Schnabel, Artur

Artur Schnabel was an Austrian pianist and teacher whose performances and recordings made him a legend in his own time and a model of scholarly musicianship to all later pianists. He lived in Berlin from 1900 and was a leading piano teacher at the State Academy of Music in Berlin from 1925 to 1933. Schnabel lived in the United States from 1939 until after World War II, when he returned to Switzerland. He specialized in the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, and Franz Schubert. As a composer Schnabel was influenced by his contemporary Arnold Schoenberg. Schnabel's thoughts on music were published as REFLECTIONS ON MUSIC (1933) and MUSIC AND THE LINE OF MOST RESISTANCE (1942).

Austrian pianist and composer, later naturalized American.

Artur Schnabel (b. Apr. 17, 1882, in Lipnik; d. Aug. 15, 1951, in Axenstein, Switzerland) was an Austrian-born American pianist, pedogogue, and composer.

Biographical Note

Artur Schnabel was one of the greatest pianists and pedagogues in the history of musical performance. As a performer, Schnabel eschewed virtuosity in favor of musicianship – indeed, he considered himself a musician foremost, and the piano simply his creative medium – and his sound recordings consistently demonstrate interpretations of sensitivity, commitment, and distinction. He was one of the first pianists to champion new and unfamiliar repertoire (such as the piano sonatas of Franz Schubert), and the first pianist to record the complete sonatas and concerti of Ludwig van Beethoven. As a pedagogue, Schnabel is probably best known for his meticulously annotated performing edition of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, through which countless pianists were introduced to these foundations of the piano repertoire; this edition is in common use even today. Lesser known are Schnabel’s original musical compositions – his uncompromising atonal musical language continues to pose formidable challenges to performers, conductors and listeners – and his contribution to musical scholarship through his autobiography ( My Life and Music, 1961), his two books on the role of music in the twentieth century ( Reflections on Music, 1934 and Music and the Line of Most Resistance, 1942), and through the several articles he contributed to musical journals throughout his life.

Schnabel’s student and confidante, Mary Virginia Foreman Le Garrec (born 1908), donated her collection of correspondence, musical scores, writings, concert programs, press clippings, publications, photographs, and other memorabilia related to Schnabel, to the Library in 1997.

Biographical Note

Artur Schnabel was one of the greatest pianists and pedagogues in the history of musical performance. As a performer, Schnabel eschewed virtuosity in favor of musicianship – indeed, he considered himself a musician foremost, and the piano simply his creative medium – and his sound recordings consistently demonstrate interpretations of sensitivity, commitment, and distinction. He was one of the first pianists to champion new and unfamiliar repertoire (such as the piano sonatas of Franz Schubert), and the first pianist to record the complete sonatas and concerti of Ludwig van Beethoven. As a pedagogue, Schnabel is probably best known for his meticulously annotated performing edition of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, through which countless pianists were introduced to these foundations of the piano repertoire; this edition is in common use even today. Lesser known are Schnabel’s original musical compositions – his uncompromising atonal musical language continues to pose formidable challenges to performers, conductors and listeners – and his contribution to musical scholarship through his autobiography ( My Life and Music, 1961), his two books on the role of music in the twentieth century ( Reflections on Music, 1934 and Music and the Line of Most Resistance, 1942), and through the several articles he contributed to musical journals throughout his life.

Epithet: pianist