Isidore Achron

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Isidore Achron
Joseph Achron as a young man
Jascha Heifetz
Great Hall, Wiener Konzerthaus

Isidor Juljewitsch Achron ( Russian Изидор Юльевич Ахрон ; English transcription Isidor Yulyevich Achron; born October 30 . Jul / 11. November  1892 greg. In Warsaw , Congress Poland ; † 12. May 1948 in New York City ) was a pianist, composer and music teacher . He was best known as the piano accompanist for Jascha Heifetz .

Life

Childhood and Family, Time in Europe, 1892 to 1922

Isidor Achron was the youngest brother of Joseph Achron . Isidor received his first piano lessons from his father. He studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory . He had piano lessons with Nikolai Dubasow and Anna Jessipowa , composition lessons with Anatoli Lyadow and instrumentation lessons with Maximilian Steinberg . From 1913 he was a member of the Society for Jewish Folk Music in St. Petersburg . He graduated in 1915. Then he went on his first concert tour through Russia. During the First World War he served in the Russian army for three years. In 1922 he made three guest appearances in the Beethovensaal in Berlin, first in April, then on October 26th and December 8th, the last concert before emigrating to the United States.

Emigration to the United States, concert tours with Jascha Heifetz, 1923 to 1933

On February 4, 1923 he made a guest appearance at Carnegie Hall. Jascha Heifetz sent Achron a telegram on March 21, 1923, in which he asked whether Heifetz would be available as a piano accompanist on a year-long concert tour from May 1, 1923 to May 1, 1924. Both had already made music together in Russia. This request changed his life. For the next ten years he was its main piano accompanist. They recorded many works together and gave many violin and chamber music concerts all over the world. The tour took her in 1923 to Tokyo , Shanghai and Honolulu, among others . In 1924 and 1925 concerts in the United States and Canada followed. At the end of 1925 he went to Europe. In December, they performed at the Brand Lane Concerts in Manchester. They gave their first concert on the continent on January 22nd, 1926 in Berlin. They performed in the Great Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus on January 26th and February 1st. The tour took her to China, Japan and Australia during the year. After their return, they gave another concert on November 30, 1926 in the Vienna Konzerthaus. In 1927 they continued their world tour. This led them via Spain, Portugal, Egypt, India, China to Japan. On May 11, 1927, they reached Brisbane with Aki Maru and then Sydney in Australia. They gave their first concert on May 14th at the Town Hall in Sydney. Over the summer they played over 40 concerts in Australia and New Zealand. They reached Honolulu in September. They finally came back to the United States via Hawaii. Achron was granted US citizenship in 1928 . Extended concert tours through North America followed from 1928 to 1930. In October 1930 he was divorced from his wife Evdokia, whom he married on August 4, 1919 in Leningrad. Both had separated on September 27, 1929. The reason for the divorce was Evdokia's neglect during Isisdor Achron's extensive concert tours. They both previously shared an apartment in Los Angeles.

Late years, time in the United States, 1933-1948

Carnegie Hall
Hollywood Bowl, 1922

In 1933 the two musicians parted ways and Isidor Achron tried to start a solo career. So he returned to Carnegie Hall on November 10, 1933 as a soloist. He was now teaching more again. Among the students at this time was the entertainer Phil Baker (1896–1963) and Fred Allen . On April 7, 1934, he accompanied his brother Joseph Achron to a violin recital at Town Hall in New York City. In the further course of the year he went on a concert tour to Europe as a soloist. In June he made a guest appearance at the Aeolian Hall in London. On June 14, 1935 Isidor Achron married the mezzo-soprano Lea Karina (* 1914 in Helsinki, † December 22, 1988 in New York City) and on August 11, 1935, he played in the Hollywood Bowl the solo part in the first piano concerto by Franz Liszt under led by Bernardino Molinari . In June 1936 he was elected to the national leadership of MAILAMM , Machon Erez-Israeli leMadaei haMusika , American Palestine Music Association . In 1937 he was vice-president and chairman of the artist and program committee. In the course of the year another European tour followed, which took him to Milan, Paris and London. With his compositional work he appeared in December 1937. In July of that year he began and finished his 1st piano concerto. He was a soloist at the world premiere with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli . In 1938 he was accepted into the presidium of MAILAMM, Machon Erez-Israeli leMadaei haMusika , American Palestine Music Association . In the following years he increasingly composed, taught and performed as a soloist and accompanist in concerts with his wife. He last made a guest appearance on November 20, 1946 at Carnegie Hall. He previously played on November 15, 1946 in the Orchestra Hall in Chicago. On May 12, 1948, he died of a heart attack in his Manhattan apartment .

Works

The Yale University Library owns the Isidor Achron Papers from the estate of his wife Lea Karina. They contain compositions in manuscript and print, arrangements by Isidor Achron, but also sheet music from works by other composers.

  • Balerina-Valse.
  • Valse intime for piano solo, New York, Carl Fisher, 1934. Achron played the piece himself in his piano recitals on November 10, 1935 in the YMHA Auditorium ( Young Men's and Women's Hebrew Association ) in Scranton .
  • Love me for a while , waltz song, text: Paul Francis Webster ; New York. Carl Fisher, 1934.
  • Do you know, that the moon can talk, 1937 under the pseudonym Julian Dorr, Chappell & Co. Ltd.
  • Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor op.2. The premiere took place with Isidor Achron as soloist on December 9, 1937 in Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of John Barbirolli. The work consists of four parts (movements) that are performed without a break. It takes about 17 minutes. Isidore began composing the piece on July 1, 1937 and finished on July 29 of that year.
  • Piano Concerto No.2 in A major op.3, 1942 I Allegro II Andante religioso III Allegro.
  • Valse dramatique for violin and piano op.4, also version for piano solo.
  • Sonnet No. 1 for violin and piano op.5, also version for piano solo; New York, Carl Fisher 1939
  • Sonnet No. 2 for violin and piano op.6, also version for piano solo.
  • Suite grotesque for piano op.7, I Gavotte II Minuet grotesque III Tango grotesque IV Polka grotesque V Valse grotesque.
  • Valse fantastique for violin and piano op.8.
  • Nocturne fantasia op.9, version for piano, New York, Carl Fisher, 1943, also versions for violin and piano, as well as cello and piano.
  • Gavotte satirique for violoncello and piano op.10
  • Gavotte satirique op.10, version for piano, New York, Carl Fischer, 1943
  • Valse de Concert for piano op.11?
  • Improvisation for violin with piano accompaniment op.11?
  • Improvisation for theremin and piano op.12, 1945; first performed in November 1945 in Town Hall (New York City) The soloist was Lucie Bigelow Rosen (1890–1968) also version for violin and piano
  • Sonnet No. 3 op.13 for piano.
  • Sonata for piano op.14.
  • They came to tell me your faults. for voice and piano, text: Sarah Teasdale.
  • Happy birthday FDR (or A birthday song for FDR ), a birthday song for Franklin D. Roosevelt , text: Friede Rothe. The piece was performed on January 30, 1944 at a concert on the New York radio station WQXR by Achron and his wife Lea Karina and broadcast on the radio.

Recordings

  • Improvisation for theremin and piano, 1945. Lydia Kavina , theremin. Joshua Pierce, piano. In: Music From The Ether - Original Works For Theremin [ Music from the Aither - Original Works for the Theremin ]. Mode 76, 1999.
  • Piano Concerto No. 1 and No. 2. Barry Goldsmith, piano. Scottish National Orchestra. Head of David Amos. Kleos Classics 5134.

Anecdotes

In early 1948, several American newspapers reported that Isidor Achron had introduced the Double-Breasted Tuxedo in the United States. Isidor Achron and Jascha Heifetz visited the tailor Henry Poole in London in 1923. Achron would have asked the tailor to make a double-breasted tuxedo according to his wishes. Heifetz would have expressed disrespect for this and advised Achron against wearing the garment. The next year both would have sat in the same place again and Heifetz would have ordered two of these items of clothing, contrary to his opinion from last year.

The Vancouver Sun published another anecdote on August 10, 1946. During a visit to the hairdresser, Achron talked to him about his taste in music. He had assured him that he didn't like serious, classical music, only popular music . When Achron asked him to name his favorite pieces, the hairdresser could not name any names, but hummed a few topics to him. Among them were a theme from a concert by Peter Tchaikovsky and the lullaby by Johannes Brahms. After Achron had informed him about the origin of the melodies, the hairdresser realized that he unconsciously had a weakness for classical music.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Note: Isidor Achron had already met Heifetz in Saint Petersburg and had performed with him for the first time in 1913 in Kiev . (Galina Kopytova: Jascha Heifetz - Early Years in Russia , Indiana University Press, 2014, p. 265)
  2. ↑ gdal Saleški: Famous Musicians of a Wandering Race , Bloch Publishing Company, New York, 1927, pp 289th
  3. ↑ From Berlin . In: Signals for the musical world . Berlin April 26, 1922, p. 529 ( onb.ac.at ).
  4. ↑ From Berlin . In: Signals for the musical world . Berlin October 18, 1922, p. 12 ( onb.ac.at ).
  5. ↑ Max Chop: From Berlin . In: Signals for the musical world . Berlin November 1, 1922, p. 1253 ( onb.ac.at ).
  6. ↑ Max Chop: From Berlin . In: Signals for the musical world . Berlin December 13, 1922, p. 1461 ( onb.ac.at ).
  7. ^ Music in Manhattan . In: Times Union . Brooklyn, New York February 4, 1923, p. 17 (English, newspapers.com ).
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g Compiled by John Mangan, File format: findingaids.feedback@yale.edu: Register to The Isidor Achron Papers. Retrieved March 18, 2017 (English).
  9. ↑ Heifetz insists he's too young for matrimony . In: Honolulu Star Bulletin . Honolulu, Hawaii December 7, 1923 (English, newspapers.com ).
  10. ^ Music and Drama . In: The Guardian . London, Greater London, England December 5, 1925, pp. 7 (English, newspapers.com ).
  11. ↑ Concert news . In: Neues Wiener Journal . Vienna January 15, 1926, p. 12 ( onb.ac.at ).
  12. ↑ Theater and Art News . In: New Free Press . Vienna January 10, 1926, p. 17 ( onb.ac.at ).
  13. ^ Events of the Gutmann Concert Directorate . In: The hour . Vienna February 2, 1926, p. 8 ( onb.ac.at ).
  14. ↑ theater . In: The hour . Vienna November 30, 1926, p. 7 ( onb.ac.at ).
  15. ↑ Majestic sails under new flag . In: The Gazette . Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada January 3, 1927, p. 1 (English, newspapers.com ).
  16. ↑ Passengers by Aki Maru . In: Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1883-1930) . Sydney, NSW May 7, 1927, pp. 5 ( gov.au [accessed May 26, 2020]).
  17. ↑ World-Famous Violinist . In: Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld.: 1912-1936) . Brisbane, Qld. May 12, 1927, p. 7 ( gov.au [accessed May 26, 2020]).
  18. ↑ SHIPPING IN ℡ LIGENCE AND WEATHER . In: Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1883-1930) . Sydney, NSW May 14, 1927, pp. 5 ( gov.au [accessed May 26, 2020]).
  19. ↑ HEIFETZ AT TOWN HALL . In: Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1883-1930) . Sydney, NSW May 15, 1927, p. 3 ( gov.au [accessed May 26, 2020]).
  20. ↑ Jascha Heifetz to play here . In: Honolulu Star Bulletin . Honolulu, Hawaii August 29, 1927, p. 10 (English, newspapers.com ).
  21. ↑ Wife divorces Isidor Achron, Concert Pianist . In: The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles October 7, 1930, p. 30 (English, newspapers.com ).
  22. ↑ Jazz a Step? Isidor Achro, pianist . In: The Des Moines Register . Des Moines, Iowa May 26, 1933, p. 1 (English, newspapers.com ).
  23. ^ 'Hot Cha' Music May Become New Type of Culture, asserts Isidor Achron, Noted Pianist . In: Great Falls Tribune . Great Falls, Montana May 26, 1933, p. 2 ( newspapers.com ).
  24. ^ Heifetz and Achron take separate paths . In: Detroit Free Press . Detroit, Michigan September 3, 1933, pp. 34 (English, newspapers.com ).
  25. ↑ Ruth Portugal: Isidor Achron - Carnegie Hall . In: Barnard Bulletin . New York, New York November 17, 1933, pp. 1 (English, newspapers.com ).
  26. ↑ Phil Baker . In: Daily News . New York, New York February 27, 1934, p. 108 (English, newspapers.com ).
  27. ↑ Fred Allen . In: Covina Argus . Covina, California August 10, 1934, p. 3 (English, newspapers.com ).
  28. ↑ After 15 years . In: The Knoxville Journal . Knoxville, Tennessee April 8, 1934, p. 26 (English, newspapers.com ).
  29. ↑ American pianist hailed in London . In: The Pittsburgh Press . Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania June 8, 1934, pp. 31 (English, newspapers.com ).
  30. ↑ Grace Wing Bohne: Incomparable of course . In: The Miami Herald . Miami, Florida January 2, 1965, pp. 35 (English, newspapers.com ).
  31. ^ Molinari to take Baton at Bowl for eight concerts . In: The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California August 11, 1935, pp. 42 ( newspapers.com ).
  32. ↑ Verena Bopp: MAILAMM 1932-1941 - The history of an association for the promotion of Jewish music in the USA , Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden, 2007, p. 118.
  33. ↑ Gabrilowitsch Memorial . In: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle . Brooklyn, New York October 10, 1937, p. Brooklyn, New York 10 Oct 1937, Sun • Page 67 (English, newspapers.com ).
  34. ^ Program of Jewish Music planned for Town Hall . In: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle . Brooklyn, New York February 13, 1938, p. 31 (English, newspapers.com ).
  35. ^ Symphony . In: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle . Brooklyn, New York December 5, 1937, pp. 31 (English, newspapers.com ).
  36. ↑ Verena Bopp: MAILAMM 1932–1941: the history of an association for the promotion of Jewish music in the USA . In: Jewish Music . tape 4 . Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden 2007, ISBN 978-3-447-05596-3 , p. 71 ( google.de ).
  37. ^ Mark Anniversary . In: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle . Brooklyn, New York November 15, 1944, pp. 15 (English, newspapers.com ).
  38. ↑ Achron Recital . In: Daily News . New York, New York November 15, 1946, pp. 749 (English, newspapers.com ).
  39. ^ Albert Goldberg: Mr Achron's Piano Playing Proves Both Modest and Correct . In: Sat • Page 13 (Ed.): Chicago Tribune . Chicago, Illinois November 16, 1946, pp. 13 (English, newspapers.com ).
  40. ↑ Isidore Achron . In: Daily News . New York, New York May 13, 1948, pp. 927 (English, newspapers.com ).
  41. ↑ Isidore Achron . In: The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 13, 1948, pp. 46 (English, newspapers.com ).
  42. ^ DE Jones: Achron's Piano Recital Stamps Him as Master . In: The Tribune . Scranton, Pennsylvania November 11, 1935, pp. 15 (English, newspapers.com ).
  43. ^ Symphony . In: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle . Brooklyn, New York December 5, 1937, pp. 31 (English, newspapers.com ).
  44. ↑ Card catalog single card display (MUSIC). Retrieved March 18, 2017 .
  45. ↑ Card catalog single card display (MUSIC). Retrieved March 18, 2017 .
  46. ↑ Card catalog single card display (MUSIC). Retrieved March 18, 2017 .
  47. ^ Thomas B. Holmes, Thom Holmes: Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition . Psychology Press, 2002, ISBN 978-0-415-93644-6 .
  48. ↑ Ben Gross: Listening In . In: Daily News . New York, New York January 27, 1944, p. 344 (English, newspapers.com ).
  49. ↑ Fashion Note . In: Harrisburg Telegraph . Harrisburg, Pennsylvania February 7, 1948, p. 12 (English, newspapers.com ).
  50. ↑ Liked classical music and didn't know . In: The Vancouver Sun . Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada August 10, 1946, p. 6 (English, newspapers.com ).
personal data
SURNAME Achron, Isidore
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Achron, Isidor Juljewitsch (full name); Ахрон, Изидор Юльевич (Russian)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Pianist, composer and music teacher
DATE OF BIRTH November 11, 1892
PLACE OF BIRTH Warsaw , Congress Poland
DATE OF DEATH May 12, 1948
Place of death New York City