István Thomán
Encyclopedia
István Thomán (ˈiʃtvaːn ˈtomaːn) (1862–1940) was a Hungarian
piano virtuoso
and music educator. He was appointed by Franz Liszt
to teach at the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest (now the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
). István Thomán was a notable piano teacher, with students including Ernő Dohnányi
, Georges Cziffra
, and Béla Bartók
. Thomán's six-volume Technique of Piano Playing is still in use today.
(today Humenné
, Slovakia
) in 1862 to Jewish parents, Dr. David Thomán and Rosa Weisberger. Recognized for his talent, he became a favorite student of Franz Liszt
.
As a teacher at the Royal Academy, Thomán took on a 17 year old Ernst von Dohnányi as a student in 1894. In 1903, a 21 year old Bela Bartok dedicated his Study for the Left Hand to Thomán. The study is a Sonata performed entirely with one hand.
Thomán's daughter, Mária Thomán (1906,Budapest - 1948) became a noted concert violinist, studying with Hubay, Vecsey, Flesch and Alma Moodie. She gave concerts throughout Europe, both as a soloist and in the accompaniment of philharmonic orchestras and chamber ensembles.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
piano virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
and music educator. He was appointed by Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
to teach at the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest (now the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
Franz Liszt Academy of Music
The Franz Liszt Academy of Music is a concert hall and music conservatory in Budapest, Hungary, founded on November 14, 1875...
). István Thomán was a notable piano teacher, with students including Ernő Dohnányi
Erno Dohnányi
Ernő Dohnányi was a Hungarian conductor, composer, and pianist. He used the German form of his name Ernst von Dohnányi for most of his published compositions....
, Georges Cziffra
Georges Cziffra
Georges Cziffra was a Hungarian virtuoso pianist. He became a French citizen in 1968.Cziffra is most known for his dazzling recordings of Franz Liszt's virtuoso works...
, and Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
. Thomán's six-volume Technique of Piano Playing is still in use today.
Early life and education
Thomán was born in Homonna, Kingdom of HungaryKingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
(today Humenné
Humenné
Humenné is a town in the Prešov Region in eastern Slovakia and the second largest town of the historic Zemplín region. It lies at the volcanic Vihorlat mountains and at the confluence of the Laborec and Cirocha Rivers.-Characteristics:...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
) in 1862 to Jewish parents, Dr. David Thomán and Rosa Weisberger. Recognized for his talent, he became a favorite student of Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
.
Career
Thomán toured with Liszt, was present at his death, and was a pallbearer at his funeral. Thomán, along with fellow Liszt student Árpád Szendy, were important in carrying on the Liszt style through their teaching at the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music.As a teacher at the Royal Academy, Thomán took on a 17 year old Ernst von Dohnányi as a student in 1894. In 1903, a 21 year old Bela Bartok dedicated his Study for the Left Hand to Thomán. The study is a Sonata performed entirely with one hand.
Thomán's daughter, Mária Thomán (1906,Budapest - 1948) became a noted concert violinist, studying with Hubay, Vecsey, Flesch and Alma Moodie. She gave concerts throughout Europe, both as a soloist and in the accompaniment of philharmonic orchestras and chamber ensembles.