Peter Stadlen
Encyclopedia
Peter Stadlen was a composer
, pianist
, and musicologist, specializing in the study and interpretation of Beethoven.
Stadlen, who was born in Vienna
, premiered the Variations for piano, Op. 27 by Webern
, and been the soloist in the European premiere of Schoenberg’s Piano Concerto
. After the "Anschluss
" he had to leave Austria and sought refuge in Britain. Eventually, however, a neurological finger malfunction caused him to give up performing, and he became a music critic, serving the Daily Telegraph for 26 years (the last 10 as chief music critic).
Stadlen spent many years trying to track down Beethoven's metronome
, an invention which Beethoven had commissioned. It was believed that the weight on his metronome was faulty as some of the speeds written on his pieces seemed incorrect. Peter wished to ascertain the make-up of this weight and to see the correct speeds which Beethoven himself had intended. He finally tracked it down to a small antiques shop only to discover that, although the metronome itself was intact, the weight itself was missing.
Stadlen died in London
, he was married to Hedi Stadlen
and left two sons: Nicholas and Godfrey.
Stadlen's archive and scores are preserved by the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
in Vienna.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and musicologist, specializing in the study and interpretation of Beethoven.
Stadlen, who was born in 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...
, premiered the Variations for piano, Op. 27 by Webern
Anton Webern
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
, and been the soloist in the European premiere of Schoenberg’s Piano Concerto
Piano Concerto (Schoenberg)
Arnold Schoenberg's Piano Concerto, Op. 42 consists of four interconnected movements: Andante , Molto allegro , Adagio , and Giocoso . It features use of the twelve-tone technique and only one tone row, though he does at points take some liberties with the permutation of the row...
. After the "Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
" he had to leave Austria and sought refuge in Britain. Eventually, however, a neurological finger malfunction caused him to give up performing, and he became a music critic, serving the Daily Telegraph for 26 years (the last 10 as chief music critic).
Stadlen spent many years trying to track down Beethoven's metronome
Metronome
A metronome is any device that produces regular, metrical ticks — settable in beats per minute. These ticks represent a fixed, regular aural pulse; some metronomes also include synchronized visual motion...
, an invention which Beethoven had commissioned. It was believed that the weight on his metronome was faulty as some of the speeds written on his pieces seemed incorrect. Peter wished to ascertain the make-up of this weight and to see the correct speeds which Beethoven himself had intended. He finally tracked it down to a small antiques shop only to discover that, although the metronome itself was intact, the weight itself was missing.
Stadlen died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he was married to Hedi Stadlen
Hedi Stadlen
Hedi Stadlen , better known in Sri Lanka as Hedi Keuneman, was an Austrian Jewish philosopher, political activist, and musicologist. She was one of the handful of European Radicals in Sri Lanka.-Vienna:...
and left two sons: Nicholas and Godfrey.
Stadlen's archive and scores are preserved by the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
The Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien , was founded in 1812 by Joseph von Sonnleithner, general secretary of the Court Theatre, Vienna, Austria. Its official charter, drafted in 1814, states that the purpose of the Society was to promote music in all its facets...
in Vienna.
Obituaries
- The Schubert Institute http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/franzschubert/siuk/stadlen.html
- The Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-peter-stadlen-1325373.html
Publications
- 'Serialism Reconsidered', The Score, No.22, February 1958
- Letter to the Editor, TempoTempo (journal)Tempo is a quarterly music journal published in the UK and specialising in music of the 20th century and contemporary music. Originally founded in 1939 as the 'house magazine' of the music publisher Boosey & Hawkes, Tempo was the brain-child of Schoenberg's pupil Erwin Stein, who worked for Boosey...
, New Ser., No. 88 (Spring, 1969), p. 57 - 'Schindler's Beethoven Forgeries', The Musical Times, Vol. 118, No. 1613. (July 1977), pp. 549–552.