Scope and Content Note
The Rudolf Kolisch Collection contains thirty-one items, principally manuscript correspondence, that provide insight into the professional relationship between Kolisch and composers Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern, from 1921 to 1943. The Musical Analysis and Examples series includes materials related to Berg's Lyric suite and String quartet, op. 3 . The Correspondence series consists of postcards and letters, chiefly from Webern to Kolisch, that discuss compositional progress and upcoming performances. Among the works mentioned are Webern's String trio, op. 20 , String quartet, op. 28 , Six bagatelles, op. 9 , Fünf Sätze, op. 5 , Symphony, op. 21 , and Variations for piano, op. 27 , as well as various compositions by Schoenberg, Berg, and Beethoven.
Dates
- Creation: 1921-1943
Language of Materials
Collection material in German.
Access and Restrictions
The Rudolf Kolisch Collection is open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Performing Arts Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright on the materials of the Rudolf Kolisch Collection is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Biographical Note
Rudolf Kolisch (1896-1978) was a prominent Viennese-American violinist and string quartet player who played his instrument left-handed as a result of a childhood injury. His Kolisch Quartet gave seminal performances and premieres of chamber music that included compositions by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern. In the late 1930s Kolisch immigrated to the United States, where he became the leader of the Pro Arte Quartet (1944-1967) and professor of music at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, the New England Conservatory of Music, and other institutions.
Biographical Note
- 1896 July 20
- Born in Klamm, Austria
- 1913
- Graduated from Vienna Music Academy and Vienna University
- 1919
- Studied composition with Arnold Schoenberg
- 1919 - 1921
- Played a leading role in Schoenberg's "Verein für Musikalische Privataufführungen" (Society for Private Musical Performances)
- 1921
- Formed the Neue Wiener Streichquartett (Rudolf Kolisch, Fritz Rothschild, Marcel Dick, Joachim Stutschewsky)
- 1924
- Arnold Schoenberg married Kolisch's sister Gertrud
- 1927
- Formed the Kolisch Quartet (Rudolf Kolisch, Felix Khuner, Eugene Lehner, Benar Heifetz)
- 1935 April
- Kolisch Quartet made its American debut performance at the Library of Congress
- 1940
- The Kolisch Quartet was on tour in the United States and did not return to Europe
- circa 1941
- Began teaching at the New School for Social Research in New York
- 1943
- Published his best known article, Tempo and Character in Beethoven's Music
- 1944-1967
- Served as first violinist of Pro Arte Quartet
- 1944-1967
- Taught at the University of Wisconsin in Madison
- 1953 - 1958
- Taught at the Akademie für Tonkunst and Ferienkurse für neue Musik in Darnstadt, Germany
- 1967
- Began teaching at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston
- 1974 - 1977
- Taught chamber music performance at the annual Schoenberg Seminars in Mödling, Austria
- 1978 August 1
- Died in Watertown, Massachusetts
Extent
31 items
1 container
1 linear foot
Abstract
Rudolf Kolisch was a Viennese-American violinist and string quartet player. The collection contains thirty-one items, principally holograph manuscript correspondence, that provide insight into the professional relationship between Kolisch and composers Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern. Included among these are two Berg manuscripts that present analysis and musical examples from his Lyric suite and String quartet, op. 3.
Organization of the Rudolf Kolisch Collection
The Rudolf Kolisch Collection is organized in 3 series:
- Musical Analysis and Examples
- Correspondence
- Miscellaneous
Catalog Record
Provenance
Gift, Lorna Kolisch, 1983.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Other Repositories
Harvard University holds the Rudolf Kolisch Papers, 1886-1978; the Lorna Kolisch Photographs and Papers, circa 1896-2008; and the Eugene Lehner Papers, 1920-1997.
Processing History
Juliette Appold processed the Rudolf Kolisch Collection in 2010 and Christopher Hartten encoded the finding aid.
Source
- Kolisch, Rudolf, 1896-1978 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827--Criticism and interpretation. (Person)
- Berg, Alban, 1885-1935--Correspondence. (Person)
- Berg, Alban, 1885-1935--Criticism and interpretation. (Person)
- Berg, Alban, 1885-1935--Performances. (Person)
- Berg, Alban, 1885-1935. Lyrische Suite. (Person)
- Berg, Alban, 1885-1935. Quartet, strings, op. 3. (Person)
- Kolisch, Rudolf, 1896-1978--Correspondence. (Person)
- Kolisch, Rudolf, 1896-1978. (Person)
- Kolisch, Rudolf, 1896-1978. (Person)
- Schoenberg, Arnold, 1874-1951--Correspondence. (Person)
- Schoenberg, Arnold, 1874-1951--Criticism and interpretation. (Person)
- Schoenberg, Arnold, 1874-1951--Performances. (Person)
- Webern, Anton, 1883-1945--Correspondence. (Person)
- Webern, Anton, 1883-1945--Criticism and interpretation. (Person)
- Webern, Anton, 1883-1945--Performances. (Person)
Genre / Form
- Title
- Guides to Special Collections in the Music Division of the Library of Congress
- Author
- Processed by the Music Division of the Library of Congress
- Date
- 2010
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Music Division Repository
Performing Arts Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 113
Washington, DC 20540-4810
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