Jean Paul Kürsteiner
Encyclopedia
Jean Paul Kürsteiner was an American pianist
, pedagogue, music publisher
, and composer
of piano pieces and art songs.
, including composition with Salomon Jadassohn
and Richard Hoffmann
and piano with Johannes Wiedenbach and Robert Teichmüller
. He returned to the United States in 1893, settled in New York City
and was appointed to the piano and music theory faculty of the Ogontz School for Girls in Philadelphia. He held that position until 1930. Between 1896 and 1906 he also created, developed, and directed a program of piano study at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
.
Kürsteiner founded a music publishing house
in New York called Kürsteiner & Rice, and published much of his own music there. The "silent" partner in the firm may have been the operatic tenor
Leon Louis Rice. The singer was known to have performed Kürsteiner's songs on tour, and some of the songs were written for or dedicated to him.
On July 21, 1901, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
, Kürsteiner married Myrta French, an operatic soprano
. In 1938 the Kursteiners moved to Los Angeles
, California, where he lived the last years of his life.
solo and art songs for voice and piano in the years between 1910 and 1930. His song Invocation to Eros became fairly well known in its day. For example, it was performed by the American soprano
Rosa Ponselle
on a concert at Hill Auditorium
at the University of Michigan
on October 28, 1928. Twelve years earlier, on November 7, 1916, the New York Times review of contralto Frances Ingram
at Aeolian Hall
in New York praised for her performances of both Kürsteiner's “Invocation to Eros” and “The Soul’s Victory”.
He is also known to have composed and published choral music. An advertisement in the American Guild of Organists
journal The American Organist, Volume, 2, no. 1, January 1920, p. A-4, lists “New Choruses for solo, quartet or chorus, with added solos, duos, trios, and contrasting solo quartet sections." The ad also claims that the choruses are "Intense in Devotional Spirit; adapted to all Creeds—Episcopal
, Christian Science
, Jewish Synagogues, Baptists, etc., of genuine Melodic Beauty. Letters from Coast to Coast indicate their worth as helps to divine worship". A quote from Musical America Magazine praises one anthem as “One of the most conspicuous numbers of devotional music by a contemporary composer that we know”.
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:...
, pedagogue, music publisher
Music publisher (sheet music)
The term music publisher originally referred to publishers who issued printed sheet music....
, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of piano pieces and art songs.
Life and musical career
Kürsteiner was the son of a French-Swiss father (August Kürsteiner) and an American mother (Jeannie Taylor Woodruff Kürsteiner). His early education was in New York, then he studied music in LeipzigLeipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, including composition with Salomon Jadassohn
Salomon Jadassohn
Salomon Jadassohn was a German composer and a renowned teacher of piano and composition at the Leipzig Conservatory.-Life:...
and Richard Hoffmann
Richárd Hoffmann
Richárd Hoffmann is a Hungarian footballer who plays for Békéscsabai Előre FC as striker.-External links:*...
and piano with Johannes Wiedenbach and Robert Teichmüller
Teichmüller
Teichmüller is a German surname and may refer to:* Gustav Teichmüller , German philosopher* Oswald Teichmüller , German mathematician...
. He returned to the United States in 1893, settled in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and was appointed to the piano and music theory faculty of the Ogontz School for Girls in Philadelphia. He held that position until 1930. Between 1896 and 1906 he also created, developed, and directed a program of piano study at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
.
Kürsteiner founded a music publishing house
Music publisher (sheet music)
The term music publisher originally referred to publishers who issued printed sheet music....
in New York called Kürsteiner & Rice, and published much of his own music there. The "silent" partner in the firm may have been the operatic tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
Leon Louis Rice. The singer was known to have performed Kürsteiner's songs on tour, and some of the songs were written for or dedicated to him.
On July 21, 1901, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
, Kürsteiner married Myrta French, an operatic soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
. In 1938 the Kursteiners moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California, where he lived the last years of his life.
Musical works
Kürsteiner composed music in 33 opus numbers for pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
solo and art songs for voice and piano in the years between 1910 and 1930. His song Invocation to Eros became fairly well known in its day. For example, it was performed by the American soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
Rosa Ponselle
Rosa Ponselle
Rosa Ponselle , was an American operatic soprano with a large, opulent voice. She sang mainly at the New York Metropolitan Opera and is generally considered by music critics to have been one of the greatest sopranos of the past 100 years.-Early life:She was born Rosa Ponzillo on January 22, 1897,...
on a concert at Hill Auditorium
Hill Auditorium
Hill Auditorium is the largest performance venue on the University of Michigan campus, in Ann Arbor, USA. The auditorium was named in honor of Arthur Hill , who served as a regent of the university from 1901 to 1909. He bequeathed $200,000 to the university for the construction of a venue for...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
on October 28, 1928. Twelve years earlier, on November 7, 1916, the New York Times review of contralto Frances Ingram
Frances Ingram
Elizabeth Frances Ingram was an American operatic contralto of English birth who had an active career in North America during the 1910s and 1920s.-Life and career:...
at Aeolian Hall
Aeolian Hall (New York)
Aeolian Hall was a concert hall near Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, New York City located on the third floor of 29-33 West 42nd Street across the street from Bryant Park. The Aeolian Building was built in 1912 for the Aeolian Company, which manufactured pianos...
in New York praised for her performances of both Kürsteiner's “Invocation to Eros” and “The Soul’s Victory”.
He is also known to have composed and published choral music. An advertisement in the American Guild of Organists
American Guild of Organists
The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...
journal The American Organist, Volume, 2, no. 1, January 1920, p. A-4, lists “New Choruses for solo, quartet or chorus, with added solos, duos, trios, and contrasting solo quartet sections." The ad also claims that the choruses are "Intense in Devotional Spirit; adapted to all Creeds—Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
, Christian Science
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
, Jewish Synagogues, Baptists, etc., of genuine Melodic Beauty. Letters from Coast to Coast indicate their worth as helps to divine worship". A quote from Musical America Magazine praises one anthem as “One of the most conspicuous numbers of devotional music by a contemporary composer that we know”.
Published Songs
Opus, Title, Publisher, Publication date- 12/1 I would my song were like a Star; G. Schirmer, 1910
- 12/2 How very Near; G. Schirmer, 1910
- 12/3 Lines of a Flame; G. Schirmer, 1910
- 13/1 Song of Life; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
- 13/2 Canticle of Love; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
- 13/3 Invocation to Eros (text by Edith A. Pusey); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
- 14/1 Leave Me Not Yet, O Love; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
- 14/2 Love, My Queen; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
- 14/3 Night from the Dark World; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
- 14/4 That One Refrain; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
- 14/5 Rose of the World; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
- 15/1 Morning; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
- 15/2 Of A’ the Airts the Wind can Blaw; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
- 15/3 The Betrothal; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
- 16/1 Awake, My Love; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
- 16/2 His Lullaby; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
- 17/1 My Heart Sings as the Birds Sing; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
- 17/2 O Breath of the Golden Day (text by James B. Kenyon); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1912
- 19 Three Night Songs (text by Martin Schütze); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1912
- 20/1 If I Were a Raindrop; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1912
- 20/2 Only a Day for Tears; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1913
- 24/2 The Salutation of the Dawn (text translated from the SanskritSanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1915 - 24/3 The Soul’s Victory (Dramatic); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1916
- 24/4 Nightfall (Lyric Song); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1916
- 25/1 Supplication (Religious-Dramatic); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1916
- 25/2 Hope (Religious-Dramatic); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1916
- 25/3 Deliverance (Religious-Dramatic); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1916
- 25/4 Triumphans (Religious-Dramatic); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1917
- 26/1 Penitance; publisher unknown, nd
- 26/2 Promise; publisher unknown, nd
- 26/3 Praise (Lyric-Sacred); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1918
- 26/4 The Message; publisher unknown, nd
Published Piano Solos
- Second Nocturne for Piano; G. SchirmerG. SchirmerG. Schirmer Inc. is an American classical music publishing company based in New York City, founded in 1861. It publishes sheet music for sale and rental, and represents some well-known European music publishers in North America, such as the Italian Ricordi, Music Sales Affiliates ChesterNovello,...
, 1910 - Dreams of Myrta; Ladies’ Home Journal magazine, 1910
- Bridal Morning Waltz; Ladies’ Home Journal magazine, nd
- Second Nocture for piano; G. Schirmer/Boston Music Co., 1910
- Third Nocturne in A flat; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
- 22/1 La Turquoise Valse in C; unknown publisher, nd
- Mazourka de Concert; unknown publisher, nd
- Etude de Concert; unknown publisher, nd
- Etude Melodique for left hand; unknown publisher, nd
- Appassionato in D minor; unknown publisher, nd
Published Choral works
- 25/1a Supplication; publisher unknown, nd
- 25/2a Hope; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1919
- 25/3a Deliverance; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1919
- 26/2a Promise; publisher unknown, nd
- 26/3a Praise; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1919
Educational Publications
- Essays on Expert Aid to Artistic Piano Playing, Unz and Co. publisher, New York, 1910's
- 12 articles on "Artistic Piano Playing" in The Foyer of Philadelphia
External links
- http://ums.aadl.org/ums/programs_19281010e Rosa Ponselle at Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor Michigan
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D06E6DB1F3FE233A25754C0A9679D946796D6CF Review of a concert including Kürsteiner's songs
- http://books.google.com/books?id=UZRhAAAAIAAJ&pg=PP9&lpg=PP9&dq=Jean+Paul+K%C3%BCrsteiner&source=bl&ots=UV8bE8rK30&sig=oK7X9shQOpXGZVFE1QuH7_Pt2iw&hl=en&ei=FNakS_WHMpOXtgehrqD0CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CBoQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=&f=false Advertisement in the American Guild of Organists magazine, 1920
- http://www.philsp.com/homeville/fmi/t851.htm#A18612 Contents of The Ladies’ Home Journal, v. 27 #8, July 1910