Carl Friedberg
Encyclopedia
Carl Rudolf Hermann Friedberg (September 18, 1872 Bingen
, Germany
- September 9, 1955 Meran, Italy
) was a German pianist and teacher.
Friedberg studied piano with James Kwast
and with Clara Schumann
at the Hoch Conservatory
, Frankfurt. He later became a teacher there (1893–1904) and later at the Cologne Conservatory (1904–1914). From 1923 until his retirement in 1946, Carl Friedberg was principal piano teacher at the New York Institute of Musical Art (the institution which later would became the Juilliard School of Music). His pupils include Malcolm Frager
, Bruce Hungerford
, William Masselos
, and Elly Ney
. Friedberg's career as a performer spanned over 60 years in both Europe and America. He made his official debut on December 2, 1900 with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
under Mahler. In 1893 he had given an all-Brahms recital in the presence of the composer, who highly admired his playing and who later coached him in private on the performance of the majority of his piano works. As a chamber musician he replaced Artur Schnabel
in the Schnabel-Flesch-Becker Trio in 1920 and played in that ensemble until 1932. Friedberg gave many recitals with Fritz Kreisler
throughout America and in 1937 formed his own trio with Daniel Karpilowsky and Felix Salmond
. Although Friedberg's repertory was wide, he became associated with the music of Beethoven, and especially of Schumann and Brahms.
Bingen am Rhein
Bingen am Rhein is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.The settlement’s original name was Bingium, a Celtic word that may have meant “hole in the rock”, a description of the shoal behind the Mäuseturm, known as the Binger Loch. Bingen was the starting point for the...
, Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
- September 9, 1955 Meran, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) was a German pianist and teacher.
Friedberg studied piano with James Kwast
James Kwast
James Kwast was a Dutch-German pianist and renowned teacher of many other notable pianists. He was also a minor composer and editor.-Biography:Jacob James Kwast was born in Nijkerk, Netherlands, in 1852...
and with Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
at the Hoch Conservatory
Hoch Conservatory
Dr. Hoch’s Konservatorium - Musikakademie was founded in Frankfurt am Main on September 22, 1878. Through the generosity of Frankfurter Joseph Hoch, who bequeathed the Conservatory one million German gold marks in his testament, a school for music and the arts was established for all age groups. ...
, Frankfurt. He later became a teacher there (1893–1904) and later at the Cologne Conservatory (1904–1914). From 1923 until his retirement in 1946, Carl Friedberg was principal piano teacher at the New York Institute of Musical Art (the institution which later would became the Juilliard School of Music). His pupils include Malcolm Frager
Malcolm Frager
-Life and career:Frager was born in St. Louis, Missouri and studied with Carl Friedberg in New York City from 1949 until Friedberg's death in 1955. In 1957 he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University with a major in Russian...
, Bruce Hungerford
Bruce Hungerford
Bruce Hungerford was an Australian pianist.Born in Korumburra, Victoria, Bruce Hungerford was originally named Leonard Hungerford...
, William Masselos
William Masselos
William Masselos was an American classical pianist.-Biography:William Masselos was born in Niagara Falls, New York to a Dutch mother and a Greek father...
, and Elly Ney
Elly Ney
Elly Ney was a German romantic pianist who specialized in Beethoven, and was especially popular in Germany....
. Friedberg's career as a performer spanned over 60 years in both Europe and America. He made his official debut on December 2, 1900 with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
The Vienna Philharmonic is an orchestra in Austria, regularly considered one of the finest in the world....
under Mahler. In 1893 he had given an all-Brahms recital in the presence of the composer, who highly admired his playing and who later coached him in private on the performance of the majority of his piano works. As a chamber musician he replaced Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel was an Austrian classical pianist, who also composed and taught. Schnabel was known for his intellectual seriousness as a musician, avoiding pure technical bravura...
in the Schnabel-Flesch-Becker Trio in 1920 and played in that ensemble until 1932. Friedberg gave many recitals with Fritz Kreisler
Fritz Kreisler
Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler was an Austrian-born violinist and composer. One of the most famous violin masters of his or any other day, he was known for his sweet tone and expressive phrasing. Like many great violinists of his generation, he produced a characteristic sound which was immediately...
throughout America and in 1937 formed his own trio with Daniel Karpilowsky and Felix Salmond
Felix Salmond
Felix Adrian Norman Salmond was an English cellist and cello teacher who achieved success in both England and the United States of America.-Early life and career:...
. Although Friedberg's repertory was wide, he became associated with the music of Beethoven, and especially of Schumann and Brahms.