Marcel Grandjany
Encyclopedia
Marcel Georges Lucien Grandjany (September 3, 1891 – February 24, 1975) was a French
-born American
harp
ist and composer
. He began the study of the harp at the age of eight with Henriette Renié
. He was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at age eleven where he also studied with Alphonse Hasselmans
, winning the coveted Premier Prix at age thirteen. At seventeen he made his debut with the Concerts Lamoureux Orchestra, and gave his first solo recital, winning immediate acclaim. He appeared with Maurice Ravel
in Paris in 1913. His London debut was in 1922 and his New York debut in 1924. He appeared as soloist with major orchestras under the direction of Pierné, Cortot, Damrosch, Koussevitsky, Szell, Reiner and Golschmann among others.
From 1921 to 1926 Grandjany headed the harp department of the Fontainebleau Summer School. He moved to the United States in 1926 and was appointed head of the harp department at the Juilliard School of Music in 1938 where he taught until his death in 1975, with the exception of several years during the 1940s when he was on the faculty of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal. He also taught at the Manhattan School of Music
from 1956-1967.
At the First International Harp Contest in Israel in 1959, Pierre Jamet
of France proposed the formation of an international association of harpists. Grandjany undertook to see what he could do in the United States and chaired a committee of leading harpists. The Founding Committee met for the first time on December 3, 1962 in Mr. Grandjany’s apartment. Over the years, he was a member of the Board of Directors, Regional Director, Chapter Chairman and President of the New York Chapter. He generously performed at AHS conferences; in 1964 at the first conference and in 1967, a solo recital which was his last public performance. He supported the educational goals of the Society vigorously and delighted in the American Harp Society’s growth and community.
Harp
Transcriptions for harp solo
Vocal
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He began the study of the harp at the age of eight with Henriette Renié
Henriette Renié
Henriette Renié was a French harpist and composer, a deeply religious woman who lived in poverty for much of her life, but who was independent and successful in a time when fame was socially unacceptable for women...
. He was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at age eleven where he also studied with Alphonse Hasselmans
Alphonse Hasselmans
Alphonse Hasselmans was a Belgian-born French harpist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Hasselmans was born in Liège, Belgium. He composed several dozen original solos for harp, of which his most famous is a concert étude entitled La Source , op. 44...
, winning the coveted Premier Prix at age thirteen. At seventeen he made his debut with the Concerts Lamoureux Orchestra, and gave his first solo recital, winning immediate acclaim. He appeared with Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
in Paris in 1913. His London debut was in 1922 and his New York debut in 1924. He appeared as soloist with major orchestras under the direction of Pierné, Cortot, Damrosch, Koussevitsky, Szell, Reiner and Golschmann among others.
From 1921 to 1926 Grandjany headed the harp department of the Fontainebleau Summer School. He moved to the United States in 1926 and was appointed head of the harp department at the Juilliard School of Music in 1938 where he taught until his death in 1975, with the exception of several years during the 1940s when he was on the faculty of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal. He also taught at the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
from 1956-1967.
At the First International Harp Contest in Israel in 1959, Pierre Jamet
Pierre Jamet
Pierre Jamet was a French harpist and pedagogue; professor of harp at the Paris Conservatory, 1948 to 1963, succeeding Marcel Tournier....
of France proposed the formation of an international association of harpists. Grandjany undertook to see what he could do in the United States and chaired a committee of leading harpists. The Founding Committee met for the first time on December 3, 1962 in Mr. Grandjany’s apartment. Over the years, he was a member of the Board of Directors, Regional Director, Chapter Chairman and President of the New York Chapter. He generously performed at AHS conferences; in 1964 at the first conference and in 1967, a solo recital which was his last public performance. He supported the educational goals of the Society vigorously and delighted in the American Harp Society’s growth and community.
Selected works
Concertante- Rhapsodie on a Theme of a Gregorian Easter Chant for harp and orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and strings), Op. 10 (1921)
- Aria in Classic Style for harp and organ (or orchestra), Op. 19
- Poème symphonique for harp, horn and orchestra
Harp
- Trois petites pièces très faciles (3 Very Easy Little Pieces), Op. 7
- Rêverie
- Nocturne
- Barcarolle
- Dans la forêt du charme et de l'enchantement, Conte de fée (Fairy Tale), Op. 11 (1922)
- Pièce romantique for piano, Op. 15
- Les enfants jouent (Children at Play), Op. 16
- Souvenirs, Poème, Op. 17
- Variation on the Londonderry Air, Op. 20
- Bagatelles, Op. 22
- Old Chinese Song, Op. 23
- Noël provençal, Op. 24
- Children's Hour, Suite, Op. 25
- Two Duets for 2 harps, Op. 26
- Sally and Dinny Duet
- Eleanor and Marcia Duet
- Harp Album, Op. 27
- Greetings
- Zephyr
- In Dancing Mood
- A Butterfly
- Deep River Interlude for 3 harps
- The Pageant Begins
- On a Western Ranch
- Through the Meadows
- The Colorado Trail, Fantaisie, Op. 28
- Divertissement, Op. 29
- Canon
- Fughetta
- Final
- Fantaisie sur un thème de J. Haydn, Op. 31 (1958)
- Frère Jacques, Fantaisie, Op. 32
- The Erie Canal, Fantasy, Op. 38
- Fileuse, Op. 39
- Les cerisiers en fleurs (Cherry Blossoms), Op. 41
- Arabesque pour harpe sans pédales, No. 1 from Trois pièces pour le piano
- Automne, Pièce pour harpe (1927)
- Deux chansons populaires françaises, Easy Pieces
- Le bon petit roi d'Yvetôt
- Et ron ron ron, petit patapon
- 4 Études
- Legato
- Phrasing
- 4th Finger
- Rhythm
- Impromptu pour harpe sans pédales, No. 3 from Trois pièces pour le piano
- Les agneaux dansent (Dancing Lambs) for harp with or without pedals
- Little Harp Book, 8 Easy Solos for harp with or without pedals
- Pastorale pour harpe sans pédales, No. 2 from Trois pièces pour le piano
- Petite suite classique
- Joyful Overture: In the Style of Purcell
- Gigue: Remembrance of Kuhnau
- Gavotte: Reverence to Lully
- Siciliana: Aeolian Mode
- Passepied: Homage to the Couperins
- Bourrée: In the Style of Handel
- 3 Préludes
- Trois pièces faciles (3 Easy Pieces)
- Variations on a Prelude of J.S. Bach (1965?); after BWV 872a
Transcriptions for harp solo
- J.S. Bach – Allemande
- John BullJohn BullJohn Bull is a national personification of Britain in general and England in particular, especially in political cartoons and similar graphic works. He is usually depicted as a stout, middle-aged man, often wearing a Union Flag waistcoat.-Origin:...
– The King's Hunt - François CouperinFrançois CouperinFrançois Couperin was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was known as Couperin le Grand to distinguish him from other members of the musically talented Couperin family.-Life:Couperin was born in Paris...
– La commère - Anthoine Francisque – Pavane et bransles from Le Trésor d'Orphée
- George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
– Prelude and Toccata, HWV 568, 475; Saraband (HWV 455) - Gottfried Kirchhoff – Aria and Rigaudon
- Jean Baptiste Loeillet LoeilletLoeillet may refer to:* Jean Baptiste Loeillet of Ghent , composer* Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of London , flutist, oboist, harpsichordist, and composer. The two Jean-Baptiste Loeillets were cousins...
– Toccata - Giovanni Battista SammartiniGiovanni Battista SammartiniGiovanni Battista Sammartini was an Italian composer, organist, choirmaster and teacher. He counted Gluck among his students, and was highly regarded by younger composers including Johann Christian Bach...
– Allegretto - Traditional – On an Old Christmas Song: "Silent Night, Holy Night"
Vocal
- O bien aimée for voice (or melody instrument) and harp; words by Paul VerlainePaul VerlainePaul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.-Early life:...