Maria Hofer
Encyclopedia
Maria Hofer was a renowned organist
, pianist
and composer
. The daughter of an accomplished female singer, she was born in Amstetten, Lower Austria
. Already as a child she was learning the organ, and within a few years was permitted to participate in church services as organist.
Maria Hofer’s later musical education took place at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna
, where she studied piano teaching. She also began an organ study, but soon resigned because she did not get along with her teacher. According to Maria Hofer's Curriculum Vitae written in 1966/1967 and other auto/biographical documents her tutors included Franz Schmidt
, Hermann Graedener
, Ernst Ludwig, and Richard Stöhr
. Her ability to improvise at the organ was fostered by the organist of St. Stephan's Cathedral, Victor Boschetti; she began to compose in earnest during the First World War.
One of Maria Hofer's non-performing roles was to advise the Viennese publishing-house Universal Edition
about organ works; she herself described the post as important for her musical development, since it brought her into contact with many prominent artistic figures, including Maurice Ravel
, Alexander Zemlinsky, Darius Milhaud
, Béla Bartók
, Zoltán Kodály
, Alfredo Casella
, Alma Mahler
, Franz Werfel
, and Stefan Zweig
.
Universal Edition also published some of her compositions, including the 'Toccata für Orgel' (1937). This work was dedicated to the composer's long-time friend, Yella Hertzka, the wife of UE's director Emil Hertzka
and an active feminist. Between 1926 and 1938, in fact, Maria Hofer lived in the house of the Hertzkas. Yella Hertzka was also a leading member of the Austrian branch and the international executive committee of the 'Women's International League for Peace and Freedom' (WILPF), which Maria Hofer joined at Friederike Zweig-Winternitz's suggestion, and for which she created a 'peace anthem' in 1925.
After Emil Hetzka's death in 1932, Yella Hertzka joined the board of directors of the public company Universal Edition and continued to support Maria Hofer's career. After the National-socialists came into power in Austria both women had to leave Vienna. Yella Hertzka gained a Czech passport by marrying Egdar Taussig in order to emigrate to England, while Maria Hofer made her home in Kitzbühel
after having been expelled from England as citizen of the German Reich. Along with her friend Elsa Welwart, Maria Hofer was arrested due to the denunciation of a neighbour in July 1941. The following month she was transferred to the prison in Innsbruck
being accused of 'insulting the Fuehrer', 'listening to forbidden foreign broadcast stations' and 'food stockpiling'. When she was released eight months later, she returned home to find that several manuscripts of her compositions, together with important correspondence from Franz Werfel
, Stefan Zweig
, Arnold Schönberg, and others had disappeared.
Maria Hofer resumed her concert-giving activities, mostly performing her own compositions, already before 1945. After the end of war, she once more tried to restart her career as a composer, with contract compositions, concerts, radio broadcasts and publications. Among her works from this time are several liturgical compositions. Thanks partly to her efforts, an active musical life developed in Kitzbühel during the two decades after 1945.
This success was not sustained, however, and Maria Hofer died impoverished and disappointed; shortly before her death she destroyed many of her compositions. Among the unpublished works that were thus lost to posterity was a 'Passacaglia' for organ which had once prompted a reviewer to write: 'If Maria Hofer had written only this Passacaglia, her name should be never forgotten in organ literature'. The loss of such a large proportion of her output makes modern evaluation of her compositional abilities difficult.
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, 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 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...
. The daughter of an accomplished female singer, she was born in Amstetten, Lower Austria
Amstetten, Lower Austria
Amstetten is a town in Lower Austria. It is the capital of the Amstetten District.-Geography:Is geographically located between 48 ° 07 ' N and 14 ° 52 ' E , at a height of 275 meters , has an area of 52.22 km ² , its population in 2001 was 22,595 inhabitants, with a population density of 441 habs...
. Already as a child she was learning the organ, and within a few years was permitted to participate in church services as organist.
Maria Hofer’s later musical education took place at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where she studied piano teaching. She also began an organ study, but soon resigned because she did not get along with her teacher. According to Maria Hofer's Curriculum Vitae written in 1966/1967 and other auto/biographical documents her tutors included Franz Schmidt
Franz Schmidt
Franz Schmidt was an Austrian composer, cellist and pianist of Hungarian descent and origin.- Life :Schmidt was born in Pozsony , in the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire . His father was half Hungarian and his mother entirely Hungarian...
, Hermann Graedener
Hermann Graedener (composer)
Hermann Graedener or Grädener was a German composer, conductor and teacher.-Biography:He was born in Kiel, Germany. He was educated by his father, composer Karl Graedener. He then studied at the Vienna Conservatory. From 1862 he was organist at the Lutheran City Church in Vienna, and from 1864...
, Ernst Ludwig, and Richard Stöhr
Richard Stöhr
Richard Stöhr was an Austrian composer, music author and teacher.Born in Vienna, he studied composition with Robert Fuchs at the Vienna Conservatory....
. Her ability to improvise at the organ was fostered by the organist of St. Stephan's Cathedral, Victor Boschetti; she began to compose in earnest during the First World War.
One of Maria Hofer's non-performing roles was to advise the Viennese publishing-house Universal Edition
Universal Edition
Universal Edition is a classical music publishing firm. Founded in 1901 in Vienna, and originally intended to provide the core classical works and educational works to the Austrian market...
about organ works; she herself described the post as important for her musical development, since it brought her into contact with many prominent artistic figures, including Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, Alexander Zemlinsky, Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
, Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
, Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
, Alfredo Casella
Alfredo Casella
Alfredo Casella was an Italian composer, pianist and conductor.- Life and career :Casella was born in Turin; his family included many musicians; his grandfather, a friend of Paganini's, was first cello in the San Carlo Theatre in Lisbon and eventually was soloist in the Royal Chapel in Turin...
, Alma Mahler
Alma Mahler
Alma Maria Mahler Gropius Werfel was a Viennese-born socialite well known in her youth for her beauty and vivacity. She became the wife, successively, of composer Gustav Mahler, architect Walter Gropius, and novelist Franz Werfel, as well as the consort of several other prominent men...
, Franz Werfel
Franz Werfel
Franz Werfel was an Austrian-Bohemian novelist, playwright, and poet.- Biography :Born in Prague , Werfel was the first of three children of a wealthy manufacturer of gloves and leather goods. His mother, Albine Kussi, was the daughter of a mill owner...
, and Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig was an Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist and biographer. At the height of his literary career, in the 1920s and 1930s, he was one of the most famous writers in the world.- Biography :...
.
Universal Edition also published some of her compositions, including the 'Toccata für Orgel' (1937). This work was dedicated to the composer's long-time friend, Yella Hertzka, the wife of UE's director Emil Hertzka
Emil Hertzka
----Emil Hertzka was an influential and pioneering music publisher who was responsible for printing and promoting some of the most important European musical works of the 20th century.-Early life and education:...
and an active feminist. Between 1926 and 1938, in fact, Maria Hofer lived in the house of the Hertzkas. Yella Hertzka was also a leading member of the Austrian branch and the international executive committee of the 'Women's International League for Peace and Freedom' (WILPF), which Maria Hofer joined at Friederike Zweig-Winternitz's suggestion, and for which she created a 'peace anthem' in 1925.
After Emil Hetzka's death in 1932, Yella Hertzka joined the board of directors of the public company Universal Edition and continued to support Maria Hofer's career. After the National-socialists came into power in Austria both women had to leave Vienna. Yella Hertzka gained a Czech passport by marrying Egdar Taussig in order to emigrate to England, while Maria Hofer made her home in Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel
-Demographic evolution:-Personalities:*Karl Wilhelm von Dalla Torre , entomologist and botanist*Alfons Walde , expressionist painter and architect*Peter Aufschnaiter , mountaineer and geographer...
after having been expelled from England as citizen of the German Reich. Along with her friend Elsa Welwart, Maria Hofer was arrested due to the denunciation of a neighbour in July 1941. The following month she was transferred to the prison in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
being accused of 'insulting the Fuehrer', 'listening to forbidden foreign broadcast stations' and 'food stockpiling'. When she was released eight months later, she returned home to find that several manuscripts of her compositions, together with important correspondence from Franz Werfel
Franz Werfel
Franz Werfel was an Austrian-Bohemian novelist, playwright, and poet.- Biography :Born in Prague , Werfel was the first of three children of a wealthy manufacturer of gloves and leather goods. His mother, Albine Kussi, was the daughter of a mill owner...
, Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig was an Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist and biographer. At the height of his literary career, in the 1920s and 1930s, he was one of the most famous writers in the world.- Biography :...
, Arnold Schönberg, and others had disappeared.
Maria Hofer resumed her concert-giving activities, mostly performing her own compositions, already before 1945. After the end of war, she once more tried to restart her career as a composer, with contract compositions, concerts, radio broadcasts and publications. Among her works from this time are several liturgical compositions. Thanks partly to her efforts, an active musical life developed in Kitzbühel during the two decades after 1945.
This success was not sustained, however, and Maria Hofer died impoverished and disappointed; shortly before her death she destroyed many of her compositions. Among the unpublished works that were thus lost to posterity was a 'Passacaglia' for organ which had once prompted a reviewer to write: 'If Maria Hofer had written only this Passacaglia, her name should be never forgotten in organ literature'. The loss of such a large proportion of her output makes modern evaluation of her compositional abilities difficult.