All Harpo Marx's Movie Harp Solos 1929-1949

[@ajessm]

When I was little, I'd watch the Marx Brothers films and wait impatiently for Harpo to perform his harp solo. These were always the highlight for me. Also seeing his real personality emerge as he became absorbed in his music. Im sure he was a beautiful person.

[@tracyyork1428]

By all accounts, he WAS a beautiful person. From everything I've read, everybody who knew Harpo loved him. Groucho's son would later say that the only time he saw his father cry was when Harpo died in 1964.

[@patriciamarino1026]

I think I read once that he and his wife wanted a child for every window in their home. They adopted four children.

[@stan4now]

He was. And I'm sure he's happy in Heaven playing his harp to his content after all the years of making us happy.

[@kazimierzg2896]

Ile jako dziecko musiał ćwiczyć, żeby tak na luzie grać i bawić się grą.

[@sabbathhead]

This collection is the Holy Grail of Harpo magic! I saw him play the solo "Everyone Says i Love You" in "Horse Feathers" when i was 5 and it changed my life. He was so special!

[@aritina8379]

I hope the world never forgets this wonderful, wonderful man, comedian, pianist, harpist!!❤

[@bold810]

This World has always needed more men like this, like this all through history. Now I am sincerely weeping.

[@joefrisbey5252]

Him and Chico took their music and talents very seriously

[@MW-bv3wu]

Also a superb whistler.

[@Nancy-pb6ie]

👼👼👼

[@lordeden2732]

He was a good musician but a terrible man not nice at all

[@HappyForeverSpirits]

Chico was a technical genius. Harpo was a music genius.

[@JoshMaxPower]

@@HappyForeverSpirits not sure about that pal . I studied Chico's music for an entire year scrutinizing every chord and every hand movement to play all his songs at a party and he's not playing anything too difficult. Genius is stretching it!

[@zenarcher_awats]

Who needs to talk with this kind of talent

[@geoffroy1970]

Never has a man rolled up his sleeves with more purpose.

[@HenryvKeiper]

I remember seeing "Night at the Opera" as a kid. You miss something not seeing him goof off on the piano before he gets to the harp, because at first he's being silly with the kids, then when he gets to the harp, there's a special gleam in his eye that, even as a young kid, I noticed. You realize there's a transition from Harpo the clown to a man with true musical talent. I've heard that Harpo said in interviews he's being himself at the harp, and you definitely see it in that scene.

[@AceripXF]

unlike chico who never breaks character but harpo does when he plays but still so beauitful

[@papagreenemusic]

@HenryvKeiper He did that shtick for the scene with the kids, also because Chico was the 'real' piano player; however, Harpo did know how to play the piano, & the clarinet as well. His harp playing was completely self-taught from childhood, down to creating his own tuning method for the dozens of strings because he never had formal training. His harp playing was in place of his schooling, which ended in the middle of his 2nd attempt to get through 2nd grade without being beaten up by neighborhood bullies. His harp was his schooling, & he did it all himself; nobody could take that away from him. He remained semi-illiterate for life, & his iconic mute character developed because he was unable to read well enough to memorize lines of dialogue from scripts. A one-of-a-kind performer & human being, the most beloved of the Marx Brothers. Harpo's funeral was one of the only occasions at which Groucho was seen crying.

[@nancydeforest1533]

He couldn’t have been too illiterate; he belonged o the Algonquin Round Table, a club of famous writers. He was also a close friend of Alexander Woollcott.

[@davep1103]

28:11 is My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE ! ❤ Then 16:50. And last .. but CERTAINLY not least.... 19:44 ! And I LOVE when He lifts His hands in TRIUMPH !

[@johnkeen6714]

He almost makes the harp talk. Flawless & peerless.

[@ExMachina70]

The beauty in all of Harpo is his comedy ends when his music playing begins. It's pure magic.

[@joefrisbey5252]

Yes him and Chico took their music and talents very seriously

[@ExMachina70]

@joefrisbey5252 Yes, I love them both. The first time I saw chico play, I was blown away at his creativity in playing the piano.

[@dianehghzn7670]

God how does anybody get to be so gifted multy talented and a beautifull person on top of that ( angels come from heaven the 3 of them ) over those years when the Jewish people suffered such depravity and persecution god keep you and your earthly people your living reletives safe and healthy and long life what amazing fathers / grandparents/ and uncles and family you guys have 😍🌈🌈🌈🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘🦘☔️☔️☔️🦋💟☮️☸️🕉️🌎🌏🌍💝🌹💐🍀🙏🙏🙏💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

[@JoshMaxPower]

🙏❤️

[@robert-og2pf]

What a brilliant man, just loved it. RIP Harpo

[@gwendyddemrys4206]

When I was a kid, we used to watch the Marx Bros. when the films ere on TV. I was entranced by Harpo and his incredible harp! Especially because I am legally blind, and music has been a part of me since probably before my premature birthing. Years later I got his book, Harpo Speaks, and he was indeed a fascinating man on many accounts---I suggest you all read it, it is interesting, his son co-authored the book. so I grew up wanting to play the harp; I already had piano lessons and started learning the guitar. But pedal concert harps are way out of my income bracket, so I got into Celtic music and now I have a herd of harps in my house. I'm never going to be as good as Harpo, but at least I have the love of folk harps and can play and sing that type of Celtic/folk harping. Thank you Harpo for your beautiful music!

[@JoshMaxPower]

I've read "Harpo Speaks" dozens of times! I also wanted to play the harp and I can play it a little bit but the full-sized concert pedal harps Harpo plays are out of me budget! Thanks for watching. 💛

[@AmericanHorse-sg9oc]

I turned 46 today. My Dad reminded me today of how much Harp Marx made me happy and enthralled by his talent. I always dreamed of a life like his. Maybe not this beautiful talent. But the charm and fun, not just as a character, but a human. Bless his soul

[@RussLake]

If I’m ever really down and need something beautiful and totally from the heart…this is who does it for me. Thanks for putting all of Harpo’s film work together for when I need a big dose of it!

[@vanmann8347]

Harpo’s rendition of “Alone” from A Night at the Opera was absolutely beautiful as well as mezmorizing .

[@frankmartinez2655]

Victory movie theater Denver,Colorado,1946...The Marx Brothers....I was hooked..Harpo be favorite. Seen all of the Marx Brother movies .Groucho's television show "Bet your life" was the apex of 50's delight. Living in a perdimate Jewish area in West Denver I got to learn of their humor despide the goings on in Europe . To this day I keep in touch with two Jewish former classmates from 3rd.grade. In our 80's we reminisce of days gone bye.

[@nedraleggett6837]

My mom introduced me to the Marx brothers when I was growing up. Loved them.

[@jimtownsend7899]

My three most favorite Harpo moments - "Alone" from "A Night at the Opera", "Hungarian Rhapsody #2" from "A Night in Casablanca", and when he was on The Lucy Show and played "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". All 3 times, he has you laughing, and the next thing you know, you're crying at the beauty of the music.

[@papagreenemusic]

@Jim Townsend You are spot-on with those... Although I hate the singing in "A Night At The Opera", I love his playing of "Alone"... Similarly his arrangement of "Everyone Says I Love You" in "Horse Feathers". And that "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" from "I Love Lucy", I posted the segment to FB & commented as you did that only Harpo could make you cry playing that song. After filming the show, Harpo stayed on to entertain the audience awhile on his harp as Vivian Vance sang familiar songs. Harpo was essentially illiterate, having quit school in 2nd grade to save his own life from the beatings he received daily at school from bullies. Harpo's famous mute character developed because he couldn't read well enough to rehearse & memorize lines from scripts. There's that scene in "Duck Soup", where the telegram intended for the Sylvanian ambassador is intercepted by Harpo, who looks at it, reacts with an angry scowl, crumples the telegram & throws it viciously to the floor. Chico then explains to the befuddled ambassador, "He gets mad because he can't read..." This was based on reality. Yet, being a 'naïve genius' as he was, Harpo was admitted by exception as a charter member of the ultra-literate group of intellectual writers & critics assembled at the legendary Algonquin Round Table. He described his own participation there as "the audience". He taught himself to play the harp as a youngster, his childhood education in place of school, even to the extent of creating his own tuning system because he didn't know the correct tuning for the dozens of strings. He rested the harp against the wrong shoulder because he was never taught correct technique, completely self-taught in every regard. Later in life, when he was already famous for his harp playing, he tried to bring in teachers to show him proper technique, but one after another, the teachers failed to teach him anything, because they were mesmerized by his playing & kept making him play so they could watch him! Finally he got a teacher to show him some techniques, but by that time he had already done extraordinarily well by his own methods. He also played piano & clarinet. Groucho was the verbal genius of the Marx Brothers; Harpo was the visual & musical genius, & of all the brothers was most unanimously beloved as a human being.

[@jimtownsend7899]

@@papagreenemusic Good words, Papa. I'm sure Arthur would be gratified. It's funny, but I actually liked the singing in "Opera", particularly the finale. But as my brother always says, "That's why they make chocolate AND vanilla. Strawberry, too." My line is, "There's a bolt for every nut."

[@JamesDazey]

IM CRYING TOO HIS TALENT IS BEAUTIFUL AND SO IS HIS WHISTING

[@LloydGilmore-m7d]

​@@papagreenemusic❤😂 fri

[@merc5333]

14:23 Day at the Races. That's the one, I had looked up Night at the Opera, it's great, but this one has my heart. I wish there were actual cds of his music. I have a feverish hunger for music, it's always given way to let my emotions, expand and live, so to speak. I love Harpo, was gifted his biography as a teenager by my acupuncturist who introduced me to them by also gifting me a dvd of Night at the Opera. Harpo is so shy and kind, I can see easily how his wife adored him and his son's and daughter were so lucky to have him as a dad. Thank you for this compilation. Harpo's music is beyond a treat. Dec 8, 2023

[@paulevans9858]

Harpo proves here that music is universal.

[@markbelmares7138]

Such a variety of talent in one person. A great man. Actor, composer, author, comedian. He should never be forgotten

[@STORMY0O]

My first introduction to the harp when I was about 6 yrs old and this exact scene. He touched my heart with his talent. Hands of an angel. Thank you Harpo!💕

[@Jon-im6dz]

Saw him for the first time when I was or 7 in duck soup at the Stillwell theater in Bedford,Oh was amazed as a child and never forgot him .I'm 60 now

[@darcybrummett7004]

Out of the four Marx brothers, Harpo is my favorite!

[@PrincessSylveon]

LOVED THE MARX BROS.

[@JustAnOldMan56]

I've always loved it when he so seamlessly slips into boogie-woogie (about 30:00) and back out (about 30:20).

[@mikesoule1352]

Marx Bros. were a litle before my time, but i watched them as oldies, and always got excited to see and hear Harpo play. Amazing how his face changes from clownish to sensitive whenever he played! Bravo, Maestro Harpo Marx!!! 🎶🥰🎵🎶

[@vanmann8347]

Heaven will now resonate with the beautiful music that Harpo plays.🙏🙏🙏

[@adammwalch]

Many talented artists in various fields were passingly talented in others; Harpo was a brilliant harpist (and pretty damn funny)

[@haroldbeck4351]

When I watch the 'Night in Casablanca' segment I can't help but think how great it would have been if Roland KIrk sat down with Harpo and played with him. I bet those two geniuses would have come up with something spectacular.

[@Unitopia117]

My father raised me on the Marx Bros. It influenced my humour, my musical taste, my philosophy and more than I probably realise. Harpo's solos were always special to me. Like the movies it was like a quiet aside. It filled the spiritual reserves. Thank you for this.

[@stevesewall]

My folks raised me likewise. Influenced me as it did you plus politics. And "spiritual reserves" says what needs to be said about Harpo's solos. Thanks.

[@Neicorr]

Harpo makes me feel and love. Share and care. Do not hate! if you live a life that is angry, you have wasted it.

[@Pffcasina]

Un MAESTRO en toda la expresión de la palabra.Una música preciosa ❤️❤️

[@JoshMaxPower]

Estoy de acuerdo, ¡es un MAESTRO!

[@epf1961]

Thanks for creating this! When I was a kid (1970's) my big brother introduced me to the MB, and took me to see several of their films, and later even bought me the book "Why A Duck?" which I treasured and still have.. As a budding musician myself, I was always mesmerized by the musical interludes of Harpo and Chico, noticing how they morphed from zany comedians to serious musicians of the highest caliber, then back again.. Perhaps another worthy project may be compiling all of Chico's piano solos? (I don't mean to give you work to do, but "just sayin'", as they say!)... "Honk" if you approve!

[@JoshMaxPower]

Thanks, epf1961! I actually got the idea to compile Harpo's solos after seeing that this compilation of Chico's solos had over 1,000,000 views. Enjoy...! kzbin.info/www/bejne/l560Z2Z7j8uIg6M

[@frankthorne11]

The stunned look upon the actors faces is priceless.

[@rodrigoraulsuarez]

Love this. I always admire Harpo as a magical musician. This musical scenes gave something unique to his character, showing another dimension of it.

[@cobra5617]

WHEN I WAS A CHILD AND MY BELOVED MOTHER WATCHED HIM PLAY THE HARP I CLOSED MY EYES I FELL ASLEEP EVERYTIME

[@titanking8755]

28:11 Saw this scene years ago, always wondered what it was from and who played that. What amazing performance easily one of my top 3 favorite instruments and now I know who Harpo Marx is an amazing and absolutely talented legend. 😊

[@meredithdevoe2266]

TIL that Harpo taught himself to play the harp. When he finally got a teacher to help him, the teacher just sat in awe marveling at Harpo's technique. He didn't even have the harp tuned "correctly". I am more than impressed.

[@russellthompson9271]

My favourite top three: 1: Alone from A Night At The Opera 2: Everyone Says I Love You from Horsefeathers 3: Mozart/Beethoven from The Big Store

[@m.f.m.67]

Mesmerizing

[@shamusteakiawa]

That fast jazzy piece he played from Go West sounded cool

[@VictorHUGO-mq3dl]

Just marvellous !!! Harpo is really a good musician.

[@ladanehaten4283]

As a child I loved the Marx Brothers and Harpo beautiful music. Thanks for all the wonderful memories.

[@addyso1996]

Harpo is not the clasicaĺ trained harpest, but he sure makes his selections sound wonderful.

[@russellthompson9271]

He did have formal lessons, although he was largely self taught.

[@RobertHersh-zc1ff]

Absolutely priceless, wonderful. Can't. Thank Google enough for bringing this here . Truly remarkable.

[@RobertHersh-zc1ff]

A true master,. One of the greatest human beings in the universe that ever lived.

[@bbqitall1245]

Beautiful. Thanks.

[@wrongfullyaccused7139]

The pure passion on his face when he plays.

[@dalewiederholt573]

Just beautiful and so talented. I wish I could have met any one of the brothers.

[@williamhudson943]

Great Music 🎶 no one that really knows and loves music could ever forget these great performances!!!!❤️🎶🎵😎

[@arlenebrahm2719]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. There’s been a Chico compilation on YT and now finally his well deserving, kid brother gets to have the honor!

[@JoshMaxPower]

Yes, and that one has over a million views! Hopefully The Professor gets equal time! 🍌🍌🍌🍌

[@stevesewall]

2:39 and the man can WHISTLE!

[@badconscience93]

Thank you for compiling all of these together. I love Harpo. ❤️

[@JoshMaxPower]

You're welcome, Mia! :)

[@JoshMaxPower]

Labor of love! You're welcome.

[@MatthewWhoz-kd8pw]

Such a rare, distinct talent.

[@juskuz111]

Thank you for your hard work. This compilation is beautiful

[@t.shawnpowell197]

A multi-talented genius!

[@tomdegan6924]

Beautiful. Just beautiful!

[@cthncthn7405]

Amazing dynamics in those movies. Going from the peaks of sharp witted, fast paced jabs of comedy that I struggled to keep up with, down to the slow, soul stirring music like this... le sigh. Harpo is my favorite musician out of them all for sure.

[@mytocabunny1235]

The Best og the Best Maestro all Years

[@drianej]

Magnificent! Thank you for taking the trouble to put this together.

[@bobmathie299]

Thanks for putting this on.wonderful talent he was

[@JoshMaxPower]

Thanks for listening

[@harryscott9533]

such precision ❤🤓🙋‍♂️👍

[@RonaldBarnard-l6l]

He is a Master at his Craft

[@RogerArthur-z2v]

Only person I ever heard who could play boogie woogie on a harp

[@rogerwright1902]

What an underappreciated genius... He was always my favorite Marx brother.

[@stimpy4200]

Incredible. Pure genius

[@ericx777]

An awesome compilation of the musical genius that was Arthur "Harpo" Marx! Thank you so much @JMax for this vid so I can show my friends this underappreciated talent at his best. #immortalized

[@ericx777]

BTW, you left out one of the best... Harpo playing "Swanee River" in "Love Happy" (1949).

[@JoshMaxPower]

@@ericx777 Thanks, Eric...it's at 31:04.

[@darylvogel8991]

I grew up on the Marx Brothers, a great asset for America

[@kittygram51]

Thank you so much! I will always love him ❤

[@sapodesorte5355]

An excellent composition editing mix of the Harpo harp genius. Beautiful.

[@Braglemaster123]

Masterfull ‘

[@lucrecianoireharp3669]

Genio indiscusso 🙏

[@morgunstyles7253]

Thank you

[@JoshMaxPower]

You're welcome, it was a labor of love.

[@tedmanley6146]

Wonderful… thank you.

[@FrédéricMordin]

MERVEILEUX !

[@danielweinstein5252]

The song he plays in "Go West" is "From the Land of the Sky Blue Water." Mildred Bailey, partially Native American, recorded it in 1938.

[@theproblemmustbeinyourpant5910]

The greatest human being I think.

[@texasmimi5566]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Can't thank you enough for posting this, and especially the names of the songs and the movies he played them in. FairDealDan posted the KZbin video "Chico Marx Playing Piano. 10 films!! Complete!! (good quality)." So this goes along with that.

[@JoshMaxPower]

Thanks, Texas Mimi. Yeah, I got the idea for a Harpo compilation after seeing FairDealDan's Chico compilation has over 1,000,000 views. Couldn't believe there wasn't a compilaton of Harpo, so up it went and here we are. If I can help turn people on to the Harp-man, that's sweet!

[@DannyD714]

thank you for this compilation. he is mesmerizing.

[@thomasipkiss8793]

Thank you for this

[@coasternut3091]

The only time he's serious

[@CAPITANROCK2023]

Great video! Thank you JMax. Harpo is a genius.

[@JoshMaxPower]

No doubt!

[@kathyromy2537]

Thank you so much for these!

[@brianciupka7784]

these had millions of views 50 years before "You tube " was thought of .

[@anastasiajohnson6844]

Ok! Harpo Marx was inspired in the 'gospel' genres during that particular time listed in 18:26. When segregation was singing in black choirs were apparent; Therefore, we have Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane becoming harp 'jazz' genre charting icons...! Sweet renditions!! Y'all new generations, hear and watch this!! ❤

[@sunrisestudio9548]

wonderful

[@stimpy4200]

Thanks

[@27Moet]

Awesome! 🤟

[@JoshMaxPower]

Thanks, Rod!

[@MrPlankinton]

I wish I could have attended one of Harpo's concerts which he performed overseas on tour.

[@arthurmore427]

Harpo ♥

[@tinacastanares8046]

he was so, so great!!!

[@AmandaOlson-bv8ou]

Does anyone else notice during the clip of him playing Alone from A Night at the Opera, the person on the side of the screen who looks like an old woman? Harpo looks at her when he starts to whistle then when he's done playing he touches her face with his finger. Does anyone have any idea who that could be??

[@BNforever2009]

The master of the harp, my harp hero PERIOD

[@cellohood]

Harpo's fake cello and violin playing is better than anything I've seen in the movies.

[@33Keith33]

Duck Soup is one of my favorite of the Marx Brothers movies but the only thing I don’t like is that Harpo and Chico don’t have their music solos. Harpo plucking on the piano wires is a nice touch but it’s just not the same.

[@RonGallagher]

Talent

[@nancydeforest1533]

I’d love to know the name of the first song in his series-the 1929 movie

[@JoshMaxPower]

Hi, Nancy! It's "When My Dreams Come True" by Irving Berlin, which is performed throughout "The Cocoanuts." If you click on the description of the video above, you'll see each song, which film and where to click to hear it. HONK!

[@nancydeforest1533]

@@JoshMaxPower THANK YOU!!

[@oliverFriedl]

Thank you so much, he was brilliant, sounds nice and easy, its not...