Bauer, Harold, 1873-1951

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Harold Bauer, born Apr. 28, 1873, Kingston-on-Thames, near London, died Mar. 12, 1951, Miami, Fla. Throughout his career he was regarded as one of the greatest living pianists, a successor to the tradition of Liszt, Paderewski, and Brahms, and a celebrated interpreter of the music of Schumann, Brahms, and Franck. He was one of the first to champion the music of Debussy and of Ravel. Bauer also had considerable fame in chamber music, performing with Pablo Casals, Fritz Kreisler, Jacques Thibaud, Ossip Gabrilowitsch, the Flonzaley String Quartet, and others. He founded the Beethoven Association in 1918 which, through its sponsorship of public concerts featuring the finest musicians of the time, and through its financial support of musicians and institutions alike, greatly contributed to the development of American musical culture in the first half of the 20th century. Bauer edited many editions of piano music (most notably of Bach, Brahms, and the complete piano works of Schumann), several of which are still in print today. In his later years, he taught at the Manhattan School of Music and at the University of Miami and gave frequent lectures and master classes throughout the United States. Bauer was also interested in a wide range of musical topics and has left a substantial amount of writings on various composers and their works, interpretation, performance practice, and piano technique. Bauer also wrote many articles on more general musical topics.

From the description of Harold Bauer collection, 1880-1951 (bulk 1920-1951). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70984521

From the description of Harold Bauer collection, 1880-1951 (bulk 1920-1951). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 658833285

American pianist of English birth.

From the description of Autograph letters signed (8), dated or postmarked : New York, to Harry Harkness Flagler (one is to Mrs. Flagler), 1914-1934 [and n.d.]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270672047

Harold Bauer (1873-1951) was born in London in 1873. He began his musical studies on the violin, and gave his first public performance at the age of nine. In 1893 he went to Paris and began studying with pianist Ignace Jan Paderewski, and eventually shifted his focus to the piano. After his Paris debut the following year, he toured extensively in Europe. He made his American debut in 1900 and settled in the United States in the early part of the twentieth century. In addition to his performing career, he edited many editions of piano music for music publisher G. Schirmer, including the complete piano works of Schumann, and taught at the Manhattan School of Music and at the University of Miami. He also wrote extensively about music for both professional and general audiences. He died in Miami in 1951.

From the guide to the Harold Bauer Papers, 1901-1934., (Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Concert pianist.

From the description of Harold Bauer letters, 1900-1935. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 465278754

Biographical Note

While infrequently considered by modern musical scholarship, Harold Bauer (1873-1951) held an eminent position in the musical life of his time. Throughout his career he was regarded as one of the greatest living pianists, a successor to the tradition of Liszt, Paderewski and Brahms, and a celebrated interpreter of the music of Schumann, Brahms and Franck. He was one of the first to champion the music of Debussy and of Ravel, who dedicated the "Ondine" movement of his Gaspard de la nuit to the pianist. Bauer also had considerable fame as a recitalist, performing with such accomplished performers as Pablo Casals, Fritz Kreisler, Jacques Thibaud, Ossip Gabrilowitsch, and the Flonzaley String Quartet.

As a performer, Bauer continually sought to attain and to define the highest musical standards, and to convey them to the widest possible audience. To this end, Bauer founded the Beethoven Association in 1918, which, through its sponsorship of public concerts featuring the finest musicians of the time, and through its financial support of musicians and institutions alike, greatly contributed to the development of American musical culture in the first half of this century. As an educator, Bauer edited many editions of piano music (most notably of Bach, Brahms, and the complete piano works of Schumann), several of which are still in print today. In his later years, he taught at the Manhattan School of Music and at the University of Miami, and gave frequent lectures and master classes throughout the country. Bauer was also keenly interested in a wide range of musical topics and has left a substantial amount of writings on various composers and their works, interpretation, performance practice, and piano technique.

Bauer's interest in education, however, was not limited to musicians; he recognized that musical culture must extend to as large an audience as possible in order to be fully realized. For this audience, Bauer wrote many articles which treated more general musical topics; his autobiography and these articles all bear the stamp of his particular erudition and wit. For these reasons he was held in high esteem by both his contemporaries among professional musicians and by a larger public, for whom his art possessed an almost "popular" fame.

  • 1873, Apr. 28: Born, Kingston-on-Thames, near London
  • circa 1878 - 1882 : Received first musical education at home; aunt gave him first violin lessons, and father provided him with piano instruction some years later
  • 1882: First public appearance as a violin soloist, Saint James' Hall, London
  • 1893: Left England for Paris, where he resided for the next twenty years Began coaching with Ignace Paderewski, which influenced his decision to pursue a career as a concert pianist
  • 1894: Debut in Paris. Accepted offer of a concert tour through Russia as accompanist (on piano as well as on violin) for the singer Louise Nikita (pseudonym of Louise Nicholson), which lasted until the spring of the following year
  • circa 1896: Frequented Parisian musical circles and became acquainted with several notable figures, including Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Enesco, Casals and Kreisler; with the two latter performers, Bauer began a lengthy period of touring
  • 1900: American debut in Boston as piano soloist in Brahms' Concerto no. 1in D minor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Wilhelm Gericke (the work's Boston première)
  • 1918: Founded the Beethoven Association in New York; its first concert was presented on Nov. 4 of the following year
  • circa 1920 - 1948 : Devoted himself to the pursuit of interests which were of highest importance to him: concertizing, writing (on music education and music criticism), and preparing editions of piano music for the publishing firm of G. Schirmer
  • 1924, July 10: Became American citizen
  • 1948: Published autobiography Harold Bauer, His Book. New York: W.W. Norton
  • 1951, Mar. 12: Died, Miami, Florida

From the guide to the Harold Bauer Collection, 1880-1951, (bulk 1920-1951), (Music Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Parker, Horatio W. (Horatio William), 1863-1919. The Horatio Parker papers, 1863-1972 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Harold Bauer Papers, 1901-1934. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Love family. The Love family papers, 1850-1960 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf OAC Review Index (University of Guelph). Macdonald Alumnae / Marie Barry, OAC Review, v.51, no.5, Feb. 1939, p. 314-318. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf Bauer, Harold, 1873-1951. Autograph letters signed (8), dated or postmarked : New York, to Harry Harkness Flagler (one is to Mrs. Flagler), 1914-1934 [and n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn The Horatio Parker Papers, 1863-1972 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn The Moldenhauer Archives at Harvard University: Manuscript music compositions, 1880-1985. Houghton Library
referencedIn The Love Family Papers, 1850-1960 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Bloch, Ernest, 1880-1959. Ernest Bloch collection, 1888-1981 (bulk 1912-1959). Library of Congress
creatorOf Bauer, Harold, 1873-1951. Harold Bauer collection, 1880-1951 (bulk 1920-1951). Library of Congress
creatorOf Bauer, Harold, 1873-1951. Harold Bauer letters, 1900-1935. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn The Moldenhauer Archives at Harvard University: Correspondence, literary manuscripts, sound recordings, and other material, 1873-2001. Houghton Library
referencedIn Bacon, Ernst. Papers, 1926-1990 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Wilhelm Gericke papers, 1876-1940. Houghton Library
creatorOf Bauer, Harold, 1873-1951. Harold Bauer collection, 1880-1951 (bulk 1920-1951). Library of Congress
creatorOf Beethoven Association (New York, N.Y.). Beethoven Association records, 1918-1940. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Correspondence, 1904-1937. Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard College Library
creatorOf Stanford, Charles Villiers, Sir, 1852-1924. Autograph letter signed, dated : London May 10 1915, to Mr. [Harold] Bauer, 1915 May 10. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Harold Bauer Collection, 1880-1951, (bulk 1920-1951) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Weil, Oscar, 1840-1921. Oscar Weil collection, undated. Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, Rabbi Morris Goldstein Library
referencedIn Parker, Horatio W. (Horatio William), 1863-1919. The Horatio Parker papers, 1863-1972 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Boston Opera Company (1909-1914). Miscellaneous music programs and composer biographies [manuscript], 1911-1912. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Boston Opera Company (1909-1914). Miscellaneous music programs and composer biographies, 1911-1912. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Mannes, Clara, 1869-1948. Autograph letters signed (2), dated : Chatham (Mass.), 20 August 1915 and 13 September [n.y.], to Harry [Harkness] Flagler, 1915 Aug. 20 and [n.y.] Sept. 13. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933. Additional papers, 1841-1940 Houghton Library
creatorOf Bauer, Harold, 1873-1951. The B.A. bids you welcome / written by Harold Bauer. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Bacon, Ernst, 1898-1990. Ernst Bacon papers, 1926-1990. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Ernest Bloch Collection, 1888-1981, (bulk 1912-1959) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Schumann, Robert, 1810-1856. [Album leaf in the hand of Harold Bauer], 1917 Apr. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Musicians Collection TXRC99-A17., 1727-1981, (bulk 1900-1940) Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Shaw, George Russell, b. 1848. Family papers, 1878-1904. Library of Congress
referencedIn Anka, Paul. Musicians Collection, 1727-1981, (bulk 1900-1940). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Spalding, Albert, 1888-1953. Autograph letters signed (11), dated : New York, Great Barrington, Mass., Chicago, and Fort Myers, 1920-1950 and [n.d.], to Harry Harkness Flagler, to Mrs. Flagler, and to them both, 1920-1950, including 1920 Jan. 21 and 1950 Jan. 22. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Samaroff, Olga, 1882-1948. Autograph letters signed (3) and letters signed (2), dated : Philadelphia, 1917 and 1921, and [New York], 1928-1929, to Mr. [Harry Harkness] Flagler, 1917 Mar. 3. and 1928 Sept. 26. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Harold Bauer collection, [ca. 1905-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
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associatedWith Schumann, Robert, 1810-1856. person
correspondedWith Sembrich, Marcella person
associatedWith Shaw, George Russell, b. 1848. person
associatedWith Sonneck, Oscar G. person
associatedWith Spalding, Albert, 1888-1953. person
associatedWith Stanford, Charles Villiers, Sir, 1852-1924. person
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correspondedWith Stokowski, Leopold, 1882-1977 person
correspondedWith Thibaud, Jacques person
correspondedWith Trinity University (San Antonio, TX) corporateBody
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associatedWith von Bülow, Hans person
correspondedWith Weil, Oscar, 1840-1921. person
correspondedWith Wilcox & White Piano Roll Company corporateBody
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correspondedWith Yale University, School of Music corporateBody
correspondedWith Zimbalist, Efrem person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Musicians
Musicians
Music
Music
Music
Pianists
Pianists
Vocal quartets
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Musicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1873-04-28

Death 1951-03-12

Americans

English

Information

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