Alfred Hollins

Alfred Hollins (born September 11, 1865 in Hull , East Riding of Yorkshire , † May 17, 1942 in Edinburgh ) was a blind English organist , pianist , composer and music teacher .

biography

Training as a pianist and organist

Alfred Hollins, blind from birth, attracted attention as a pianistic child prodigy. He received musical training at the Wilberforce Institute for the Blind in York, stood out for his special gifted memory and hearing and quickly developed into professional qualities in his piano technique. As a boy he had already mastered the solo parts of several orchestral piano concerts. Particular mention is made of Ludwig van Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto , which in British-speaking countries is always performed under the title The Emperor (the "Kaiser" Concerto). Hollins made his debut at the Crystal Palace . This hall was built for the first world exhibition in 1851 and was one of the most exclusive concert venues in London in the second half of the 19th century. Hollins gave a concert in Windsor in the presence of Queen Victoria and played for the royal families of Germany and the Netherlands. Since 1878 Hollins was taught at the Royal Normal College for the Blind in Upper Norwood, London, by Frits Hartvigson (piano) and EJ Hopkins (organ). He then expanded his piano studies with Hans von Bülow in Berlin. During the period in Germany, Hollins gave a number of well-known concerts, including three piano concerts in one evening: the Liszt Concerto in E flat, Schumann A minor and Beethoven's Fifth. Organ studies in Frankfurt am Main followed by Dr. Hoch's Conservatory .

Organist, teacher and performing artist

In 1884 Hollins became organist at St. Johns, Redhill, where he also performed brilliantly in concerts. In 1888 he became 1st concert organist at the People's Palace ( Alexandra Palace ) and also organist at the Upper Norwood Presbyterian Church . He took up a teaching position for piano and organ at the Royal Normal College for the Blind . During this time he also made a concert tour of the United States and played the organs in the major concert halls of the time. As a pianist he performed with the orchestral symphonies of New York and Boston.

In 1904, Hollins toured New Zealand and Australia. In 1907, 1909 and 1916 he gave a series of concerts in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa. In 1923 he played the inauguration of the Caird Hall organ in Dundee, Scotland, which he himself had developed and planned in an advisory capacity. This concert organ was the first to be built by Harrison & Harrison (Durham) and was considered to be one of the best organs in the UK. In 1925/1926 Hollins made a major tour of the United States, during which he visited sixty-five cities. It is estimated that Hollins covered around 600,000 miles on his concert tours.

Hollins was named a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. In 1922 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in music from Edinburgh University. In 1936 his memoirs appeared as an autobiography under the title A Blind Musician Looks Back . Hollins died in 1942 at the age of 76.

Organ composer

In terms of playing technique, Hollins' compositions are demanding and made for the manual and pedal technical possibilities of a concert organist. A pianistic, full-bodied playing is required of the interpreters, but the tonal properties of the organ are also taken into account in the musical movement. Detailed registration information proves the sense of the musical effect. His organ compositions are assigned to an independent British-American line of organ romance and symphonics, such as B. also the organ works by Edwin Lemare .

Extensive character pieces with expressive titles can be found on the one hand ( Maytime Gavotte , A Song of Sunshine , Evening Rest , Spring Song ), virtuoso works that adapt symphonic forms, on the other hand ( Concert Rondo and Concert Toccata , Concert Overtures in C minor and F minor ). Popular or virtuoso “highlights” include A Trumpet Minuet, Triumphal March and Grand Choeur No.1 and No.2 . Wedding music is u. a. Benediction Nuptiale, Wedding March and Bridal March .

Organ works (selection, edition date)

• Allegretto Grazioso, 1906
• Andante in D major, 1895
• Barcarolle
• Be Glad Then, Ye Children of Zion, 1911
• Benediction nuptiale, 1898
• (A) Benediction, 1927
• Berceuse in C major, 1909
• Bourrée, 1929
• Bridal March, 1907
• Cantilène, 1912
• Christmas Cradle Song, 1934
• Communion, 1901
• Concert Overture No.1 in C major, 1885
• Concert Overture No.2 in C minor, 1899
• Concert Overture No.3 in F minor, 1922
• Concert Rondo, 1900
• Concert Toccata in B-flat major, 1926
• Elegy and Berceuse, 1899
• Epithalamium, 1920
• Evening Rest, 1917
• Finale en forme d'ouverture, 1900
• Grand Choeur No. 1 in G minor, 1895
• Grand Choeur No. 2 in C major, 1907
• In Springtime, 1909
• Intermezzo in D-flat major, 1900
• Maytime Gavotte, 1927
• Meditation, 1913
• Melody, 1934
• Minuet, 1920
• Morceau de concert en forme de valse, 1911
• Morning Song, 1918
• Nocturne, 1901
• O Worship the Lord, 1903
• Pastorale and Communion, 1901
• Prayer and Funeral March, 1899
• Prelude and Finale, Novello-Verlag 1944
• Prelude and Postlude, 1899
• Prelude in A major, 1908
• Prelude in C major, 1908
• Prelude in E major, 1908
• Prelude in G major, 1908
• Rejoice in the Lord, 1901
• Romanza, 1914
• Scherzo, 1917
• Siciliana, 1929
• (A) Song of Sunshine, 1913
• Spring Song, 1904
• Theme with Variations and Fugue, 1911
• Triumphal March, 1905
• (A) Trumpet Minuet, 1929
• Wedding March, 1899

Organ works in edited volumes:

• Album of Organ Pieces (1901), 14 works by A.Hollins, published by W.Paxton, London
• Original Compositions for the Organ (1908), 12 works by A.Hollins, Novello and Company, London
• The Latin Organist Vol. 1, Novello-Verlag, ed. SGOuld; by A.Hollins: Prelude on Angelus ad virginem

literature

• Music edition: Original Compositions for the organ. Oecumuse, (reprint of 12 compositions)
• Faber + Hartmann (ed.): Handbook of organ music. 2002 Bärenreiter u. Metzler-Verlag, 2002.
• A Blind Musician Looks Back. Autobiography. London 1936.
• Article about Hollins in the directory musicweb-international.com (English)
• Articles on Hollins directory nzorgan.com (English)
• Article in the English language Wikipedia;
• Petrucci Music Library

Web links

• Sheet music and audio files by Alfred Hollins in the International Music Score Library Project