Jan Hřímalý
Encyclopedia
Jan HřímalýJan Hřímalý (also seen as Ivan Voitsekhovich Grzhimali (Иван Войцехович Гржимали (13 April 1844 – 11/24 January 1915) was an influential Czech violinist and teacher, who was associated with the Moscow Conservatory
for 46 years 1869-1915.
He was born in Pilsen, the second son of the organist and composer Vojtěch Hřímalý (1809–1880), and a member of a notable Czech musical family. He was taught by his older brother Vojtěch Hřímalý jr., and by Moritz Mildner. Hřímalý studied violin at the Prague Conservatory
(1855–1861), and went on to become leader of the Amsterdam
Orchestra (1862–1868). In 1869 he was appointed violin teacher at the Moscow Conservatory
. He succeeded Ferdinand Laub
as professor of violin studies 1874-1915. He was leader of the Russian Musical Society Orchestra in Moscow from 1874 until 1906.
He was acquainted with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
, who held him in high regard. He co-premiered Tchaikovsky's String Quartets Nos. 2 (1874) and 3
(1876). In March 1882, he appeared in the first performance (private) of Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio in A minor
and may have also appeared in the public premiere in October, although this is not certain.
He made a very early recording on wax cylinders of the Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor
by Anton Arensky
, with the composer at the piano and the cellist Anatoliy Brandukov
. This recording was made shortly after its composition and is almost certainly its first recording, although it is not complete.
He was considered an outstanding teacher. His students included Iosif Kotek
, Reinhold Glière
, who dedicated his Octet for Strings, Op. 5, to his teacher; Paul Juon
; Vladimir Bakaleinikov
; Arcady Dubensky; Pyotr Stolyarsky (the teacher of David Oistrakh
, Nathan Milstein
, and many others); Nikolai Roslavets
; Konstantin Saradzhev
; Alexander Petschnikoff, Mikhail Press
, Alexander Schmuller; and possibly Mitrofan Vasiliev, the first violin teacher of Jean Sibelius
.
He published a number of technical exercises and studies, some of which were valued by Jascha Heifetz
, and he died in Moscow
in 1915.
All his siblings were musically talented. Together with his brothers, Vojtěch (1842-1908), Jan Bartulomeus Cestmir (1844-1915), and Bohuslav Ferdinand Wenzl (1848-1894), they started the first string quartet in Bohemia. His sisters, Maria Regina (1839-1924) and Anna Jana (1840-1897) were renommed singers in Salzburg, Austria.
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
for 46 years 1869-1915.
He was born in Pilsen, the second son of the organist and composer Vojtěch Hřímalý (1809–1880), and a member of a notable Czech musical family. He was taught by his older brother Vojtěch Hřímalý jr., and by Moritz Mildner. Hřímalý studied violin at the Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory, sometimes also Prague Conservatoire, in Czech Pražská konzervatoř, is a Czech secondary school in Prague dedicated to teaching the arts of music and theater acting.- Instruction :...
(1855–1861), and went on to become leader of the Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
Orchestra (1862–1868). In 1869 he was appointed violin teacher at the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
. He succeeded Ferdinand Laub
Ferdinand Laub
Ferdinand Laub was a Czech violinist and composer.Laub was born in Prague. Due to the influence of his father Erasmus Laub , Ferdinand's first public appearance happened when he was 6 years old. At the age of 10 he had his own concert in Stavovské divadlo . From 1843-46 he studied at the...
as professor of violin studies 1874-1915. He was leader of the Russian Musical Society Orchestra in Moscow from 1874 until 1906.
He was acquainted with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
, who held him in high regard. He co-premiered Tchaikovsky's String Quartets Nos. 2 (1874) and 3
String Quartet No. 3 (Tchaikovsky)
The String Quartet No. 3 in E-Flat minor, Op. 30, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, was composed in 1876, and is the last of his three String Quartets. It was written as a memorial for Ferdinand Laub....
(1876). In March 1882, he appeared in the first performance (private) of Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio in A minor
Piano Trio (Tchaikovsky)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50, was written in Rome between December 1881 and late January 1882. It is subtitled In memory of a great artist, in reference to Nikolai Rubinstein, his close friend and mentor, who had died on 23 March 1881...
and may have also appeared in the public premiere in October, although this is not certain.
He made a very early recording on wax cylinders of the Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor
Piano Trio No. 1 (Arensky)
Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 32, for violin, cello and piano is a Romantic chamber composition by Russian composer Anton Arensky. It was written in 1894 and is in four movements:#Allegro moderato #Scherzo - Allegro molto...
by Anton Arensky
Anton Arensky
Anton Stepanovich Arensky -Biography:Arensky was born in Novgorod, Russia. He was musically precocious and had composed a number of songs and piano pieces by the age of nine...
, with the composer at the piano and the cellist Anatoliy Brandukov
Anatoliy Brandukov
Anatoliy Andreyevich Brandukov was a Russian cellist who premiered many cello pieces of prominent composers including Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Born as Russian classical music was flourishing in the middle of the 19th century, he worked with many of the important composers and...
. This recording was made shortly after its composition and is almost certainly its first recording, although it is not complete.
He was considered an outstanding teacher. His students included Iosif Kotek
Iosif Kotek
Iosif Iosifovich Kotek was a Russian violinist remembered for his association with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. He assisted Tchaikovsky with technical issues in the writing of the solo part in his Violin Concerto in D...
, Reinhold Glière
Reinhold Glière
Reinhold Moritzevich Glière was a Russian and Soviet composer of German–Polish descent.- Biography :Glière was born in Kiev, Ukraine...
, who dedicated his Octet for Strings, Op. 5, to his teacher; Paul Juon
Paul Juon
Paul Juon was a Germanised Russian composerHe was born in Moscow, where his father was an insurance official. His mother was German, and he went to a German school in Moscow. He entered the Moscow Conservatory in 1889, where he studied violin with Jan Hřímalý and composition with Anton Arensky...
; Vladimir Bakaleinikov
Vladimir Bakaleinikov
Vladimir Romanovich Bakaleinikov, also Bakaleynikov and Bakaleinikoff was a Russian-American violist, music educator, conductor and composer.Bakaleinikov, the son of a noted clarinetist, was from a large musical family who lived in poverty...
; Arcady Dubensky; Pyotr Stolyarsky (the teacher of David Oistrakh
David Oistrakh
David Fyodorovich Oistrakh , , David Fiodorović Ojstrakh, ; – October 24, 1974, was a Soviet violinist....
, Nathan Milstein
Nathan Milstein
Nathan Mironovich Milstein was a Russian-born American virtuoso violinist.Widely considered one of the finest violinists of the 20th century, Milstein was known for his interpretations of Bach's solo violin works and for works from the Romantic period...
, and many others); Nikolai Roslavets
Nikolai Roslavets
Nikolai Andreevich Roslavets was a significant Soviet modernist composer. Roslavets was a convinced modernist and cosmopolitan thinker; his music was officially suppressed from 1930 onwards....
; Konstantin Saradzhev
Konstantin Saradzhev
Konstantin Saradzhev was an Armenian conductor and violinist. He was an advocate of new Russian music, and conducted a number of premieres of works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Modest Mussorgsky, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Nikolai Myaskovsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Aram Khachaturian...
; Alexander Petschnikoff, Mikhail Press
Mikhail Press
Mikhail Isaakovich Press, also known as Michael Press, was a Russian-American violinist, conductor and music educator.Press began studying violin with Tissen at the age of eight in Vilnius, and made his first public appearance at ten years old. At the age of thirteen he was concert master in the...
, Alexander Schmuller; and possibly Mitrofan Vasiliev, the first violin teacher of Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
.
He published a number of technical exercises and studies, some of which were valued by Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
, and he died in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1915.
All his siblings were musically talented. Together with his brothers, Vojtěch (1842-1908), Jan Bartulomeus Cestmir (1844-1915), and Bohuslav Ferdinand Wenzl (1848-1894), they started the first string quartet in Bohemia. His sisters, Maria Regina (1839-1924) and Anna Jana (1840-1897) were renommed singers in Salzburg, Austria.