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Chapter 8: White House Connections
Editor's note: Many of us of a certain age began our harp studies on a lovely small Irish harp built by Melville Clark in his Syracuse, NY, factory. But Clark was more than a harp builder. He was also a fine harpist in his own right, an inventor, and entrepreneur. In her recent book, Pulling Strings: The Legacy of Melville A. Clark, author Linda Pembroke Kaiser paints a fascinating portrait of this man who, with his harp, and technical developments as well as the method book he sent out with each harp sold, made the harp accessible to the American public in the first half of the 20th century. But Clark was much more than a harp builder. As Kaiser makes clear, this remarkable man played an important part in establishing a truly American musical life with his involvement in the early formation of the Syracuse Symphony. One of his remarkable inventions even helped turn the tides in WWI. Clark's career took him many fascinating places. In the following chapter, we see him visiting the Wilson White House to perform with the president's daughter, Margaret. © 2010 Syracuse University Press. Used by permission.
FOR a musician to be invited to play at the White House is a great honor. Melville Clark recalled his performances there for Presidents Wilson, Harding, and Roosevelt with clarity and pride.
Clark's first invitation to play at the White House came because of his association with John McCormack, one of the most popular tenors of the time. McCormack always made a stop at the Clark Music store when he was performing in upstate New York. On one of his visits he bought a Clark Irish Harp for his child. He was so impressed with the instrument that he invited its maker to join him on a series of tours that lasted two years.
On March 27, 1914, during one of these tours, Clark first performed at the White House along with McCormack and other musicians. That evening he met the president's eldest daughter, Margaret, a lyric soprano, who also performed for the guests.1
Two months later, on May 27, 1914, he made a return visit to the White House to accompany Miss Wilson on...