piano

Jacques François Antoine Marie Ibert (Aug. 15, 1890 - Feb. 5, 1962) was a French composer, born in Paris. His father a businessman, and mother a talented pianist, young Ibert was encouraged in his musical journeys. He started piano and violin at age four, and entered the Paris Conservatory in 1910. His studies were interrupted by World War I, where he was a naval officer, but he resumed his studies later on, and won the famous Prix de Rome on his first attempt in 1919.  Continue reading →

Toivo Ilmari Hannikainen (Oct. 19, 1892 - July 25, 1955) was a Finnish composer, born in to a musical family. His father Pekka Junani Hannikainen was a composer, as was his  brother Väinö Hannikainen. His brother Tauno Hannikainen was a conductor. Ilmari studied music at the University of Helsinki, and went on to study in Vienna, St. Petersburg, and Paris. He taught piano at the Helsinki Conservatory, and was later a professor at the Sibelius Academy.  Continue reading →

Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz y Pascual (May 29, 1860 - May 18, 1909) was a Spanish conductor, composer, and pianist. He was a child prodigy, and was performing at only four years old.  Continue reading →

Edvard Grieg ( June 15, 1843 - September 4, 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. Raised in a musical family, his mother was his first piano teacher at age six. Grieg later on enrolled in the Leipzig Conservatory where he focused predominantly on the piano.  Continue reading →

Cécile Louise Stéphanie Chaminade (Aug. 8, 1857 - April 13, 1944) was a French pianist and composer. Her mother was her first piano teacher, and she also took violin and composition; sadly her father disapproved. Continue reading →

Vasily Prisovsky (1861 - 1917) was a Ukranian composer and bandmaster, of whom we know very little about. He wrote several popular piano works in the early 1900s, and conducted the brass band of the 132 Bender Infantry Regiment. Continue reading →

Franz Ignaz Danzi (June 15, 1763 - April 13, 1826) was a German composer and conductor, and like his father Innocenz Danzi, a cellist. Continue reading →

Italo Caimmi (July 26, 1871 - May 21, 1964) was an Italian double bassist and pedagogue. Thought not a great deal is known about Caimmi, we do know that he studied at The Conservatory of Pesaro, with the great double bass pedagogue Isaiah Bille. He was also an accomplished pianist, and was moderately successful as a soloist in both instruments, playing in several countries. As an orchestral musician, he played at La Scala, and taught in conservatories. He wrote a method book that was important in the Italian school of double bass playing. Continue reading →

Robert Fuchs (Feb. 15, 1847 - Feb. 19, 1927) was an Austrian composer and music professor who taught many famous composers.   Continue reading →

Józef Wieniawski (May 23, 1837 - Nov. 11, 1912) was a Polish pianist, composer, teacher, and conductor, and younger brother of Henryk Wieniawski, a famous violinist and composer. Continue reading →