Meet Willi Maerz

We are pleased to welcome composer/arranger Willi Maerz to Harp Column Music! Although Willi is not a harpist himself, he has embraced the challenge of adding to the collection of advanced harp quartet literature. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have his collection available for download! See all of Willi’s arrangements right here.  

What kind of music do you like to arrange/compose?

All music which is suitable for harp: music of Classic and Romanticism, but also songs of the Great American Songbook, Latin music and also some jokeful compositions.

What new works have you published recently?

An orchestral arrangement of Max Reger’s “Scherzo in fis” for piano.

Can you give us some background about any of the works you have listed on Harp Column Music?

I listed some arrangements of piano music by Grieg, Chopin and Mendelssohn. I am very careful in my choices, because it is important for me, to write for an instrument, not against an instrument. Even four harps will never achieve the dramatical power of a grand piano, but just one harp can discover all the poetry and elegance of a music piece. The message of the music should be in the foreground.

Where do you look for inspiration?

Everywhere!

Are there any composers who particularly inspire you?

For the harp it is Carlos Salzedo, he was a fantastic player and a very sophisticated composer and arranger. I am permanently inspired whenever I listen to good music. There is always something I can learn from the great masters. The composer who touches my soul deeply is Ludwig van Beethoven. I am always fascinated by the perfect balance between precise “construction” and strong emotion. A wonderful sample is the Egmont Overture.

What is your favorite harp work to listen to?

Oh, just one chord is enough to make me happy!

What other music do you enjoy listening to?

There are too many composers, too many genres to list them all. I love any music, if it is composed, arranged and performed perfectly.

What do you do when you’re not being a musician?

Is there another life?

What else do you want people to know about you?

I am sorry for my bad English. I should have studied it much more when I was at school.

Read more about Willi Maerz at www.willi-maerz.com.

Although he’s not a harpist, Willi knows his way around a few strings! Check out his “Guantanamera” performance on the zither: