Harold Samuel
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Harold Samuel, Baron Samuel of Wych Cross
Harold Samuel (23 May 187915 January 1937) was a distinguished English
pianist
and pedagogue
. He was one of the first pianists of the 20th century to focus purely on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach
, and was known for his academic and cerebral approach. He was also a minor composer.
and studied at the Royal College of Music
there - piano with the eminent scholar and pianist Edward Dannreuther
and composition with Sir Charles Villiers Stanford
. Later he was on its faculty as professor of pianoforte.
Harold Samuel was particularly distinguished as an interpreter of Bach, whose entire keyboard oeuvre he learned by heart. At his London debut in 1898 he played Bach's Goldberg Variations
(BWV 988), unknown at that time in London. He and Walter Gieseking
were among the first pianists of the 20th century to play pure-Bach, distinguished for having programmed large scale works by Bach in their recitals.
To make a living Harold Samuel taught, did vocal coaching and became a sought-after accompanist (performing especially with violinist Isolde Menges
). His solo career, however, was at a standstill until 1919 when he played an all-Bach programme in London. He soon found a ready audience for large amounts of Bach's keyboard works in their original form. In 1921 he gave six successive Bach recitals in London and a similar cycle in New York
. He toured the USA regularly from 1924. He wrote a musical comedy, Hon'ble Phil, songs and piano pieces.
On 15 January 1937 he died at his home in Hampstead, London aged 75. He had fallen ill two months before on board a ship returning from a tour of South Africa.
were also admired. In 1925 he gave the first performance of Herbert Howells
's Piano Concerto.
) in two volumes, published in 1924 for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
, still in print (in revised form) and in use today, was prepared by Professor Donald Tovey, but was fingered throughout by Harold Samuel.
Harold Samuel, Baron Samuel of Wych Cross
Harold Samuel, Baron Samuel of Wych Cross was the founder of Land Securities, one of the United Kingdom's largest property companies.-Career:...
Harold Samuel (23 May 187915 January 1937) was a distinguished English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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 pedagogue
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. He was one of the first pianists of the 20th century to focus purely on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
, and was known for his academic and cerebral approach. He was also a minor composer.
Career
Harold Samuel was born in LondonLondon
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...
and studied at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
there - piano with the eminent scholar and pianist Edward Dannreuther
Edward Dannreuther
Edward Dannreuther was a German pianist and writer on music resident from 1863 in England. He trained as a musician at the Conservatoire at Leipzig, where he was a pupil of Ignaz Moscheles, a severe critic of the music of Wagner and Franz Liszt...
and composition with Sir Charles Villiers Stanford
Charles Villiers Stanford
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was an Irish composer who was particularly notable for his choral music. He was professor at the Royal College of Music and University of Cambridge.- Life :...
. Later he was on its faculty as professor of pianoforte.
Harold Samuel was particularly distinguished as an interpreter of Bach, whose entire keyboard oeuvre he learned by heart. At his London debut in 1898 he played Bach's Goldberg Variations
Goldberg Variations
The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, is a work for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form...
(BWV 988), unknown at that time in London. He and Walter Gieseking
Walter Gieseking
Walter Wilhelm Gieseking was a French-born German pianist and composer.-Biography:Born in Lyon, France, the son of a German doctor and lepidopterist, Gieseking first started playing the piano at the age of four, but without formal instruction...
were among the first pianists of the 20th century to play pure-Bach, distinguished for having programmed large scale works by Bach in their recitals.
To make a living Harold Samuel taught, did vocal coaching and became a sought-after accompanist (performing especially with violinist Isolde Menges
Isolde Menges
Isolde Marie Menges was an accomplished English violinist who was most active in the first part of the 20th century.A native of Sussex, England, she became a student of Leopold Auer and Carl Flesch...
). His solo career, however, was at a standstill until 1919 when he played an all-Bach programme in London. He soon found a ready audience for large amounts of Bach's keyboard works in their original form. In 1921 he gave six successive Bach recitals in London and a similar cycle in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He toured the USA regularly from 1924. He wrote a musical comedy, Hon'ble Phil, songs and piano pieces.
On 15 January 1937 he died at his home in Hampstead, London aged 75. He had fallen ill two months before on board a ship returning from a tour of South Africa.
Performance style
Compared with Gieseking's instrumental and musical mastery, Samuel may sound correct, academic and less interesting, but we have too few documents of how he played other composers to gain a full understanding of his art. He helped prepare listeners for then unfamiliar compositions by Bach through an honest and earnest approach. His interpretations of BrahmsJohannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
were also admired. In 1925 he gave the first performance of Herbert Howells
Herbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
's Piano Concerto.
Publications
The edition of Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues (The Well-Tempered ClavierThe Well-Tempered Clavier
The Well-Tempered Clavier , BWV 846–893, is a collection of solo keyboard music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach...
) in two volumes, published in 1924 for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
ABRSM is an internationally recognised educational body and charity that provides examinations in music The organisation, based in London, UK, runs exams in centres all over the world...
, still in print (in revised form) and in use today, was prepared by Professor Donald Tovey, but was fingered throughout by Harold Samuel.
Sources
- Eaglefield-Hull, Alfred. A Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians, Dent, 1924.
- Lyman, Darryl. Great Jews in Music, J. D. Publishers, 1986.
- Sadie, Stanley. The new Grove dictionary of music and musicians, Macmillan, 1980.
- Schonberg, Harold C. The great pianists, Simon and Schuster, 1963
- Sendrey, Alfred. Bibliography of Jewish music, Columbia University Press, 1951.