Adler was born in Germany into a family interested and involved in classical music. His mother, Johanna Nathan, was a professional soprano and performed for noted composers such as Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Busoni and Julius Stockhausen, who was her tutor.[1] He studied music under Eduard Jung (a piano teacher from Dr. Hoch's Conservatorium, Frankfurt, specialising in talented future prospects) and left Nazi Germany for South Africa in 1933. There he was employed by a hardware wholesaler, and frequently performed keyboard works on air with the South African Broadcasting Corporation.[2]
Contact and interaction with the musical scene in Southern Africa
Adler's passion for classical music grew as he matured, and fed his desire to offer South African music lovers the highest quality of international concert presence.[3] He was chairman of the Johannesburg Music Society (South Africa's oldest musical society, a registered non-profit organisation) from 1954 until 1969, when he became honorary chairman. The Society was among the first to invite many international artists and groups to perform in South Africa, and quickly expanded. Johannesburg soon became the centre of performers' broad African tours, which included the large cities of South Africa (Pretoria, Durban, East London, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth), recordings with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), as well as visits to Kenya, the former Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Mozambique, the islands of Mauritius and Reunion, the former South West Africa, Angola and sometimes the former Belgian Congo.[4] Consequently, the quality and variety of concert life and classical music appreciation in Southern Africa improved vastly.[5][6]
For this achievement and the musical museum he had built up, an honorary doctorate from the University of the Witwatersrand was conferred on him in 1978.[7][8]
The collection and museum
Glasschord by Beyer, 1786, one of only four thought to be extant
Adler's passion for and love of music consumed most of his spare time, and after World War II he began expanding the small library inherited from his father, adding classical music dictionaries, encyclopaedias, manuscripts, complete composer compendiums, etc. in many languages, and volumes of music scores. In addition, he acquired early keyboard instruments – a 1589 clavicytherium, clavichords, a glasschord, an octave spinet, harpsichords, a fortepiano and two modern Steinway grand pianos. The collection eventually comprised 19 instruments, and demonstrated the development of the piano. Also included was a viola d'amore.[9]
Virginal by Andreas Ruckers, c1610
The collection's 1689 Menegoni octave spinet, one of only two known
The collection's 1750 Italian two-manual harpsichord
The ex-Wanda Landowska 16th-century gothic harpsichord
Adler's library grew very comprehensive, especially in keyboard compositions and productions, and, together with the instrument collection, evolved into a museum housed in his Johannesburg home.[10] Tours for university students were sometimes conducted, and the SABC periodically aired early composers' works which he would perform there (often together with touring overseas performers) on the antique keyboard instruments.[2][11] Most of the musicians and groups touring Southern Africa through his invitation, between 1954 and 1978[12] were invited to browse in the library and try out the instruments. A number discovered interesting or little-known works. (See note 7 in: examples of unusual works referenced.)[13][14]
The fine arts departments of South African universities were very interested in the museum, which was considered by some musicologists to be one of the more outstanding museums of this nature in private hands. It was eventually willed to the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, who opened a "Hans Adler Memorial Museum" in their Arts Building in 1980.[15][16]
Examples of unusual works referenced
At one time he donated to the British Museum, who did not possess this, one of his two rare copies of Frontispice by Ravel, music which was unknown, as Ravel had violated his publisher's sole publishing rights when it appeared in the popular Paris magazine Feuillets d'art in 1919[17]
The collection's Frontispice by Ravel, published in 1919, then withdrawn due to copyright infringements, and officially published after WW2
Are there just 5 Beethoven piano concertos? H.A. has collection evidence of a 6th piano concerto of Beethoven's, and two other piano concertos that may be regarded as Beethoven's works
A signed, numbered copy of Karlheinz Stockhausen's "Skizzen und Manuskripte" and one of Detlef Kieffer's "3 Pieces Breves" donated to him when they toured S.A.
A composition for him by John Ogdon and another by Julian Dawson-Lyell.
Information and some photographs of the above examples can be seen on the H.A. "showcase of rare and unusual works" site.[19]
He also donated, to South African composer/conductor/SABC Head of Music Gideon Fagan, a rare copy of Vol 1 of "The Edwin Fleischer Music Collection" for which Mr. Fagan had been searching for a decade.[20]
Discoveries of unusual cello works by local cello enthusiast/journalist, Joe Sack, which he passed on to other professionals. These included works such as:[21]
^"Newspaper articles and information: "Hans Adler Music Museum and Library": Soprano Johanna Nathan (Hans Adler's Mother) and 19th Century Composers".
^ ab"Newspaper articles and information: "Hans Adler Music Museum and Library": H.A. Archives of News Clippings, Public Performances on arriving Instruments, Early Years & JMS updates".
^"Celebrated musicians' concert tours of Southern Africa 1953 -1978". classicalmusicianstoza.blogspot.ca.
^Musiker Reuben, (Professor and Head Librarian, Witwatrsrand University) (1980). Hans Adler Memorial Volume, a Collection of Tributes, page 1. Johannesburg Wits University Library Press. ISBN0854946217. Hans Adler Memorial Volume
^"Newspaper articles and information: "Hans Adler Music Museum and Library": Interesting articles on the Johannesburg Musical Society".
^"Newspaper articles and information: "Hans Adler Music Museum and Library": Andor Foldes (American Pianist writes on 1953 African Tour".
^"Newspaper articles and information: "Hans Adler Music Museum and Library": Tributes and Recognition on Wits University PhD (Hon) award".
^"The Hans Adler Collection of Early Instruments: Hans Adler Biography and Introduction, by R Musiker, Wits University Librarian".
^"The Hans Adler Collection of Early Instruments". hansadlercollection.blogspot.com.
^"Newspaper articles and information: "Hans Adler Music Museum and Library": Hans Adler Collection: Newspaper/Magazine Articles".
^"Telecasts of Hans Adler Solo, Duet and Two Harpsichord music and an interview with SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation)". 7 January 2014.
^[1] short introduction to 127 musicians and musical groups touring Southern Africa
^"Hans Adler's Rare & Interesting Classical Music Exhibits in the Hans Adler Memorial Music Museum, Witwatersrand University, South Africa". 12 February 2012.
^"Newspaper articles and information: "Hans Adler Music Museum and Library": Hans Adler Memorial Museum, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa".
^"The Hans Adler Collection - Wits University". www.wits.ac.za.
^[2] description and photographs from original frontispice
^[3] description of 1492 incunabula and a few photographed pages
^[4] Collection showcase of rare and unusual items
^Musiker, Reuben (1980). Hans Adler Memorial Volume, a Collection of Tributes, page 20, (a tribute by Gideon Fagan, Head of Music, S.A.B.C.) Johannesburg Wits University Library. ISBN0854946217. Hans Adler Memorial Volume
^Musiker, Reuben (1980). Hans Adler Memorial Volume, a Collection of Tributes, page 49, (a tribute by Joe Sack, Johannesburg daily newspaper Music Critic), Wits University Library. ISBN0854946217. Hans Adler Memorial Volume
^[5] Album detailing artists' Southern Africa tours
April 19, 2023
hans, adler, hans, georg, adler, 1904, 1979, german, musicologist, collector, classical, music, promoter, south, africa, hans, adler, performing, modern, pleyel, harpsichordborn25, february, 1904germanydied1, february, 1979, 1979, aged, south, africa, contents. Hans Georg Adler 1904 1979 was a German musicologist collector and classical music promoter in South Africa Hans G AdlerHans Adler performing on his modern Pleyel harpsichordBorn25 February 1904GermanyDied1 February 1979 1979 02 01 aged 74 South Africa Contents 1 Early life 2 Contact and interaction with the musical scene in Southern Africa 3 The collection and museum 4 Examples of unusual works referenced 5 ReferencesEarly life EditAdler was born in Germany into a family interested and involved in classical music His mother Johanna Nathan was a professional soprano and performed for noted composers such as Brahms Tchaikovsky Busoni and Julius Stockhausen who was her tutor 1 He studied music under Eduard Jung a piano teacher from Dr Hoch s Conservatorium Frankfurt specialising in talented future prospects and left Nazi Germany for South Africa in 1933 There he was employed by a hardware wholesaler and frequently performed keyboard works on air with the South African Broadcasting Corporation 2 Contact and interaction with the musical scene in Southern Africa EditAdler s passion for classical music grew as he matured and fed his desire to offer South African music lovers the highest quality of international concert presence 3 He was chairman of the Johannesburg Music Society South Africa s oldest musical society a registered non profit organisation from 1954 until 1969 when he became honorary chairman The Society was among the first to invite many international artists and groups to perform in South Africa and quickly expanded Johannesburg soon became the centre of performers broad African tours which included the large cities of South Africa Pretoria Durban East London Cape Town Port Elizabeth recordings with the South African Broadcasting Corporation SABC as well as visits to Kenya the former Northern and Southern Rhodesia Mozambique the islands of Mauritius and Reunion the former South West Africa Angola and sometimes the former Belgian Congo 4 Consequently the quality and variety of concert life and classical music appreciation in Southern Africa improved vastly 5 6 For this achievement and the musical museum he had built up an honorary doctorate from the University of the Witwatersrand was conferred on him in 1978 7 8 The collection and museum Edit Glasschord by Beyer 1786 one of only four thought to be extant Adler s passion for and love of music consumed most of his spare time and after World War II he began expanding the small library inherited from his father adding classical music dictionaries encyclopaedias manuscripts complete composer compendiums etc in many languages and volumes of music scores In addition he acquired early keyboard instruments a 1589 clavicytherium clavichords a glasschord an octave spinet harpsichords a fortepiano and two modern Steinway grand pianos The collection eventually comprised 19 instruments and demonstrated the development of the piano Also included was a viola d amore 9 Virginal by Andreas Ruckers c1610 The collection s 1689 Menegoni octave spinet one of only two known The collection s 1750 Italian two manual harpsichord The ex Wanda Landowska 16th century gothic harpsichord Adler s library grew very comprehensive especially in keyboard compositions and productions and together with the instrument collection evolved into a museum housed in his Johannesburg home 10 Tours for university students were sometimes conducted and the SABC periodically aired early composers works which he would perform there often together with touring overseas performers on the antique keyboard instruments 2 11 Most of the musicians and groups touring Southern Africa through his invitation between 1954 and 1978 12 were invited to browse in the library and try out the instruments A number discovered interesting or little known works See note 7 in examples of unusual works referenced 13 14 The fine arts departments of South African universities were very interested in the museum which was considered by some musicologists to be one of the more outstanding museums of this nature in private hands It was eventually willed to the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg who opened a Hans Adler Memorial Museum in their Arts Building in 1980 15 16 Examples of unusual works referenced EditAt one time he donated to the British Museum who did not possess this one of his two rare copies of Frontispice by Ravel music which was unknown as Ravel had violated his publisher s sole publishing rights when it appeared in the popular Paris magazine Feuillets d art in 1919 17 The collection s Frontispice by Ravel published in 1919 then withdrawn due to copyright infringements and officially published after WW2 Are there just 5 Beethoven piano concertos H A has collection evidence of a 6th piano concerto of Beethoven s and two other piano concertos that may be regarded as Beethoven s works A violin amp piano sonata with two movements by Robert Schumann one by Brahms and one by Albert Dietrich in honour of Joachim A Schumann quartet for 4 horns and piano A Schumann andante and variations for two pianos two cellos and French horn long out of print as Schumann rearranged it for two pianos alone Variations on a Russian theme written by Artciboucheff Wihtol Liadov Rimsky Korsakoff Sokolow and Alexander Glazunov An original string orchestra serenade by Josef Suk Leopold Mozart s 1st edition 1756 of a violin tutor A 1492 Incunabula by Boetius Treatise Arithmetica Geometria et Musica Boetii 18 Hans Adler s 1st edition copy of Leopold Mozart s Versuch einer grundlichen Violinschule Three pages from the collection s 1492 incunabula Arithmetica Geometrica Musica by Boetius Borodin s almost forgotten piano quintet A signed numbered copy of Karlheinz Stockhausen s Skizzen und Manuskripte and one of Detlef Kieffer s 3 Pieces Breves donated to him when they toured S A A composition for him by John Ogdon and another by Julian Dawson Lyell Information and some photographs of the above examples can be seen on the H A showcase of rare and unusual works site 19 He also donated to South African composer conductor SABC Head of Music Gideon Fagan a rare copy of Vol 1 of The Edwin Fleischer Music Collection for which Mr Fagan had been searching for a decade 20 Discoveries of unusual cello works by local cello enthusiast journalist Joe Sack which he passed on to other professionals These included works such as 21 Theme and Variations on a Purcell Motif by von Weber The Rheinberger cello sonatas a little known concerto by Alcan Over 125 touring musicians dedicated photographs recital programs and music room comments during their Southern Africa tours Just a few examples Elly Ameling Dutch Soprano 2 S Africa tours Paul Badura Skoda and Eva Badura Skoda Austrian Pianist and Musicologist Librarian Duo Malcolm Binns British Pianist 2 S Africa tours Enrica Cavallo Franco Gulli Italian Violin Piano Duo 2 S Africa tours Alicia De Larrocha Spanish Pianiste 4 S Africa tours Joerg Demus Austrian Pianist James Galway Irish flautist Heinz Holliger Swiss Oboist John Ogdon English Pianist 4 S Africa tours Siegfried Palm German Cellist 2 S Africa tours Edith Peinemann German Violinist 5 S Africa tours Hans Richter Haaser German Pianist 4 S Africa tours Volker Schmidt Gertenbach German Conductor Ruth Slenczynska American Pianist 2 S Africa tours Gerard Souzay French Baritone 3 S Africa tours Karlheinz Stockhausen Modern German Composer Sergio Varella Cid Portuguese Pianist Gaspar Cassado Spanish Cellist 3 S Africa tours Loewenguth Quartet Hungarian Quartet Koeckert Quartet repeated tours among the many noted ensembles who visited Maria Stader Austro Hungarian soprano Shura Cherkassky Russian Pianist 3 S Africa tours Aaron Rosand American violinist 3 S Africa tours Salvatore Accardo Italian violinist conductor 3 S Africa tours Jean Pierre Rampal French flautist 3 S Africa tours Julian Lloyd Webber British cellist 22 References Edit Newspaper articles and information Hans Adler Music Museum and Library Soprano Johanna Nathan Hans Adler s Mother and 19th Century Composers a b Newspaper articles and information Hans Adler Music Museum and Library H A Archives of News Clippings Public Performances on arriving Instruments Early Years amp JMS updates Celebrated musicians concert tours of Southern Africa 1953 1978 classicalmusicianstoza blogspot ca Musiker Reuben Professor and Head Librarian Witwatrsrand University 1980 Hans Adler Memorial Volume a Collection of Tributes page 1 Johannesburg Wits University Library Press ISBN 0854946217 Hans Adler Memorial Volume Newspaper articles and information Hans Adler Music Museum and Library Interesting articles on the Johannesburg Musical Society Newspaper articles and information Hans Adler Music Museum and Library Andor Foldes American Pianist writes on 1953 African Tour Newspaper articles and information Hans Adler Music Museum and Library Tributes and Recognition on Wits University PhD Hon award The Hans Adler Collection of Early Instruments Hans Adler Biography and Introduction by R Musiker Wits University Librarian The Hans Adler Collection of Early Instruments hansadlercollection blogspot com Newspaper articles and information Hans Adler Music Museum and Library Hans Adler Collection Newspaper Magazine Articles Telecasts of Hans Adler Solo Duet and Two Harpsichord music and an interview with SABC South African Broadcasting Corporation 7 January 2014 1 short introduction to 127 musicians and musical groups touring Southern Africa Witwatersrand University s photo collection and comments of renowned touring musicians hansadlermusiciansdedications blogspot ca Hans Adler s Rare amp Interesting Classical Music Exhibits in the Hans Adler Memorial Music Museum Witwatersrand University South Africa 12 February 2012 Newspaper articles and information Hans Adler Music Museum and Library Hans Adler Memorial Museum University of Witwatersrand South Africa The Hans Adler Collection Wits University www wits ac za 2 description and photographs from original frontispice 3 description of 1492 incunabula and a few photographed pages 4 Collection showcase of rare and unusual items Musiker Reuben 1980 Hans Adler Memorial Volume a Collection of Tributes page 20 a tribute by Gideon Fagan Head of Music S A B C Johannesburg Wits University Library ISBN 0854946217 Hans Adler Memorial Volume Musiker Reuben 1980 Hans Adler Memorial Volume a Collection of Tributes page 49 a tribute by Joe Sack Johannesburg daily newspaper Music Critic Wits University Library ISBN 0854946217 Hans Adler Memorial Volume 5 Album detailing artists Southern Africa tours Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hans G Adler amp oldid 1141364186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
