Peter Elyakim Taussig
Encyclopedia
Peter Elyakim Taussig is a pianist. He was born in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia
, and grew up in Israel
, where his parents emigrated following the Communist take-over in 1949. Musical studies began at age 7 with another Czech refugee, Edith Kraus - a student of Artur Schnabel
and niece of Alma Mahler-Werfel. At age 11, Taussig began studying composition at the Israeli Academy of Music, during which time he began giving concert and radio performances.
After leaving Israel Taussig moved to Canada, where he enrolled at the University of Toronto
, studying piano with Anton Kuerti
. His debut with the Toronto Symphony (Béla Bartók
's 3rd Piano Concerto
) launched his solo and chamber music career.
In 1973, Taussig began a long relationship with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, where among other things he became a friend and occasional collaborator with pianist Glenn Gould
. Over the next decade, Taussig recorded over 200 chamber music broadcasts for the CBC - including the complete works of Beethoven
, Schubert
, Mendelssohn
, Schumann
, and Brahms
. He gave frequent concerts, both as a soloist - with such conductors as Sir Andrew Davis
, John Eliot Gardiner
, Erich Kunzel
and Arthur Fiedler
, and with his own chamber ensemble, Camerata. In 1979, Taussig became the musical director of the Stratford Summer Music Festival
in Ontario.
After an extended hiatus from concerts and recordings between 1991 and 1995 Taussig returned to performance - but this time with the aim of creating a synthesized version of Bach's The Art of Fugue
. During the preparation, however, he was diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel syndrome
, coupled with Osteoarthritis
in his right hand - preventing him from performing music as he had. Renewed hope came in the form of the Yamaha Disklavier PRO
, a MIDI-capable nine-foot concert grand, which allowed Taussig to record with his left hand alone, and a computer mouse.
Taussig has taken on the monumental project of using his new recording technique, which he calls "Musical Sculpting", to record the complete keyboard works of J.S. Bach - an undertaking that continues the legacy of his idol, Glenn Gould. The first and second releases from this project (The Art of Fugue and The Well-Tempered Clavier
, Book I) have been released on the Pilgrim Records label.
He is the director of PianoKids, an organization that teaches young children music literacy and piano using computers in elementary schools, a method he developed.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, and grew up in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, where his parents emigrated following the Communist take-over in 1949. Musical studies began at age 7 with another Czech refugee, Edith Kraus - a student of 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...
and niece of Alma Mahler-Werfel. At age 11, Taussig began studying composition at the Israeli Academy of Music, during which time he began giving concert and radio performances.
After leaving Israel Taussig moved to Canada, where he enrolled at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, studying piano with Anton Kuerti
Anton Kuerti
Anton Kuerti, OC is an Austrian-born Canadian pianist, music teacher, composer, and conductor. Since his performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Boston Pops Orchestra at age 11, he has developed international recognition as a solo pianist, particularly focusing on the works of Beethoven...
. His debut with the Toronto Symphony (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...
's 3rd Piano Concerto
Piano Concerto No. 3 (Bartók)
Béla Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 is a musical composition for piano and orchestra. The piece was composed in 1945 by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók during the final months of his life. It consists of three movements.-Context:...
) launched his solo and chamber music career.
In 1973, Taussig began a long relationship with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, where among other things he became a friend and occasional collaborator with pianist Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Glenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
. Over the next decade, Taussig recorded over 200 chamber music broadcasts for the CBC - including the complete works of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
, Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
, Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
, Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
, and Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
. He gave frequent concerts, both as a soloist - with such conductors as Sir Andrew Davis
Andrew Davis (conductor)
Sir Andrew Frank Davis CBE is a British conductor.Born in Ashridge, Hertfordshire to Robert J. Davis and his wife Florence J. née Badminton, Davis grew up in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, and in Watford. Davis attended Watford Boys' Grammar School, where he studied classics in his sixth form years...
, John Eliot Gardiner
John Eliot Gardiner
Sir John Eliot Gardiner CBE FKC is an English conductor. He founded the Monteverdi Choir , the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique...
, Erich Kunzel
Erich Kunzel
Erich Kunzel, Jr. was an American orchestra conductor. Called the "Prince of Pops" by the Chicago Tribune, he performed with a number of leading pops and symphony orchestras, especially the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra , which he led for over 44 years.-Early life and career:Kunzel was born to...
and Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler was a long-time conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, a symphony orchestra that specializes in popular and light classical music. With a combination of musicianship and showmanship, he made the Boston Pops one of the best-known orchestras in the country...
, and with his own chamber ensemble, Camerata. In 1979, Taussig became the musical director of the Stratford Summer Music Festival
Stratford Summer Music Festival
Stratford Summer Music is an annual multi-week music festival set in outdoor and indoor venues in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Led by Artistic Producer John A. Miller, the festival hosts performances by Canadian and international artists over a three to five week period in July and August...
in Ontario.
After an extended hiatus from concerts and recordings between 1991 and 1995 Taussig returned to performance - but this time with the aim of creating a synthesized version of Bach's The Art of Fugue
The Art of Fugue
The Art of Fugue , BWV 1080, is an incomplete work by Johann Sebastian Bach . It was most likely started at the beginning of the 1740s, if not earlier. The first known surviving version, which contained 12 fugues and 2 canons, was copied by the composer in 1745...
. During the preparation, however, he was diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is an entrapment idiopathic median neuropathy, causing paresthesia, pain, and other symptoms in the distribution of the median nerve due to its compression at the wrist in the carpal tunnel. The pathophysiology is not completely understood but can be considered compression...
, coupled with Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking, and sometimes an effusion...
in his right hand - preventing him from performing music as he had. Renewed hope came in the form of the Yamaha Disklavier PRO
Disklavier
Disklavier is the brand name for a group of piano-related products made by Yamaha Corporation. It was introduced in the United States in 1987....
, a MIDI-capable nine-foot concert grand, which allowed Taussig to record with his left hand alone, and a computer mouse.
Taussig has taken on the monumental project of using his new recording technique, which he calls "Musical Sculpting", to record the complete keyboard works of J.S. Bach - an undertaking that continues the legacy of his idol, Glenn Gould. The first and second releases from this project (The Art of Fugue and The Well-Tempered Clavier
The Well-Tempered Clavier
The Well-Tempered Clavier , BWV 846–893, is a collection of solo keyboard music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach...
, Book I) have been released on the Pilgrim Records label.
He is the director of PianoKids, an organization that teaches young children music literacy and piano using computers in elementary schools, a method he developed.