of the popular harp like Harpo. He made harp his voice, his face, his logo, his trade mark. There s no one like him. He was fabulous!

[bimmerfun]

What a fine musician!

[Robert1sLadySaggie]

beauty incarnate. I love his improvisations.

One of my goals was to string together all the Harpo and Chico numbers so I could watch them at will...and here they are on youtube! thanks!

[facelster]

ouch

[lilleol]

A pleasure 4 our ears!

[jen1199]

great

[tedjfisher]

Harpo is the best. Just amazing. The only time Groucho was witnessed crying in public was at Harpo's funeral...

[PaulPaddickFan]

Im sure he was...harpo was his brother...and he was a great man...calm...kinda like me..lol

now just about every time i hear or see him play the harp...i just wanna cry..its so beautiful and i was born like 40 some years after his death.

[thedimgoddess]

He's doing some crazy note bending magic!!! Totally ROCKS.

[hannahspaw]

That's my Harpo. I just loved him. he was so funny and when I had sad day's he'd make me laugh.

[bpted]

Wow, you knew Harpo? You should start telling your stories into a video camera and put it up on YouTube. I'll watch!

[freefromfolsom]

so will i!!

[mixailaggelos2004]

Wonderfull performance, magic piece...

I love its dark introduction and Harpo's technique

[Marxfan58]

harpo marx is So great

[madmomentsgo]

nice

[rovingeye5]

does anyone know if Harpo devoted a lot of time to performing once he stopped making films with the Marx Bros?

[medea39]

A friend told me last night that he practiced every day. Classical harpists would come to learn from him because his playing style was so unique.

[PharFigNewton]

I believe he has some albums...

[melbrooksisgod]

Yes. He did public shows, playing his harp and usually miming his humor. At the end of the show, he'd give a little speech. "Unaccustomed as I am to speaking..." He'd start and the audience would roar. He toured Russia, and (in his autobiography, "Harpo Speaks!") carried important diplomatic papers through cold war lines to The U. S. If I remember correctly. Harpo was a great comic, and from what I understand, the nicest Marx Brother to meet or work with.

[delworthio]

When Harpo played his harp it was a mystery All the laughing stopped back to the balcony Chico, Chico, sure to please Now let's watch him shoot the keys When Harpo played his harp All was still, still Oh Harpo, Harpo This is the angels and Where did you get that sound so fine Harpo, Harpo I gotta hear it one more time Go find Jonathan Richman's "When Harpo Played His Harp" for the rest.

[thurin68]

Ironic that he probably could have made a fortune as a concert musician if he played today.

[Ikaruszaki]

Wow, now THAT is multitasking!!!

[fajfred]

What are the Marx bros. real names?

[lumpin99]

Chico  Leonard

Harpo Adolph/Arthur

Groucho Julius Henry

Gummo Milton

Zeppo Herbert

[fajfred]

Thank you so much. I always loved their work.

[pferrara929]

I never get tired of listening to Harpo play.

Beautiful.

[acidoxido]

genio

[buslady]

mesmerizing.

[jeetkd]

Brilliant, as ever. Thanks for the clip

[harwetopa]

Harpo observed in his autobiography that when you see him behind his instrument you don't see Harpo Marx but rather Adolph [later changed to Arthur] Marx: in other words, the real man. What a self-taught genius he was!

[harwetopa]

Apologies for the duplication...I'm new to this format and thought that my first post hadn't gone through.

[harwetopa]

He wrote in his autobiography that when he is behind his instrument, it's not Harpo you see but rather Adolph [later changed to Arthur] Marx. What a self-taught genius he was! Thanks for posting this clip.

[hannahspaw]

he only had a first grade education so he had help writing the book. It says HARPO MARX with ROWLAND BARBER. The autobiography is wonderful. I'd recomend it to anyone who loved Harpo

[petermatthews123]

what a man

[ueberRegenbogen]

First cless smartass musician! :D

[HeathPatrie]

I happened upon this scene late one night, years ago. It blew my mind so much, it actually is one of the things which inspired me to play the harp. This scene is burned into my mind, but i actually haven't seen it since then (until now). Thanks!

[pferrara929]

That was a beautiful piece. He was a gifted performer. Comedy and music. If you ever read his auto-biography, "Harpo Speaks", check out You Tube's  "Harpo - US"

I think you'll enjoy it.

[harwetopa]

I have...and I will! Thanks.

[deedeedmr]

its Franz Lizst. Hungarian Rhapsody. I love this song, one of my fav.s, plus I luv luv luv the Marx Bro.s

[smilingal2005]

This is pure genius. I rented this movie this past summer and honestly watched this segment about 5 times before I finally moved on to the rest of the movie. Thanks sooo much for posting it!!

[coldsteaklint]

I'd like to say any modern movie star do that! The Marx bros. rock!

[Sneakerjeans29]

A Cartoon with Tom and Jerry named The Cat Concerto has the same music in it.

[PsychicKnife]

It's from "A Night In Casablanca" which is the only Marx film where Harpo's hair looked like this---making him appear his age, which in this movie is 58.

[montereyb]

Thank you sooo much, you dunno how important this is to me - i'm a harpist too, an odd one as well... hahaha

[americanliberal]

It's from Night in Casablanca and is one of my favorite Harpo scenes of all.

[itstheit]

Impressive.

[rubyspirit]

Bravo!

[RobTFirefly]

There'll never be another Harpo.

[laughingsam]

Is this from "Love Happy"?

[gitthegone]

Harpo was a true genius! Thanks for sharing this!

[Dadchris]

I'm in love with Harpo! thanks