Otakar Hollmann
Encyclopedia
Otakar Hollmann was a Czech pianist who was notable in the repertoire for left-handed pianists. Although little known now, he was considered second only to Paul Wittgenstein
in the promotion of the left-hand repertoire. He commissioned works for the left hand from a number of composers, most notably Janáček
, Martinů
, Schulhoff
and Foerster
. He was also a composer in his own right.
in 1894. He initially studied as a violinist with K. Baumgarten. Some of his early compositions were published in 1915.
On active service in World War I, a bullet went through his palm, injuring the metacarpus of the right hand, but contrary to some sources, he did not lose his right arm totally.
After the war, being now unable to play the violin, he took up the piano, studying left-hand technique with Adolf Mikas in Prague
until 1924. He also studied composition with Vítězslav Novák
1925-26. He made his concert debut as a left-handed pianist in 1927, and later performed in a number of European countries.
On 11 June 1926, Hollmann wrote to Leoš Janáček
asking for a work for left hand. Janáček did not respond, but he thought about the idea for some time. By 30 October he had composed a work he called Capriccio for piano left-hand and chamber ensemble
, but the first Hollmann knew of it was when he read about it in a newspaper. Although he apparently wrote the work at Hollmann's instigation, Janáček gave no indication anywhere that he dedicated the work to Hollmann or even wrote it with him in mind as performer. Janáček even refused to reserve the first performance for Hollmann, although he was eventually given that honour. Hollmann premiered the Capriccio in Prague on 2 March 1928, with members of the Czech Philharmonic under Jaroslav Řídký
.
Meanwhile, Erwin Schulhoff
had written his Suite No. 3 for piano left-hand, in five movements, for Hollmann, who premiered it in Belgrade
, Yugoslavia
, in November 1927.
Bohuslav Martinů
's Divertimento (Concertino) in G for piano left-hand and small orchestra was written for Hollmann in 1926-28.
Josef Bohuslav Foerster
wrote his Notturno and Fantastico, Op. 142 for Otakar Hollmann (written 1930s, published 1945).
Other composers who wrote works for Otakar Hollmann included Jaroslav Tomášek (Sonata for left hand, Op. 7, which Hollmann recorded), Václav Kaprál
, Stanko Rajcic, Jaroslav Řídký
, Josef Bartovsky, Aleš Jermář, and Vincenc Stastny.
On 17 May 1954 in Prague, Hollmann and Aleš Jermář gave the first performance of Jarmil Burghauser
's Ciacona for organ and piano.
Otakar Hollmann retired in 1955 and died in 1967, aged 73.
Paul Wittgenstein
Paul Wittgenstein was an Austrian-born concert pianist, who became known for his ability to play with just his left hand, after he lost his right arm during the First World War. He devised novel techniques, including pedal and hand-movement combinations, that allowed him to play chords previously...
in the promotion of the left-hand repertoire. He commissioned works for the left hand from a number of composers, most notably Janáček
Leoš Janácek
Leoš Janáček was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and all Slavic folk music to create an original, modern musical style. Until 1895 he devoted himself mainly to folkloristic research and his early musical output was influenced by...
, Martinů
Bohuslav Martinu
Bohuslav Martinů was a prolific Czech composer of modern classical music. He was of Czech and Rumanian ancestry. Martinů wrote six symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. Martinů became a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic...
, Schulhoff
Erwin Schulhoff
Erwin Schulhoff was a Czech composer and pianist.-Life:Born in Prague of Jewish-German origin, Schulhoff was one of the brightest figures in a generation of European musicians whose successful careers were prematurely terminated by the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany...
and Foerster
Josef Bohuslav Foerster
Josef Bohuslav Foerster was a Czech composer of classical music. He is often referred to as J. B. Foerster. The surname is sometimes spelled Förster.- Life :...
. He was also a composer in his own right.
Biography
Otakar Hollmann was born in ViennaVienna
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...
in 1894. He initially studied as a violinist with K. Baumgarten. Some of his early compositions were published in 1915.
On active service in World War I, a bullet went through his palm, injuring the metacarpus of the right hand, but contrary to some sources, he did not lose his right arm totally.
After the war, being now unable to play the violin, he took up the piano, studying left-hand technique with Adolf Mikas in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
until 1924. He also studied composition with Vítězslav Novák
Vítezslav Novák
Vítězslav Novák was one of the most well-respected Czech composers and pedagogues, almost singlehandedly founding a mid-century Czech school of composition...
1925-26. He made his concert debut as a left-handed pianist in 1927, and later performed in a number of European countries.
On 11 June 1926, Hollmann wrote to Leoš Janáček
Leoš Janácek
Leoš Janáček was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and all Slavic folk music to create an original, modern musical style. Until 1895 he devoted himself mainly to folkloristic research and his early musical output was influenced by...
asking for a work for left hand. Janáček did not respond, but he thought about the idea for some time. By 30 October he had composed a work he called Capriccio for piano left-hand and chamber ensemble
Capriccio (Janácek)
The Capriccio for Piano Left-Hand and Chamber Ensemble is a composition by the Czech composer Leoš Janáček. The work was written in the autumn of 1926 and is remarkable not just in the context of Janáček's output, but it also occupies an exceptional position in the literature written for piano...
, but the first Hollmann knew of it was when he read about it in a newspaper. Although he apparently wrote the work at Hollmann's instigation, Janáček gave no indication anywhere that he dedicated the work to Hollmann or even wrote it with him in mind as performer. Janáček even refused to reserve the first performance for Hollmann, although he was eventually given that honour. Hollmann premiered the Capriccio in Prague on 2 March 1928, with members of the Czech Philharmonic under Jaroslav Řídký
Jaroslav Rídký
Jaroslav Řídký was a Czech composer, conductor, harpist, and music teacher.-Life:Řídký was born at Reichenberg, now Liberec. From 1919 to 1923 he studied at the Prague Conservatory with Josef Bohuslav Foerster, Karel Boleslav Jirák, and Jaroslav Křička...
.
Meanwhile, Erwin Schulhoff
Erwin Schulhoff
Erwin Schulhoff was a Czech composer and pianist.-Life:Born in Prague of Jewish-German origin, Schulhoff was one of the brightest figures in a generation of European musicians whose successful careers were prematurely terminated by the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany...
had written his Suite No. 3 for piano left-hand, in five movements, for Hollmann, who premiered it in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, in November 1927.
Bohuslav Martinů
Bohuslav Martinu
Bohuslav Martinů was a prolific Czech composer of modern classical music. He was of Czech and Rumanian ancestry. Martinů wrote six symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. Martinů became a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic...
's Divertimento (Concertino) in G for piano left-hand and small orchestra was written for Hollmann in 1926-28.
Josef Bohuslav Foerster
Josef Bohuslav Foerster
Josef Bohuslav Foerster was a Czech composer of classical music. He is often referred to as J. B. Foerster. The surname is sometimes spelled Förster.- Life :...
wrote his Notturno and Fantastico, Op. 142 for Otakar Hollmann (written 1930s, published 1945).
Other composers who wrote works for Otakar Hollmann included Jaroslav Tomášek (Sonata for left hand, Op. 7, which Hollmann recorded), Václav Kaprál
Václav Kaprál
Václav Kaprál was a Czech pianist and composer.Kaprál studied composition with Leoš Janáček in the Brno Organ School and with Vítězslav Novák in Prague. Later, he studied piano interpretation with Alfred Cortot in Paris .Kaprál composed about fifty opuses, mainly solo piano, vocal, and chamber...
, Stanko Rajcic, Jaroslav Řídký
Jaroslav Rídký
Jaroslav Řídký was a Czech composer, conductor, harpist, and music teacher.-Life:Řídký was born at Reichenberg, now Liberec. From 1919 to 1923 he studied at the Prague Conservatory with Josef Bohuslav Foerster, Karel Boleslav Jirák, and Jaroslav Křička...
, Josef Bartovsky, Aleš Jermář, and Vincenc Stastny.
On 17 May 1954 in Prague, Hollmann and Aleš Jermář gave the first performance of Jarmil Burghauser
Jarmil Burghauser
Jarmil Michael Burghauser was a Czech composer, conductor, and musicologist....
's Ciacona for organ and piano.
Otakar Hollmann retired in 1955 and died in 1967, aged 73.