Obscure Music Mondays

Augusta Holmès (Dec. 18, 1847 - Jan. 28 1903) was a pianist and composer, born in Paris, and of Irish descent. Despite showing great talent as a child, she wasn't allowed to take piano at the Paris Conservatory. Instead she took private piano lessons with Mademoiselle Peyrnnet, and later on, harmony and counterpoint with Henri Lambert, and composition lessons with Hyacinthe Klosé. Holmès became...

Theodore Akimenko (Feb. 8, 1876 - Jan. 8, 1945) was a Ukranian pianist, professor, and composer.  He is the older brother of the composer Jakob Akimenko.  Continue reading →

Jean Huré (Sept. 17, 1877 - Jan. 27, 1930) was a French organist and composer; much of his musical knowledge was self-taught. After some musical instruction in Angers, Huré was advised by teachers to study at the Paris Conservatory, but he much preferred to go his own way. He made his living in Paris as an organist at several churches...

Niels Wilhelm Gade (Feb. 22, 1817 - Dec. 21, 1890) born in Copenhagen, was the son of an instrument maker. Gade, a violinist, composer, and conductor, started his career with the Royal Danish Orchestra as a violinist, and was able to see compositions of his played by the orchestra. Felix Mendelssohn was an early champion of Gade's work, and they became close...

Selim Gustav Adolf Palmgren (Feb. 16, 1878 - Dec. 13, 1951) was a Finnish composer, conductor, and pianist. He studied at the Helsinki Conservatory in Helsinki from 1895 to 1899, then continued his piano studies in Berlin. He conducted several orchestras and music societies in Finland, and had successful performances as a pianist in Finland and Scandanavia. In 1921 he moved to the United...

Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (May 12, 1842 - August 13, 1912) was a French composer and professor, who started piano lessons with his mother, and began studies at the Paris Conservatory when he was around 10 years old.  Massenet's studies at the Conservatory were interrupted due to some family issues, and during his time away from school, he taught piano lessons...

Antonio Scontrino (May 17, 1850 - Jan. 7, 1922) was an Italian double bassist, composer, and professor. He studied at the Palermo Conservatory from ages 11 to 20, and also studied in Munich. He began performing as a double bassist in 1891, and eight years later taught composition at the Palermo Conservatory. He also taught counterpoint at the conservatory in Florence...

Albert Charles Paul Marie Roussel (April 5, 1869 - Aug. 23, 1937) was a French composer, who started his musical journey as an adult. As a child, Roussel was interested in mathematics, and then went went in to the French Navy. After resigning in 1894, he turned to music, and attended the Scholar Cantorum de Paris until 1908. He worked...

Sir Donald Francis Tovey (July 19, 1875 - July 10, 1940) was a British musicologist, composer, conductor, and pianist. He was privately tutored as a child, and showed great musical talent, which was nurtured under the guidance of Sophie Weisse, a music teacher from Scotland. Through her he met many musicians, and enjoyed a career as a pianist. Tovey secured...

Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (May 25, 1849 - June 14, 1908) was an African-American musical prodigy on the piano. Born on a plantation in Georgia, he was sold, along with his parents, in to slavery. Because he was blind, his owner, James Bethune, originally wanted to kill him, as he couldn't do much of the work he demanded slaves do, but eventually decided to let him play and explore the plantation he was on.  Continue reading →