Timothee Adamowski
Encyclopedia
Tymoteusz "Timothee" Adamowski (1858–1943) was a Polish
-born American
conductor, composer
, and violin
ist. Born in Warsaw
, he studied in that city's conservatory, later moving on to further studies in Paris. He served as the first conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra
. Tymoteusz was the uncle of Polish Olympic hockey player Tadeusz Adamowski
and the humanitarian Helenka Adamowska Pantaleoni
.
under Lambert Massart. Upon his arrival in America he traveled as soloist with Maurice Strakosch
and Clara Louise Kellogg
; with his own troupe he played in a number of larger cities as well. "From 1884 to 1908, with the exception of 1887 when he travelled in Europe, he was a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
, which was founded in 1881".
In 1888 he organized the Adamowski String Quartet in Boston. Timothee was first violinist, Emmanuel Fiedler was second violinst, Daniel Kuntz was viola player, and Giuseppe Campanari
was cellist. The quartet was reformed in 1990, with Arnold Moldauer, Max Zach, and Josef Adamowski replacing the other three artists. In 1896, "the Adamowski Trio consisted of Timothee Adamowski, violin, Josef Adamowski, cello, and Antoinette [Antonina] Adamowska, piano".
Adamowski led the Boston Pops Orchestra
from 1890 until 1894, serving as its first conductor. "[W]hen Timothee Adamowski conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra in popular summer concerts, he was referred to in newspaper accounts as the 'Idol of the Pops'".
He also taught at the New England Conservatory of Music
from 1885 until 1886, and joined the faculty in 1907, remaining there until 1933. He also traveled frequently to Paris and London, and conducted in Warsaw as well. Some of his songs were published.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
conductor, composer
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...
, and 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. Born in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, he studied in that city's conservatory, later moving on to further studies in Paris. He served as the first conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
. Tymoteusz was the uncle of Polish Olympic hockey player Tadeusz Adamowski
Tadeusz Adamowski
Tadeusz "Ralf" Adamowski was a Polish-American ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics, and a supporter and popularizer of the sport in early twentieth century Poland.-Early life:...
and the humanitarian Helenka Adamowska Pantaleoni
Helenka Pantaleoni
Helen Tradusa "Helenka" Adamowska-Pantaleoni was an American silent film actress and humanitarian who was the founding director of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, a role that she held for 25 years...
.
Early life
Timothee Adamowski was born in Warsaw on March 24, 1857. His father, Wincenty Adamowski, was an artist and music lover, who worked as a civil engineer and an administrator, and settled in Warsaw to a life of public philanthropy. He was also a good friend of Ignacy Paderewski, who placed a wreath on his grave.Career
Timothee began instruction in violin at the age of 7. He later studied at the Warsaw Conservatory under Apolinary Kątski and at the Paris ConservatoryConservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
under Lambert Massart. Upon his arrival in America he traveled as soloist with Maurice Strakosch
Maurice Strakosch
Maurice Strakosch was an American musician and impresario of Czech origin.-Biography:Strakosch was born in Gross-Seelowitz , Moravia. He made his debut as a pianist at the age of 11 in Brno performing a piano concerto by Hummel...
and Clara Louise Kellogg
Clara Louise Kellogg
Clara Louise Kellogg was an American singer.She was a daughter of George Kellogg and Jane Elizabeth , born at Sumterville, South Carolina, and was educated in New York for the musical profession, singing first in opera there in 1861. Her fine soprano voice and artistic gifts soon made her famous...
; with his own troupe he played in a number of larger cities as well. "From 1884 to 1908, with the exception of 1887 when he travelled in Europe, he was a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
, which was founded in 1881".
In 1888 he organized the Adamowski String Quartet in Boston. Timothee was first violinist, Emmanuel Fiedler was second violinst, Daniel Kuntz was viola player, and Giuseppe Campanari
Giuseppe Campanari
Giuseppe Campanari Cooke gives his date of birth as 17 November 1858 but this is unlikely given the d.o.b. of his brother Leandro. was an Italian-born operatic baritone and cellist...
was cellist. The quartet was reformed in 1990, with Arnold Moldauer, Max Zach, and Josef Adamowski replacing the other three artists. In 1896, "the Adamowski Trio consisted of Timothee Adamowski, violin, Josef Adamowski, cello, and Antoinette [Antonina] Adamowska, piano".
Adamowski led the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
from 1890 until 1894, serving as its first conductor. "[W]hen Timothee Adamowski conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra in popular summer concerts, he was referred to in newspaper accounts as the 'Idol of the Pops'".
He also taught at the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
from 1885 until 1886, and joined the faculty in 1907, remaining there until 1933. He also traveled frequently to Paris and London, and conducted in Warsaw as well. Some of his songs were published.
Personal life
Timothy married Gertrude Lewis Pancoast of Philadelphia in 1903. He died on April 18, 1943, in Boston, and is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A..Further reading
- Jezierski, Bronislas A. "The Adamowskis and Patriots," Polish American Studies, 5, 1/2 (Jan.-June, 1948): 14-32.