AHJ, Vol. 7 No. 1, Summer 1979

Newark, Ohio; Harrisonburg, Virginia; Lafayette, Indiana;
Rockford, Illinois; Northfield, Minnesota;
McPherson, Kansas; Evansville, Indiana; etc. Even the
director of the First Marine Division Band at Camp
Pendleton, California, said that he had never had a harpist
in his band but he would take it up immediately
with his Commanding Officer. There were some
teachers who already have harps in their schools, which
was pleasing to learn; however, we now could give them
AHS literature for their non-member students, some of
whom might not even be aware that AHS exists.
Visits to the booth were made for other reasons as
well. A Montreal, Canada, teacher - himself a potential
harp student - had no idea how to find harps, teachers,
etc. Several music store owners needed this same kind of
information in order to answer their customers' questions
on the subject. We had copies of THE
AMERICAN HARP JOURNAL on hand and showed
them that through the JOURNAL's advertisers they
could get the information they needed. Service band
members and other musicians stopped to share their
musical experiences with harpists. Band/orchestra composers
were able to ask questions about our instrument,
further educating and encouraging them about harp
writing. Even the famous band composer, Vaclav
Nelhybel - who already writes well for harp - was an
honored guest. An Ohio string teacher who is a selftaught
harp teacher was able to learn more about harp
playing - certain facets of which were a mystery to her.
Friends were made with officials of a well-known strobe
tuner manufacturer; as a result, this company may join
AHS and advertise in the JOURNAL.
Throughout the convention, directors would occasionally
ask for a list of orchestra and/or band arrangements
which include harp parts. To my
knowledge, no such lists have ever been compiled. It
would be an excellent idea to do so to further encourage
directors with harpists to use harp more frequently, and
to show those directors without harpists what is
available with harp. Such lists could be published in the
JOURNAL so that all AHS members could benefit by
them. Is there anyone willing to make this a project? It
would be not only a unique but also valuable donation
to the Society. We would need one list of music playable
by junior high/senior high orchestras, and another list
of music payable by junior high/senior high bands.
Your sources of information could be the directors
themselves or publishers of band and orchestra music.
If you are a college music major currently in need of a
Mr. Louis Witt (middle) and Dr. Newton Sims (right),
directors from Minnesota and Alabama, hear about
available harp music from Marilyn Marzuki.
topic for a paper or a masters' thesis, here is the perfect
project!
In summary, Ann's idea was an innovative yet
necessary step forward for the Society. In my opinion,
this kind of exposure is an excellent way to expand the
Society's horizons. It also seems most fitting that a nonprofit
group such as The American Harp Society should
contribute this valuable service to the public.
Professional Music Copying
and Music Engraving
-publication quality work
-copyright service available
for quotations and
further information contact:
MINUTES
Copies of the minutes of the Executive Committee
and the Board of Directors are available upon request
from the Office Manager, Mrs. Dorothy Remsen,
6331 Quebec Dr., Hollywood, CA 90068.
Michael D. Amorosi
8467 West 4th Street
Los Angeles, California 90048
(213) 658-5674
SUMMER/ 1979
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