Adolph Schellschmidt
Adolph Schellschmidt | |
|---|---|
 Adolph Schellschmidt in 1900 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 30, 1867[1] Indianapolis, Indiana, United States[2] |
| Origin | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States[1] |
| Died | March 18, 1946 (aged 78)[2] Indianapolis, Indiana, United States[2] |
| Genres | Classical music Chamber music |
| Occupation(s) | Composer Teacher |
| Instruments | Cello[1] Violin[1] Piano[1] |
Adolph H. Schellschmidt (August 30, 1867 – March 18, 1946)[1] was an American cellist and composer. He wrote, studied, taught and performed classical and chamber music. He was nicknamed "the dean of cellists."[3]
Early life and education[edit]
Adolph Schellschmidt was born on August 30, 1867, in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1] He was one of seven siblings. The family was very musical, with all children learning how to play an instrument to participate in the family chamber orchestra.[4] His father, Adolph, taught Schellschmidt how to play the violin when Schellschmidt was ten.[3][4] Two years later, at the age of 12, he began playing cello after seeing Thedodore Hahn perform in Cincinnati.[4]
Schellschmidt eventually studied under Hahn in Chicago.[2] Schellschmidt also learned how to play clarinet at this time.[4] He lived for a time in New York City, where her performed and was a member of the Musicians Protective Union. When he was 26, Schellschmidt traveled to Europe to study, and played in the first performance of Death and Transfiguration, conducted by Richard Strauss.[2] In Europe, he also studied under Louis Hegyesi.[4] He studied, alongside his sister Emma, at the Cologne Conservatory from 1890 until 1893.[3]
Career[edit]
In 1893, Schellschmidt returned to Indianapolis from Europe.[4] He started teaching at the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music.[2] He started performing with the Schliewan String Quartet and co-organized the Kammermusik Society.[4] Eventually, he joined the faculty at DePauw University, where he taught for 17 years and oversaw the glee club.[2][5] He also taught at Indiana University from 1919 until 1921.[6] He was a member and teacher at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory for 26 years.[2] As of 1898, Schellschmidt taught at his personal studio, alongside his sisters Emma, on harp, and Bertha on violin.[7] He was nicknamed "Schelley" by his students.[4]
Later life and death[edit]
Schellschmidt died on March 18, 1946, at his home in Indianapolis after being sick for nine weeks.[2][3] In tribute, the Arthur Jordan Conservatory yearbook, Opus, was dedicated to Schellschmidt.[4]
Legacy[edit]
Schellschmidt's sheet music collection is held in the collection of the Indiana State Library.[1] His papers are in the collection of DePauw University.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Collection: Adolph Schellschmidt collection | Indiana State Library Manuscripts Catalog". Rare Books and Manuscripts. Indiana State Library. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Adolph Schellschmidt's Obituary". Historic Indianapolis. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Adolph Schellschmidt, Dean of Hoosier Cellists, is Dead at 77". The Indianapolis News. 19 March 1946. p. 7. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Opus (1946)". Jordan Conservatory of Music Yearbooks. Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music. 1946. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ Sparrow, Masada (12 June 2017). "Schellschmidt family biographies" (PDF). Indiana State Library. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ Indiana University Bulletin. The University. 1924. p. 9.
- ^ Music: A Monthly Magazine, Devoted to the Art, Science, Technic and Literature of Music. W. S. B. Mathews. 1898. p. 58.
- ^ "Collection: Adolph Schellschmidt papers". DePauw University. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
External links[edit]
- "Musical Families in Early Indianapolis" from Historic Indianapolis