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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

New York Harp Ensemble, harpists, music theory

College

Fine Arts and Communications

Department

Music

Abstract

Almost forty years ago, a Hungarian immigrant named Aristid von Wurtzler created a quartet of harpists known as the New York Harp Ensemble. Throughout the Ensemble’s career, they played in over 60 countries, performed at the White House on many occasions over the course of four administrations, and even performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. From standard works by Beethoven to jazzy Gershwin pieces, from beautiful works of Saint-Saens to familiar tunes such as Yankee Doodle, Wurtzler created over 200 arrangements for this quartet. The year 1997 brought the death of Aristid von Wurtzler, and with his death also came the end of the New York Harp ensemble. His arrangements were never published; all that the Ensemble used were his original manuscripts. So with his passing, his arrangements have all but disappeared from the harp world, and his legacy is fading.

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