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Alice Ehlers

October 30, 2023

Alice Ehlers (April 16, 1887 – March 1, 1981, born Alice Pulay, was an Austrian-born American harpsichordist and college professor.

Alice Ehlers
Alice Ehlers, from paperwork submitted to the United States Department of Justice in 1941
Born
Alice Pulai

April 16, 1887
Vienna, Austria
DiedMarch 1, 1981
Redondo Beach, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Harpsichordist, music teacher
RelativesPeter M. Douglas (grandson)

Early life and education edit

Alice Pulay (or Pulai) was born in Vienna, the daughter of Ignaz Pulay and Karoline Pulay. Her family was Jewish. She studied piano with Theodor Leschetizky, music theory with Arnold Schoenberg, and harpsichord with Wanda Landowska in Berlin.[1][2]

Career edit

Ehlers was considered a skilled interpreter of baroque music, especially the works of Bach.[3][4] Despite the difficulties of touring with a harpsichord,[5] she toured in Palestine, Russia, and South America; she moved to England in 1933, and then to the United States in 1938, to escape Nazi Germany.[6] She appeared in the 1939 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, in which she plays "an acerbic rendition"[1] of Mozart's Rondo alla Turca on a double-manual harpsichord during a party scene.[7] She made a number of recordings on the Decca label in 1939.[8]

Beginning in 1941, Ehlers was a professor of harpsichord at the University of Southern California.[9] She founded the Southern California Junior Bach Festival. Malcolm Hamilton, Marilyn Horne, Michael Tilson Thomas, Carol Neblett, and Roger Wagner were among her students.[6][9][10][11] In 1954, she was appointed the Walker-Ames Lecturer in Music at the University of Washington.[12] In 1961, she was named the Brittingham Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin.[13][14]

She performed in concerts and recitals into her eighties.[11][15] In 1948 and 1949, she performed with Frieda Belinfante and Virginia Majewski in Los Angeles.[16][17] In 1952 she gave recitals with violinist Alex Murray.[18] She toured in the American midwest in 1957.[19] She gave concerts of baroque music with violist Eva Heinitz in 1949[20] and 1961.[21]

Ehlers was a friend and correspondent of Albert Schweitzer.[22] She gave benefit performances to raise funds for Schweitzer's medical work in Africa.[1][23]

Personal life and legacy edit

Ehlers married Alfred Walter Georg Ehlers in Berlin in 1910; they had two daughters, Maria and Christina, and later divorced. Ehlers died in 1981, in Redondo Beach, California, at the age of 93. [11]Her grandson, environmentalist Peter M. Douglas, traced some of his worldview to Ehlers's reverence for life and pacifism.[24][25] Recordings and transcripts of interviews she gave in 1965 and 1966 are held in special collections at UCLA.[26]

Some of her letters from Albert Schweitzer were donated to Chapman University.[27] They were translated and published in 1991.[28] In 1997, a stage adaptation of her letters with Albert Schweitzer was produced at Chapman University.[29]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Ivry, Benjamin (2011-05-04). "'Dear Little Sister Cembalo,' the Viennese Harpsichordist Alice Ehlers". The Forward. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  2. ^ Palmer, Larry. "Harpsichord Playing in America After Landowska" The Diapason (June 2011): 19-20.
  3. ^ Egan, Patricia (February 8, 1939). "Alice Ehlers, Brilliant Harpsichordist, Renders Compositions of Early Artists". The Vassar Miscellany News. pp. 1–2 – via Hudson River Valley Heritage: Historical Newspapers.
  4. ^ "Unique Music Event Hailed". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. 1942-07-14. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Alice Ehlers, Harpsichordist, To Play at Mills College". Oakland Tribune. 1938-11-27. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Crawford, Dorothy L. (2009-06-23). A Windfall of Musicians: Hitler's Emigres and Exiles in Southern California. Yale University Press. pp. 57–59. ISBN 978-0-300-15548-8.
  7. ^ "Alice Ehlers (Harpsichord) - Short Biography". Bach Cantatas Website. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  8. ^ "Alice Ehlers". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  9. ^ a b Boekelheide, Alex (2005-02-09). "Making Way for Beautiful Music". USC News. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  10. ^ Hughes, Allen (1974-04-13). "Malcolm Hamilton Excels In a Harpsichord Recital". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  11. ^ a b c Galbraith, Jane (1981-03-09). "Teacher Gave New Life to Old Instrument". The Los Angeles Times. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Alice Ehlers Honored; Soprano Wins Award". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. 1954-04-09. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Alice Ehlers Named Brittingham Professor". Wisconsin State Journal. 1961-08-31. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Harpsichord Artist Schedules Talks with Piano Teachers". Wisconsin State Journal. 1962-01-03. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Alice Ehlers Next Symphony Guest". The Salt Lake Tribune. 1945-11-25. p. 49. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Ancient music on ancient instruments (concert program)", Califsphere, 1948-07-25, retrieved 2023-07-18
  17. ^ "Antique Instrument Ensemble to Play". The Los Angeles Times. 1949-07-17. p. 95. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Pair Will Appear in Three Recitals". The Los Angeles Times. 1952-12-07. p. 120. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Miss Ehlers to Substitute on Program". The Los Angeles Times. 1957-01-27. p. 93. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Ancient Instruments to Feature in Concert". The Province. 1949-11-14. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Two to Play Baroque Music". Wisconsin State Journal. 1961-12-03. p. 44. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Schweitzer, Albert; Bergel, Kurt (1991). Albert Schweitzer and Alice Ehlers: A Friendship in Letters. University Press of America. ISBN 978-0-8191-8327-9.
  23. ^ "Capacity Throng Will Hear Symphony's Schweitzer Hospital Fund Concert". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. 1943-03-30. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Osborne, Thomas J. (2018). Coastal Sage: Peter Douglas and the Fight to Save California's Shore. Univ of California Press. pp. 8, 142. ISBN 978-0-520-28308-4.
  25. ^ Woo, Elaine (April 4, 2012). "Peter M. Douglas dies at 69; California Coastal Commission chief". Los Angeles Times.
  26. ^ Tusler, Adelaide G. "Interview of Alice Ehlers" UCLA Library, Center for Oral History Research.
  27. ^ "Collection: Albert Schweitzer, Alice Ehlers letters, 1928-1988 | ArchivesSpace Public Interface". Chapman University Libraries. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  28. ^ Schweitzer, Albert; Bergel, Kurt (1991). Albert Schweitzer and Alice Ehlers: A Friendship in Letters. University Press of America. ISBN 978-0-8191-8327-9.
  29. ^ "Sunday Theater". The Los Angeles Times. 1997-09-10. p. 337. Retrieved 2023-07-18 – via Newspapers.com.

External links edit

October 30, 2023
alice, ehlers, april, 1887, march, 1981, born, alice, pulay, austrian, born, american, harpsichordist, college, professor, from, paperwork, submitted, united, states, department, justice, 1941bornalice, pulaiapril, 1887vienna, austriadiedmarch, 1981redondo, be. Alice Ehlers April 16 1887 March 1 1981 born Alice Pulay was an Austrian born American harpsichordist and college professor Alice EhlersAlice Ehlers from paperwork submitted to the United States Department of Justice in 1941BornAlice PulaiApril 16 1887Vienna AustriaDiedMarch 1 1981Redondo Beach California U S Occupation s Harpsichordist music teacherRelativesPeter M Douglas grandson Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life and legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education editAlice Pulay or Pulai was born in Vienna the daughter of Ignaz Pulay and Karoline Pulay Her family was Jewish She studied piano with Theodor Leschetizky music theory with Arnold Schoenberg and harpsichord with Wanda Landowska in Berlin 1 2 Career editEhlers was considered a skilled interpreter of baroque music especially the works of Bach 3 4 Despite the difficulties of touring with a harpsichord 5 she toured in Palestine Russia and South America she moved to England in 1933 and then to the United States in 1938 to escape Nazi Germany 6 She appeared in the 1939 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights in which she plays an acerbic rendition 1 of Mozart s Rondo alla Turca on a double manual harpsichord during a party scene 7 She made a number of recordings on the Decca label in 1939 8 Beginning in 1941 Ehlers was a professor of harpsichord at the University of Southern California 9 She founded the Southern California Junior Bach Festival Malcolm Hamilton Marilyn Horne Michael Tilson Thomas Carol Neblett and Roger Wagner were among her students 6 9 10 11 In 1954 she was appointed the Walker Ames Lecturer in Music at the University of Washington 12 In 1961 she was named the Brittingham Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin 13 14 She performed in concerts and recitals into her eighties 11 15 In 1948 and 1949 she performed with Frieda Belinfante and Virginia Majewski in Los Angeles 16 17 In 1952 she gave recitals with violinist Alex Murray 18 She toured in the American midwest in 1957 19 She gave concerts of baroque music with violist Eva Heinitz in 1949 20 and 1961 21 Ehlers was a friend and correspondent of Albert Schweitzer 22 She gave benefit performances to raise funds for Schweitzer s medical work in Africa 1 23 Personal life and legacy editEhlers married Alfred Walter Georg Ehlers in Berlin in 1910 they had two daughters Maria and Christina and later divorced Ehlers died in 1981 in Redondo Beach California at the age of 93 11 Her grandson environmentalist Peter M Douglas traced some of his worldview to Ehlers s reverence for life and pacifism 24 25 Recordings and transcripts of interviews she gave in 1965 and 1966 are held in special collections at UCLA 26 Some of her letters from Albert Schweitzer were donated to Chapman University 27 They were translated and published in 1991 28 In 1997 a stage adaptation of her letters with Albert Schweitzer was produced at Chapman University 29 References edit a b c Ivry Benjamin 2011 05 04 Dear Little Sister Cembalo the Viennese Harpsichordist Alice Ehlers The Forward Retrieved 2023 07 18 Palmer Larry Harpsichord Playing in America After Landowska The Diapason June 2011 19 20 Egan Patricia February 8 1939 Alice Ehlers Brilliant Harpsichordist Renders Compositions of Early Artists The Vassar Miscellany News pp 1 2 via Hudson River Valley Heritage Historical Newspapers Unique Music Event Hailed The Pomona Progress Bulletin 1942 07 14 p 5 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Alice Ehlers Harpsichordist To Play at Mills College Oakland Tribune 1938 11 27 p 19 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com a b Crawford Dorothy L 2009 06 23 A Windfall of Musicians Hitler s Emigres and Exiles in Southern California Yale University Press pp 57 59 ISBN 978 0 300 15548 8 Alice Ehlers Harpsichord Short Biography Bach Cantatas Website Retrieved 2023 07 18 Alice Ehlers Discography of American Historical Recordings Retrieved 2023 07 18 a b Boekelheide Alex 2005 02 09 Making Way for Beautiful Music USC News Retrieved 2023 07 18 Hughes Allen 1974 04 13 Malcolm Hamilton Excels In a Harpsichord Recital The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2023 07 18 a b c Galbraith Jane 1981 03 09 Teacher Gave New Life to Old Instrument The Los Angeles Times p 28 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Alice Ehlers Honored Soprano Wins Award Los Angeles Evening Citizen News 1954 04 09 p 9 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Alice Ehlers Named Brittingham Professor Wisconsin State Journal 1961 08 31 p 23 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Harpsichord Artist Schedules Talks with Piano Teachers Wisconsin State Journal 1962 01 03 p 15 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Alice Ehlers Next Symphony Guest The Salt Lake Tribune 1945 11 25 p 49 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Ancient music on ancient instruments concert program Califsphere 1948 07 25 retrieved 2023 07 18 Antique Instrument Ensemble to Play The Los Angeles Times 1949 07 17 p 95 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Pair Will Appear in Three Recitals The Los Angeles Times 1952 12 07 p 120 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Miss Ehlers to Substitute on Program The Los Angeles Times 1957 01 27 p 93 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Ancient Instruments to Feature in Concert The Province 1949 11 14 p 15 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Two to Play Baroque Music Wisconsin State Journal 1961 12 03 p 44 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Schweitzer Albert Bergel Kurt 1991 Albert Schweitzer and Alice Ehlers A Friendship in Letters University Press of America ISBN 978 0 8191 8327 9 Capacity Throng Will Hear Symphony s Schweitzer Hospital Fund Concert The Pomona Progress Bulletin 1943 03 30 p 5 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com Osborne Thomas J 2018 Coastal Sage Peter Douglas and the Fight to Save California s Shore Univ of California Press pp 8 142 ISBN 978 0 520 28308 4 Woo Elaine April 4 2012 Peter M Douglas dies at 69 California Coastal Commission chief Los Angeles Times Tusler Adelaide G Interview of Alice Ehlers UCLA Library Center for Oral History Research Collection Albert Schweitzer Alice Ehlers letters 1928 1988 ArchivesSpace Public Interface Chapman University Libraries Retrieved 2023 07 18 Schweitzer Albert Bergel Kurt 1991 Albert Schweitzer and Alice Ehlers A Friendship in Letters University Press of America ISBN 978 0 8191 8327 9 Sunday Theater The Los Angeles Times 1997 09 10 p 337 Retrieved 2023 07 18 via Newspapers com External links editAlice Ehlers at IMDb A 1939 recording of Ehlers playing a Loeillet gigue on Internet Archive A recording of Ehlers playing Mozart s Rondo alla Turca in 1939 on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alice Ehlers amp oldid 1182526693, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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