Konrad Wolff

Konrad Wolff ( born March 11, 1907 in Berlin, † October 24, 1989 in Cologne) was an American pianist and pedagogue of German origin.

Life

As the son of legal scholar Martin Wolff ( legal scholars ), he received his doctorate in 1930, first as a lawyer in Berlin. After the Nazis came to power in 1933, emigrated to Paris and study piano with Artur Schnabel which is also sold in Italy. 1937 was the wedding instead of the photographer Ilse Bing.

1939 interned as a German refugee in the French camp Camp de Gur, finally brokered by Varian Fry departure from Marseille via Trinidad, 1941 arrival in New York.

In 1946 he acquired the U.S. citizenship.

Many years experience as piano and music teacher at the Westchester Conservatory ( 1949-54 ), at Drew University, NJ ( 1952-62 ) and at the Peabody Conservatory ( 1963-74 ).

1987 Piano Masterclass in Essen and on this occasion first appearance before a German audience since 1933. 's Death in 1989 in Cologne. Due to a heart attack shortly after attending a symposium on Essen musical tradition in exile of the emigrants of the period of National Socialism

A long-standing friendship and a common German - Jewish exile fate linked him with the pianist and composer Erich Itor Kahn, of which he in 1957, with the composer and conductor René Leibowitz published the first monograph; especially the chapter about the pianist, performer and educator Kahn wear Wolff's handwriting.

Comparatively known is Wolff's mediation of the pianistic tradition of Leschetitzky Beak school, particularly through publications on Artur Schnabel's piano playing, music thinking and teaching practice.

  • Quote ( from Konrad Wolff's lecture on piano pedagogy in America under the influence of Hitler's emigration (1989 ), in which he describes the example of the famous Refugees, Artur Schnabel, Rudolf Serkin and Edward ( Eduard ) helmsman whose influence on American musical culture :)

"If we summarize what is the main point of what the teachers from emigration gave Americans, I mean, it's the realization that, like Erich Itor Kahn put it, music understanding and music feeling not enemies but allies are. the fact that ... so much good has come out of the most tragic circumstances, should anyone who feels guilty or should feel from the older generation, ease the conscience. But I wish and hope that much [ more] a promotional exchange between the two sides of the Atlantic will take place in our area to continual joy and revival. "

Works (selection)

  • The betrayal of the administrator - The Prävarikation past and present. Mannheim 1930
  • René Leibowitz et Konrad Wolff, Erich Itor Kahn - Un grand représentant de la Musique contemporaine. Paris 1957
  • The Teaching of Artur Schnabel - a guide to interpretation. London 1972 ( German as: interpretation on the piano: .. Lessons with Artur Schnabel with Ins Alfred Brendel, Munich 1979)
  • Masters of the Keyboard. Indiana University Press. Bloomington 1990 ( 2 ) ( dt as:. Masters of Piano Music 1999)
  • Piano pedagogy in America under the influence of Hitler emigration. - Presentation of Essen in 1989 in music tradition in exile - Back from oblivion. Cologne 1993
  • Gillen, Ruth, ed The Writings and Letters of Konrad Wolff. Indiana University Press. Bloomington 2006.
List of photographers Gurs internment camp Musical interpretation Eduard Steuermann Integrated Authority File
484922
de