Arthur Willner
Encyclopedia
Arthur Willner was a Czech composer and teacher.
Having trained in Leipzig and Munich, Willner secured his first significant academic post at the young age of twenty-three, when he was appointed deputy director of the Stern'sches Konservatorium, Berlin. He worked there from 1902 until 1924, teaching courses in composition, score reading, orchestration, harmony, counterpoint, canon and fugue. Then, after an extended visit to Turkey, he moved to Vienna in 1925, where he taught at the Volkshochschule and Wiener Neues Konservatorium, and edited music for Universal Edition until his emigration.
On 15 March 1938, Willner left Austria for Paris to escape the German Anschluss of Austria
; he to England later that year. After arriving in England, Willner received an invitation through the Jewish Centre, Woburn House from Mr Arthur Franklin, director of Routledge & Co., to stay at Chartridge House, Buckinghamshire. Willner stays for two months, during which time he composed the English Concerto for Chamber Orchestra (Op.98). This work is one of only three English-themed works in his entire known output (the others being the Hereford Suite (Op.102) and a handful of English songs).
In September 1939, Willner and his wife, Cecile, moved to Kington, Herefordshire, to stay at the gardener's cottage at Gravel Hill, residence of English composer E.J Moeran's E.J. Moeran family. Willner remained here until 1945, when Cecile became fatally ill and, after a short period in Edgbaston Hospital in Birmingham, she was moved to a nursing home in London. Cecile died later this year. Willner developed a heart condition in 1948, which left him bed-bound, until his own death at 68 Upshoot Hill, Cricklewood in 1959.
Willner composed over well over 100 works. Despite his relatively prominent place in the German musical establishment during the first part of the century, most of his works are now completely unknown. His Sonata for Solo Flute is currently in print. He is best remembered for his string orchestra transcription of Bartók's Romanian Folk Dances
for piano.
Having trained in Leipzig and Munich, Willner secured his first significant academic post at the young age of twenty-three, when he was appointed deputy director of the Stern'sches Konservatorium, Berlin. He worked there from 1902 until 1924, teaching courses in composition, score reading, orchestration, harmony, counterpoint, canon and fugue. Then, after an extended visit to Turkey, he moved to Vienna in 1925, where he taught at the Volkshochschule and Wiener Neues Konservatorium, and edited music for Universal Edition until his emigration.
On 15 March 1938, Willner left Austria for Paris to escape the German Anschluss of Austria
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
; he to England later that year. After arriving in England, Willner received an invitation through the Jewish Centre, Woburn House from Mr Arthur Franklin, director of Routledge & Co., to stay at Chartridge House, Buckinghamshire. Willner stays for two months, during which time he composed the English Concerto for Chamber Orchestra (Op.98). This work is one of only three English-themed works in his entire known output (the others being the Hereford Suite (Op.102) and a handful of English songs).
In September 1939, Willner and his wife, Cecile, moved to Kington, Herefordshire, to stay at the gardener's cottage at Gravel Hill, residence of English composer E.J Moeran's E.J. Moeran family. Willner remained here until 1945, when Cecile became fatally ill and, after a short period in Edgbaston Hospital in Birmingham, she was moved to a nursing home in London. Cecile died later this year. Willner developed a heart condition in 1948, which left him bed-bound, until his own death at 68 Upshoot Hill, Cricklewood in 1959.
Willner composed over well over 100 works. Despite his relatively prominent place in the German musical establishment during the first part of the century, most of his works are now completely unknown. His Sonata for Solo Flute is currently in print. He is best remembered for his string orchestra transcription of Bartók's Romanian Folk Dances
Romanian Folk Dances
Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56, BB 68 is a suite of six short piano pieces composed by Béla Bartók in 1915. He later orchestrated it for small ensemble in 1917 as Sz. 68, BB 76....
for piano.