Holy, Alfred

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Holy, Alfred

Holy, Alfred, Portuguese harpist; b. Oporto, Aug. 5, 1866; d. Vienna, May 8, 1948. He studied violin and piano, then took harp lessons with Stank at the Prague Cons. (1882–85). He subsequently was 1st harpist in the orchs. of the German Opera in Prague (1885–96), the Berlin Royal Opera (1896–1903), and the Vienna Court Opera (1903–13). In 1913 he became lst harpist of the Boston Sym. Orch., retiring in 1928. He publ. various harp transcriptions.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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