Carlos Salzedo - Legacy

Legacy

Salzedo is well-considered history's great harpist. He was as highly regarded as a pianist and conductor by his colleagues as he was by harpists. Recordings he made evidence an unparalleled virtuosity, with a signature style of clarity, facility, articulation, and subtle phrasing. His transcriptions and compositions are quite original. He was a progressive spirit, seeking new resources in the harp, inspiring and creating new works and creating new styles of music. His composing progressed from French Romantic to Impressionist to a new style uniquely his own. Many harpists objected to his innovations, provoking a backlash that continues into present times, yet his influences and contributions remain definite. While a few harpists have equaled his virtuosity, Heidi Lehwalder, Alice Giles, neither is a composer as well, nor conductor. As a teacher, he was a Moses leading his people into a new world. He raised standards of strength, facility, quality, and thus his students were widely sought-after for positions of influence.

He influenced many composers with his new ideas for the harp's sounds and notation. They are reflected in such signature works as the Concerto for Harp by Alberto Ginastera, the Serenade no. 10 and Parable by Vincent Persichetti, the Suite for Harp and Chamber Orchestra by Harry Somers, Divertissement by Wallingford Riegger, the Divertissements by Andre Caplet and many other works.

His artistic ideas led to the designs of two harps still manufactured by Lyon & Healy, the art-nouveau style 11 and the art deco Salzedo model. The Salzedo model harp is based on the number 5, his favorite number, and has five stripes of each color on the sounding board, five sections of the base, five parts in the column, etc., for striking effect. Salzedo harp Style 11

He founded the harp program at Curtis Institute, and the Salzedo Harp Colony in Camden, Maine with Lucile Lawrence, and served early on the faculty of New York's Institute of Musical Art (later known as Juilliard). He was a National Patron of Delta Omicron, an international professional music fraternity.

Salzedo's students number in the hundreds. Many are deceased, several are currently performing in symphony orchestras, including the Philadelphia, Milwaukee, New Jersey, Santa Fe Opera Orchestras, and teaching at conservatories and universities. A partial list of notable Salzedo students at the Curtis Institute of Music include Lucile Lawrence, Alice Chalifoux, Edna Phillips, Marilyn Costello, Marjorie Tyre, Lynne Wainwright Palmer and Judy Loman.

He died on August 17, 1961, in Waterville, Maine, at the age of 76.