GRANDJANY, MARCEL (b. September 3, 1891, Paris, France. d. February 24, 1975, New York City). American harpist of French birth. He studied with Henriette Renie, then gained a premiere prix in 1905 at the Paris Conservatoire, making his debut with the Concerts Lamoureaux Orchestra and giving his first recital at the Salle Erard when he was 17. He was also an organist, and played at the Sacre-Coeur Basilica for several years during World War I. Thenceforth he devoted himself to the harp, making his London debut in 1922 and his New York debut in 1924. He settled in New York in 1936 and became an American citizen in 1945. He taught at the Juliard School from 1938 until a few weeks before his death, and at the Montreal Conservatory from 1943 to 1963. Apart from his faultless technique, the outstanding merit of Grandjany's playing was the sheer sensuous beauty of the sound he produced with his rather unusual spatula-shaped fingertips. His influence as a teacher was immense, and his many solo and ensemble harp compositions are attractive, and extremely well written for the instrument.

                                                                                                            ANN GRIFFITHS

(Available from Vanderbilt Music)

Automne, Children's Hour Suite; Divertissement; Et Ron Ron Ron, Petit Patapon; Fantasie Sur un theme de Haydn; First Grade Pieces for Harp; Le Bon Petit Roi d'Yvetot; Music for the Harp; Petite Suite Classique; Rhapsodie; Aria in the Classic Style; Siciliana (trans. from Respighi).

(Available from Lyra Music)

Dans La Foret du Charme; Divertissement, op. 29; Fileuse, op. 39; Four Etudes; Impromptu; Les Cerisiers en Fleurs; les Agneaux Dansent; Variation on Londonerry Air, op. 20, Noel Provecal; Old Chinese Song; Pastorale; Preludes pour Harpe; Souvenirs, op. 17; The Erie Canal.

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