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{{Short description|American pianist and piano teacher}}
'''Ralph Leopold''' (14 February 1884<ref name=buckeye/>{{spaced ndash}}10 July 1955)<ref name=anc/> was an American pianist and piano teacher.
'''Ralph Leopold''' (14 February 1884<ref name=buckeye/>{{spaced ndash}}10 July 1955)<ref name=anc/> was an American pianist and piano teacher.


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'''Ralph Herman Leopold''' was born in 1884 in [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]], the son of Howard Leopold. His sister Elizabeth Leopold married [[Newton D. Baker]],<ref name="NYT1"/> who in 1912 was considered a possible vice-presidential running mate to [[Woodrow Wilson]], and from 1916 to 1921 was [[United States Secretary of War]].
'''Ralph Herman Leopold''' was born in 1884 in [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]], the son of Howard Leopold. His sister Elizabeth Leopold married [[Newton D. Baker]],<ref name="NYT1"/> who in 1912 was considered a possible vice-presidential running mate to [[Woodrow Wilson]], and from 1916 to 1921 was [[United States Secretary of War]].


By 1911, he was teaching in [[Berlin]], and played with the [[Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19111120&id=YLQhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HpwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1578,2201946 Reading Eagle, 20 November 1911]</ref>
By 1911, he was teaching in [[Berlin]], and played with the [[Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19111120&id=YLQhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HpwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1578,2201946 Reading Eagle, 20 November 1911]</ref>


In World War I he was attached to the Army Bandmaster's School at [[Governors Island]],<ref name=NYT1>[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20F17FD3454147A93C5AB178BD95F4D8185F9 New York Times, 27 October 1919]</ref> Here he met and became a close friend of the [[Australia]]n-born pianist and composer [[Percy Grainger]], who had become an American citizen in June 1918.<ref>John Bird, ''Percy Grainger'', pp. 188, 194</ref>
In World War I he was attached to the Army Bandmaster's School at [[Governors Island]],<ref name=NYT1>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1919/10/27/97993101.pdf New York Times, 27 October 1919]</ref> Here he met and became a close friend of the [[Australia]]n-born pianist and composer [[Percy Grainger]], who had become an American citizen in June 1918.<ref>John Bird, ''Percy Grainger'', pp. 188, 194</ref>


Leopold and Grainger gave the first performance of the piano duet version of Grainger's ''Children's March: Over the Hills and Far Away''.<ref>[http://www.percygrainger.org/prognot2.htm Percy Grainger.org]</ref> Leopold was also the solo pianist in the first performance of the version for band and piano, with Grainger conducting the Goldman Band (6 June 1919).<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Goldman-Band-The-Richard-Franko-Goldman-Band-Masterpieces/release/3009272 Discogs]</ref>
Leopold and Grainger gave the first performance of the piano duet version of Grainger's "[[Children's March: Over the Hills and Far Away]]".<ref>[http://www.percygrainger.org/prognot2.htm Percy Grainger.org]</ref> Leopold was also the solo pianist in the first performance of the version for band and piano, with Grainger conducting the Goldman Band (6 June 1919).<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Goldman-Band-The-Richard-Franko-Goldman-Band-Masterpieces/release/3009272 Discogs]</ref>


After the war, Leopold played again in America<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F50C13F73F5A147A93C0A91788D85F448285F9 New York Times, 2 March 1920]</ref><ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0911FA3D5D14738DDDAE0A94D8415B808EF1D3 New York Times, 27 October 1920]</ref> and Europe, where he appeared with several orchestras. On return to the United States he taught in in [[Cleveland]], [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]], [[Texas]], [[New York]]<ref name=buckeye>[http://www.landofthebuckeye.net/p1050.htm#i66225 Land of the Buckeye]</ref> and a period at the [[Curtis Institute of Music]] in [[Philadelphia]].<ref name=YM>[http://yiddishmusic.jewniverse.info/helfmanmax/ Yiddish Music]</ref> His students included [[Richard Franko Goldman]],<ref>[http://www.newworldrecords.org/linernotes/80266.pdf New World Records]</ref> Hugh Hodgson<ref>[http://maestro.music.uga.edu/Academics/Doc_Hodgson_History.pdf Hodgson History and Bio]</ref> and Max Helfman.<ref name=YM/>
After the war, Leopold played again in America<ref>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/03/02/97729536.pdf New York Times, 2 March 1920]</ref><ref>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/10/27/107004769.pdf New York Times, 27 October 1920]</ref> and Europe, where he appeared with several orchestras. On return to the United States he taught in [[Cleveland]], [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]], [[Texas]], [[New York City]]<ref name=buckeye>[http://www.landofthebuckeye.net/p1050.htm#i66225 Land of the Buckeye]</ref> and a period at the [[Curtis Institute of Music]] in [[Philadelphia]].<ref name=YM>[http://yiddishmusic.jewniverse.info/helfmanmax/ Yiddish Music]</ref> His students included [[Richard Franko Goldman]],<ref>[http://www.newworldrecords.org/linernotes/80266.pdf New World Records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030624001845/http://www.newworldrecords.org/linernotes/80266.pdf |date=2003-06-24 }}</ref> Hugh Hodgson<ref>[http://maestro.music.uga.edu/Academics/Doc_Hodgson_History.pdf Hodgson History and Bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604043203/http://maestro.music.uga.edu/Academics/Doc_Hodgson_History.pdf |date=2012-06-04 }}</ref> and Max Helfman.<ref name=YM/>


On 9 November 1925 in a recital in New York he played [[Ernő Dohnányi]]'s ''Four Rhapsodies'', Op. 11, and a review credited him with "rediscovering Dohnányi".<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Ah2d3pc2dqQC&pg=PA145&lpg=PA145&dq=%22ralph+leopold%22+pianist&source=bl&ots=ZCZSbkyxkP&sig=8v7-rUoxbGCXkXY877S1doK3amo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5cJoUPDtN4bpiAfC1oDgDw&ved=0CDsQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=%22ralph%20leopold%22%20pianist&f=false James A Grymes, Ernst von Dohnanyi: A Bio-Bibliography]</ref>
On 9 November 1925 in a recital in New York he played [[Ernst von Dohnányi]]'s ''Four Rhapsodies'', Op. 11, and a review credited him with "rediscovering Dohnányi".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ah2d3pc2dqQC&dq=%22ralph+leopold%22+pianist&pg=PA145 James A Grymes, Ernst von Dohnanyi: A Bio-Bibliography]</ref>


Ralph Leopold died on 10 July 1955, aged 71.<ref name=anc>[http://records.ancestry.com/Ralph_H_Leopold_records.ashx?pid=165101338 Ancestry.com]</ref>
Ralph Leopold died on 10 July 1955, aged 71.<ref name=anc>[http://records.ancestry.com/Ralph_H_Leopold_records.ashx?pid=165101338 Ancestry.com]</ref>
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Ralph Leopold is now remembered mainly for a series of piano roll recordings he made, either in four-hand works with [[Percy Grainger]], or as a solo pianist. The four-hand recordings include:
Ralph Leopold is now remembered mainly for a series of piano roll recordings he made, either in four-hand works with [[Percy Grainger]], or as a solo pianist. The four-hand recordings include:


* Grainger's arrangement of [[Frederick Delius|Delius]]'s Rhapsody ''[[Brigg Fair]]'' <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X49h8gSWWh0 YouTube]</ref> and ''North Country Sketches''<ref>[http://www.passionato.com/store/product/legendary-piano-duos Passionato]</ref>
* Grainger's arrangement of [[Frederick Delius|Delius]]'s Rhapsody ''[[Brigg Fair]]'' <ref>{{YouTube|X49h8gSWWh0}}</ref> and ''North Country Sketches''<ref>[http://www.passionato.com/store/product/legendary-piano-duos Passionato]</ref>
⚫
* [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]'s ''[[Romeo and Juliet (Tchaikovsky)|Romeo and Juliet]]'' Fantasy-Overture, arr. Nadezhda Rimskaya-Korsakova<ref>{{YouTube|d93n0N7RpIA}}</ref>

⚫
* [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]'s ''[[Romeo and Juliet (Tchaikovsky)|Romeo and Juliet]]'' Fantasy-Overture, arr. Nadezhda Rimskaya-Korsakova<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d93n0N7RpIA YouTube]</ref>

* [[Richard Strauss]]'s ''[[Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks]].<ref name=DA/>
* [[Richard Strauss]]'s ''[[Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks]].<ref name=DA/>


The solo recordings include:
The solo recordings include:


* various selections from [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s ''[[Tannhäuser (opera)|Tannhäuser]]'',<ref>[http://mmd.foxtail.com/Smythe/Duo-Art_Monthly_Rolls_Jan_1928.pdf Duo-Art Music, January 1928]</ref> ''[[Lohengrin (opera)|Lohengrin]]'', ''[[Tristan und Isolde]]'', and the four ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen|Ring of the Nibelung]]'' operas<ref name=DA>[http://www.rprf.org/PDF/Duo-Art_Catalog.pdf Duo-Art Catalog]</ref>
* various selections from [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s ''[[Tannhäuser (opera)|Tannhäuser]]'',<ref>[http://mmd.foxtail.com/Smythe/Duo-Art_Monthly_Rolls_Jan_1928.pdf Duo-Art Music, January 1928]{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> ''[[Lohengrin (opera)|Lohengrin]]'', ''[[Tristan und Isolde]]'', and the four ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen|Ring of the Nibelung]]'' operas<ref name=DA>[http://www.rprf.org/PDF/Duo-Art_Catalog.pdf Duo-Art Catalog] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202193744/http://www.rprf.org/PDF/Duo-Art_Catalog.pdf |date=2012-12-02 }}</ref>

* [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s [[Piano Sonata No. 16 (Beethoven)|Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major]], Op. 31/1.<ref name=DA/>
* [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s [[Piano Sonata No. 16 (Beethoven)|Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major]], Op. 31/1.<ref name=DA/>


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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{authority control}}
{{Persondata

| NAME = Leopold, Ralph
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Pianist
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1884
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Pottstown, Pennsylvania
| DATE OF DEATH = 1955
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leopold, Ralph}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leopold, Ralph}}
[[Category:1884 births]]
[[Category:1884 births]]
[[Category:1955 deaths]]
[[Category:1955 deaths]]
[[Category:American classical pianists]]
[[Category:American classical pianists]]
[[Category:Piano pedagogues]]
[[Category:American male classical pianists]]
[[Category:American music educators]]
[[Category:American male pianists]]
[[Category:American piano pedagogues]]
[[Category:Curtis Institute of Music faculty]]
[[Category:Curtis Institute of Music faculty]]
[[Category:20th-century classical pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American pianists]]

Latest revision as of 06:31, 8 April 2024

Ralph Leopold (14 February 1884[1] – 10 July 1955)[2] was an American pianist and piano teacher.

Biography[edit]

Ralph Herman Leopold was born in 1884 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, the son of Howard Leopold. His sister Elizabeth Leopold married Newton D. Baker,[3] who in 1912 was considered a possible vice-presidential running mate to Woodrow Wilson, and from 1916 to 1921 was United States Secretary of War.

By 1911, he was teaching in Berlin, and played with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.[4]

In World War I he was attached to the Army Bandmaster's School at Governors Island,[3] Here he met and became a close friend of the Australian-born pianist and composer Percy Grainger, who had become an American citizen in June 1918.[5]

Leopold and Grainger gave the first performance of the piano duet version of Grainger's "Children's March: Over the Hills and Far Away".[6] Leopold was also the solo pianist in the first performance of the version for band and piano, with Grainger conducting the Goldman Band (6 June 1919).[7]

After the war, Leopold played again in America[8][9] and Europe, where he appeared with several orchestras. On return to the United States he taught in Cleveland, Toledo, Texas, New York City[1] and a period at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.[10] His students included Richard Franko Goldman,[11] Hugh Hodgson[12] and Max Helfman.[10]

On 9 November 1925 in a recital in New York he played Ernst von Dohnányi's Four Rhapsodies, Op. 11, and a review credited him with "rediscovering Dohnányi".[13]

Ralph Leopold died on 10 July 1955, aged 71.[2]

Recordings[edit]

Ralph Leopold is now remembered mainly for a series of piano roll recordings he made, either in four-hand works with Percy Grainger, or as a solo pianist. The four-hand recordings include:

The solo recordings include:

He also made a small number of 78 rpm acoustic recordings.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Land of the Buckeye
  2. ^ a b Ancestry.com
  3. ^ a b New York Times, 27 October 1919
  4. ^ Reading Eagle, 20 November 1911
  5. ^ John Bird, Percy Grainger, pp. 188, 194
  6. ^ Percy Grainger.org
  7. ^ Discogs
  8. ^ New York Times, 2 March 1920
  9. ^ New York Times, 27 October 1920
  10. ^ a b Yiddish Music
  11. ^ New World Records Archived 2003-06-24 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Hodgson History and Bio Archived 2012-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ James A Grymes, Ernst von Dohnanyi: A Bio-Bibliography
  14. ^ Video on YouTube
  15. ^ Passionato
  16. ^ Video on YouTube
  17. ^ a b c Duo-Art Catalog Archived 2012-12-02 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Duo-Art Music, January 1928[permanent dead link]
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