Carlos Salzedo

Carlos Salzedo, born Charles Moïse Léon Salzedo, was a pioneering French-American harpist, pianist, composer, and conductor, renowned for his innovative approach to the harp. His compositions elevated the harp from a mere accompaniment instrument to a solo virtuoso instrument, inspiring many composers with his novel ideas for harp sounds. Salzedo studied at the prestigious Paris Conservatoire under notable figures like Hasselmans and Charles de Bériot. He later settled in America, where he significantly influenced the New York music scene, particularly through his work with the International Composers' Guild alongside Edgard Varèse. As the first harp pedagogue to fully explore the instrument's technical and timbral possibilities, Salzedo's legacy endures through his compositions and teachings, making him a seminal figure in the world of harp music.