Walther Davisson
Encyclopedia
Walther Davisson was a German
violin
ist and conductor,
Davisson was born in Frankfurt am Main. He studied in Frankfurt at the Hoch Conservatory
from 1900 to 1906 with Johann Naret-Koning and Adolf Rebner
, in whose string quartet he played second violin from 1906 to 1913. He also taught violin in Frankfurt until 1918. After several years as conductor of the orchestra and deputy to Director Max Pauer at the Leipzig Conservatory, Davisson himself became director of that institution in 1932. From 1950 to 1954, he served as artistic director of the combined Musikhochschule
and Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt.
Davisson was also active as an editor. Among works published in his editions were the first book of Jacques Féréol Mazas's Études Brillantes and violin concerti by Ludwig Spohr
and Pierre Rode
.
As a conductor, Davisson made recordings in the 1950s for the American label Vox
, including several performances of concerti
with pianist
Friedrich Wührer
.
He died on July 18, 1973 in Bad Homburg.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and conductor,
Davisson was born in Frankfurt am Main. He studied in Frankfurt at the Hoch Conservatory
Hoch Conservatory
Dr. Hoch’s Konservatorium - Musikakademie was founded in Frankfurt am Main on September 22, 1878. Through the generosity of Frankfurter Joseph Hoch, who bequeathed the Conservatory one million German gold marks in his testament, a school for music and the arts was established for all age groups. ...
from 1900 to 1906 with Johann Naret-Koning and Adolf Rebner
Adolf Rebner
Adolf Franklin Rebner was an Austrian violinist and violist....
, in whose string quartet he played second violin from 1906 to 1913. He also taught violin in Frankfurt until 1918. After several years as conductor of the orchestra and deputy to Director Max Pauer at the Leipzig Conservatory, Davisson himself became director of that institution in 1932. From 1950 to 1954, he served as artistic director of the combined Musikhochschule
Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
The Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts is a state Hochschule for Music, Theater and Dance in Frankfurt and is the only one of its kind in the Federal State of Hesse. It was founded in 1938....
and Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt.
Davisson was also active as an editor. Among works published in his editions were the first book of Jacques Féréol Mazas's Études Brillantes and violin concerti by Ludwig Spohr
Louis Spohr
Louis Spohr was a German composer, violinist and conductor. Born Ludewig Spohr, he is usually known by the French form of his name. Described by Dorothy Mayer as "The Forgotten Master", Spohr was once as famous as Beethoven. As a violinist, his virtuoso playing was admired by Queen Victoria...
and Pierre Rode
Pierre Rode
Jacques Pierre Joseph Rode was a French violinist and composer.-Biography:Born in Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France, Pierre Rode traveled to Parisat the age of 13 and soon became a favourite pupil of the great Giovanni Battista Viotti who found the boy so talented that he charged him no fee for the...
.
As a conductor, Davisson made recordings in the 1950s for the American label Vox
Vox Records
VOX Records is a budget classical record label. The name is Latin for "voice."-History:Vox was founded in 1945, starting out with 78-rpm discs, specializing in licensed pressings of classical recordings made in Europe. It was one of the last major recording companies to adopt stereo recording,...
, including several performances of concerti
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
with 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:...
Friedrich Wührer
Friedrich Wührer
Friedrich Wührer was an Austrian-German pianist and piano pedagogue. He was a close associate and advocate of composer Franz Schmidt, whose music he edited and, in the case of the works for left hand alone, revised for performance with two hands; he was also a champion of the Second Viennese...
.
He died on July 18, 1973 in Bad Homburg.
Sources
- Doctoral Treatise, Hart, Heather Ann Wolters, An Exploration of Underplayed Violin Concertos Appropriate for Intermediate and Advanced Students, Florida State UniversityFlorida State UniversityThe Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
College of Music - Cassandra Artists Hessenberg, Kurt, A Brief Autobiography
- The Music Sack, entry for Walther Davisson accessed March 5, 2008
- Partitura Sheetmusic - Songbooks
- Peter Cahn: Das Hoch'sche Konservatorium in Frankfurt am Main (1878–1978), Frankfurt am Main: Kramer, 1979.