Franz Kneisel
Encyclopedia
Franz Kneisel was an American violin
ist and teacher of Romania
n birth.
Born in Bucharest
, the son of a German bandmaster, he learned to play the flute, clarinet and trumpet, as well as the violin. After graduating from the Bucharest
Conservatory in 1879, he went to Vienna
, where he continued his studies with Jakob Grün and Joseph Hellmesberger
until 1882; he made his solo début in Vienna at the end of that year. The next season he became concertmaster at the Hoftheater and in 1884 went to Berlin to fill the same position in the Bilsesche Kapelle. In October 1885, though barely 20 years old, he was engaged by Wilhelm Gericke as concertmaster of the Boston SO. For the next 20 years he was concertmaster and assistant conductor; he appeared as soloist in many violin concertos and gave the first American performances of the concertos by Brahms and Karl Goldmark
, as well as the première of the First Violin
Concerto of Gustav Strube
. As assistant conductor, he led the Boston SO performances at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago
in 1893. Shortly after his arrival in Boston, Kneisel formed the Kneisel quartet
from among the members of the orchestra. He was elected an honorary member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity in 1917.
Kneisel was for many years associated with the Worcester Festival in Massachusetts, first as concertmaster and assistant conductor (1885–96) and then as conductor (1897–1909). In 1905 he moved to New York
to become the first head of the violin department of the newly established Institute of Musical Art (Now the Juilliard School of Music), where he remained until his death. He also established a summer school of violin and chamber-music playing at his home in Blue Hill, Maine. He was a demanding teacher, requiring much in both technical ability and expressive insight. At the time of his death, his renown as a teacher was such that he was ranked with Leopold Auer. In homage, Romanian composer George Enescu dedicated his Violin Sonata No. 3 in the folk character of Romania to Kneisel’s memory.
Kneisel played a leading role in American music as a soloist and as ensemble performer, both for the range and variety of his programmes and for his dedication to the highest performance standards. Many Boston composers wrote works for him personally or for his quartet, and these formed a substantial part of his repertory. He composed a Grand Concert Etude for violin and also published a number of technical studies. There are collections of Kneisel memorabilia at Blue Hill and at the Chapin Library of Williams College, Williamstown.
Kneisel was the teacher of the great American violinist and pedagogue Joseph Fuchs
. He also taught Lillian Fuchs
, Robert Talbot
. and Joan Field
.
His daughter Marianne (b Boston, 10 March 1897; d New York, 04 March 1972) was an American violin
ist and married Felix P. Kahn (b Mannheim, Germany, 25 January 1873; d New York, 25 July 1950), banker at Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
, director of the Paramount Pictures Corporation, noted collector of violins and brother of banker and philanthropist Otto H. Kahn.
STEVEN LEDBETTER
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and teacher of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n birth.
Born in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, the son of a German bandmaster, he learned to play the flute, clarinet and trumpet, as well as the violin. After graduating from the Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
Conservatory in 1879, he went to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where he continued his studies with Jakob Grün and Joseph Hellmesberger
Joseph Hellmesberger, Jr.
Josef “Pepi” Hellmesberger, Jr. was an Austrian composer, violinist and conductor.Hellmesberger was son of violinist and conductor Joseph Hellmesberger, Sr. , who was his first teacher. Among his family of notable musicians include: grandfather, Georg, Sr. ; uncle, Georg, Jr...
until 1882; he made his solo début in Vienna at the end of that year. The next season he became concertmaster at the Hoftheater and in 1884 went to Berlin to fill the same position in the Bilsesche Kapelle. In October 1885, though barely 20 years old, he was engaged by Wilhelm Gericke as concertmaster of the Boston SO. For the next 20 years he was concertmaster and assistant conductor; he appeared as soloist in many violin concertos and gave the first American performances of the concertos by Brahms and Karl Goldmark
Karl Goldmark
Karl Goldmark, also known originally as Károly Goldmark and later sometimes as Carl Goldmark; May 18, 1830, Keszthely – January 2, 1915, Vienna) was a Hungarian composer.- Life and career :...
, as well as the première of the First Violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
Concerto of Gustav Strube
Gustav Strube
Gustav Strube was a German-born conductor and composer. He was the founding conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1916, and taught at the Peabody Conservatory. He wrote two operas, Ramona, which premiered in 1916, and The Captive, which premiered at the Lyric Theatre in Baltimore in...
. As assistant conductor, he led the Boston SO performances at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1893. Shortly after his arrival in Boston, Kneisel formed the Kneisel quartet
Kneisel quartet
The Kneisel Quartet was a string quartet musical ensemble established in Boston, USA in 1885. It existed until 1917, and in its time became recognised as the leading string quartet in the United States. It also performed in Europe.-Personnel:...
from among the members of the orchestra. He was elected an honorary member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity in 1917.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to become the first head of the violin department of the newly established Institute of Musical Art (Now the Juilliard School of Music), where he remained until his death. He also established a summer school of violin and chamber-music playing at his home in Blue Hill, Maine. He was a demanding teacher, requiring much in both technical ability and expressive insight. At the time of his death, his renown as a teacher was such that he was ranked with Leopold Auer. In homage, Romanian composer George Enescu dedicated his Violin Sonata No. 3 in the folk character of Romania to Kneisel’s memory.
Kneisel played a leading role in American music as a soloist and as ensemble performer, both for the range and variety of his programmes and for his dedication to the highest performance standards. Many Boston composers wrote works for him personally or for his quartet, and these formed a substantial part of his repertory. He composed a Grand Concert Etude for violin and also published a number of technical studies. There are collections of Kneisel memorabilia at Blue Hill and at the Chapin Library of Williams College, Williamstown.
Kneisel was the teacher of the great American violinist and pedagogue Joseph Fuchs
Joseph Fuchs
Joseph Fuchs was one of the most important American violinists and teachers of the 20th century, and the brother of Lillian Fuchs....
. He also taught Lillian Fuchs
Lillian Fuchs
Lillian Fuchs , an American violist, teacher and composer, is considered to be among the finest instrumentalists of her time. She hailed from a musically talented family: her brothers, Joseph Fuchs, a violinist, and Harry Fuchs, a cellist, performed with her on numerous commercial recordings...
, Robert Talbot
Robert Talbot (conductor)
Robert Jean Talbot was a Canadian conductor, violinist, violist, composer, and music educator. For more than 25 years he was the conductor of the Société symphonique de Québec...
. and Joan Field
Joan Field
-Biography and career:Joan Field was born in Long Branch, New Jersey. She began violin studies at the age of 5. She was a pupil of Franz Kneisel, Albert Spalding and Michel Piastro in the United States and spent 4 years in Paris during her teens studying with Marcel Chailley, Jacques Thibaud and...
.
His daughter Marianne (b Boston, 10 March 1897; d New York, 04 March 1972) was an American violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and married Felix P. Kahn (b Mannheim, Germany, 25 January 1873; d New York, 25 July 1950), banker at Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
Kuhn, Loeb & Co. was a bulge bracket, investment bank founded in 1867 by Abraham Kuhn and Solomon Loeb. Under the leadership of Jacob H. Schiff, it grew to be one of the most influential investment banks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, financing America's expanding railways and growth...
, director of the Paramount Pictures Corporation, noted collector of violins and brother of banker and philanthropist Otto H. Kahn.
Sources
- M.A.De W. Howe: The Boston Symphony Orchestra: an Historical Sketch (Boston, 1914, enlarged 2/1931/R with J.N. Burk as The Boston Symphony Orchestra 1881–1931)
- M.D.H. Norton: “Franz Kneisel,” The Violinist, xxxviii (1926), 154
- R. Aldrich: “Franz Kneisel,” Musical Discourse (New York, 1928), 226
- B. Schwarz: Great Masters of the Violin (New York, 1983)
STEVEN LEDBETTER