Kürsteiner was the son of a French-Swiss father (August Kürsteiner) and an American mother (Jeannie Taylor Woodruff Kürsteiner).[3] His early education was in New York, then he studied music in Leipzig, including composition with Salomon Jadassohn and Richard Hofmann and piano with Johannes Wiedenbach and Robert Teichmüller. He returned to the United States in 1893, settled in New York City and was appointed to the piano and music theory faculty of the Ogontz School for Girls in Philadelphia.[4] He held that position until 1930. Between 1896 and 1906 he also created, developed, and directed a program of piano study at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.[3]
Kürsteiner founded a music publishing house in New York called Kürsteiner & Rice, and published much of his own music there. The "silent" partner in the firm may have been the operatic tenor Leon Louis Rice.[5] The singer was known to have performed Kürsteiner's songs on tour,[6] and some of the songs were written for or dedicated to him.[7]
Kürsteiner composed music in 33 opus numbers for piano solo and art songs for voice and piano in the years between 1910 and 1930. His song Invocation to Eros became fairly well known in its day.[2] For example, it was performed by the American sopranoRosa Ponselle on a concert at Hill Auditorium at the University of Michigan on October 28, 1928.[11] Twelve years earlier, on November 7, 1916, the New York Times review of contralto Frances Ingram at Aeolian Hall in New York praised for her performances of both Kürsteiner's “Invocation to Eros” and “The Soul’s Victory”.[12]
He is also known to have composed and published choral music. An advertisement in the American Guild of Organists journal The American Organist, Volume, 2, no. 1, January 1920, p. A-4, lists “New Choruses for solo, quartet or chorus, with added solos, duos, trios, and contrasting solo quartet sections." The ad also claims that the choruses are "Intense in Devotional Spirit; adapted to all Creeds—Episcopal, Christian Science, Jewish Synagogues, Baptists, etc., of genuine Melodic Beauty. Letters from Coast to Coast indicate their worth as helps to divine worship". A quote from Musical America Magazine praises one anthem as “One of the most conspicuous numbers of devotional music by a contemporary composer that we know”.[13]
Published SongsEdit
Opus, Title, Publisher, Publication date
12/1 I would my song were like a Star; G. Schirmer, 1910
12/2 How very Near; G. Schirmer, 1910
12/3 Lines of a Flame; G. Schirmer, 1910
13/1 Song of Life; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
13/2 Canticle of Love; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
13/3 Invocation to Eros (text by Edith A. Pusey); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
14/1 Leave Me Not Yet, O Love; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
14/2 Love, My Queen; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
14/3 Night from the Dark World; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
14/4 That One Refrain; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
14/5 Rose of the World; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
15/1 Morning; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
15/2 Of A’ the Airts the Wind can Blaw; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
15/3 The Betrothal; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
16/1 Awake, My Love; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
16/2 His Lullaby; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911?
17/1 My Heart Sings as the Birds Sing; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1911
17/2 O Breath of the Golden Day (text by James B. Kenyon); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1912
19 Three Night Songs (text by Martin Schütze); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1912
20/1 If I Were a Raindrop; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1912
20/2 Only a Day for Tears; Kürsteiner & Rice, 1913
24/2 The Salutation of the Dawn (text translated from the Sanskrit); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1915
24/3 The Soul’s Victory (Dramatic); Kürsteiner & Rice, 1916
^ abcdSaerchinger, 1918 Who's Who in Music entry, p. 349
^His ad in the Musical Blue Book of America, 1915 calls it the "Ogontz School for Young Ladies".
^See his entry in Saerchinger, 1918 Who's Who in Music, p. 522
^For example, the review of his concert in the July 12, 1912, New London, Connecticut, newspaper The Day on p. 12 indicates that he sang four of Kürsteiner's songs: "Canticle of Love", "The Betrothal", "If I Were a Rain Drop", and "His Lullaby".
^According to the announcement of his concert in the May 9, 1912, Meriden, Connecticut, newspaper The Meriden Morning Record on p. 25, the tenor would sing four of Kürsteiner's songs: Canticle of Love, The Betrothal, Invocation to Eros, and Morning, and the article further indicates that The Betrothal and Morning were "written for and dedicated to Mr. Rice".
^Prior to her marriage, French was doing well as a performer; on September 29, 1895, the New York Times reported that she would be touring with the Sousa band the following season.
^French's young career was also mentioned in the 1896 edition of Munsey's Magazine, volume 15.
^"UMS Concert Program, October 10, 1928: Fiftieth Annual Choral Union Concert Series -- Rosa Ponselle | Ann Arbor District Library". aadl.org. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
^American Organist. American Guild of Organists. 1920.
^The Op. 26 songs, numbers 1, 2, and 4, are listed as part of the William Huber, Jr., special collection at the Library of Congress without publishing information.
^His entry in the 1919-20 Musical Blue Book of America lists his wife's maiden name as Myrta French, probably the inspiration for the title of this piece.
^The last four piano works are listed in the Saerchinger, 1918 Who's Who in Music entry, p. 349
ReferencesEdit
Baker, Theodore (1984), "Kürsteiner, Jean Paul", in Slonimsky, Nicolas (ed.), Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Seventh Edition, New York: Schirmer Books, p. 1277, ISBN0-02-870270-0.
Elson, Louis C. (1919), "Kürsteiner, Jean Paul", in Elson, Louis C. (ed.), Elson's Pocket Music Dictionary, Bryn Mawr, PA: Oliver Ditson Co..
Saerchinger, César (1918), "Kürsteiner, Jean Paul", in Saerchinger, César (ed.), International Who's Who in Music and Musical Gazetteer, First Edition, New York, NY: Current Literature Publishing Company, p. 349.
Trapper, Emma L. (1915), "Kürsteiner, Jean Paul", The Musical Blue Book of America, 1915, New York, NY: The Musical Blue Book Corporation, pp. 16 (advertisement section).
Trapper, Emma L. (1919–1920), "Kürsteiner, Jean Paul", The Musical Blue Book of America, 1919-1920, New York, NY: The Musical Blue Book Corporation, pp. 225 (New York section).
jean, paul, kürsteiner, july, 1864, catskill, york, march, 1943, angeles, california, american, pianist, pedagogue, music, publisher, composer, piano, pieces, songs, born, 1864, july, 1864catskill, yorkdiedmarch, 1943, 1943, aged, angeles, californiaoccupation. Jean Paul Kursteiner July 8 1864 in Catskill New York March 19 1943 in Los Angeles California was an American pianist pedagogue music publisher and composer 1 of piano pieces and art songs 2 Jean Paul KursteinerBorn 1864 07 08 July 8 1864Catskill New YorkDiedMarch 19 1943 1943 03 19 aged 78 Los Angeles CaliforniaOccupationsPiano Teacher Music Publisher and ComposerInstrumentsPianoYears active1910 1930 Contents 1 Life and musical career 2 Musical works 3 Published Songs 4 Published Piano Solos 5 Published Choral works 6 Educational Publications 7 Footnotes 8 References 9 External linksLife and musical career EditKursteiner was the son of a French Swiss father August Kursteiner and an American mother Jeannie Taylor Woodruff Kursteiner 3 His early education was in New York then he studied music in Leipzig including composition with Salomon Jadassohn and Richard Hofmann and piano with Johannes Wiedenbach and Robert Teichmuller He returned to the United States in 1893 settled in New York City and was appointed to the piano and music theory faculty of the Ogontz School for Girls in Philadelphia 4 He held that position until 1930 Between 1896 and 1906 he also created developed and directed a program of piano study at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania 3 Kursteiner founded a music publishing house in New York called Kursteiner amp Rice and published much of his own music there The silent partner in the firm may have been the operatic tenor Leon Louis Rice 5 The singer was known to have performed Kursteiner s songs on tour 6 and some of the songs were written for or dedicated to him 7 On July 21 1901 in Eau Claire Wisconsin 3 Kursteiner married Myrta French an operatic soprano 8 9 10 In 1938 the Kursteiners moved to Los Angeles California where he lived the last years of his life 2 Musical works EditKursteiner composed music in 33 opus numbers for piano solo and art songs for voice and piano in the years between 1910 and 1930 His song Invocation to Eros became fairly well known in its day 2 For example it was performed by the American soprano Rosa Ponselle on a concert at Hill Auditorium at the University of Michigan on October 28 1928 11 Twelve years earlier on November 7 1916 the New York Times review of contralto Frances Ingram at Aeolian Hall in New York praised for her performances of both Kursteiner s Invocation to Eros and The Soul s Victory 12 He is also known to have composed and published choral music An advertisement in the American Guild of Organists journal The American Organist Volume 2 no 1 January 1920 p A 4 lists New Choruses for solo quartet or chorus with added solos duos trios and contrasting solo quartet sections The ad also claims that the choruses are Intense in Devotional Spirit adapted to all Creeds Episcopal Christian Science Jewish Synagogues Baptists etc of genuine Melodic Beauty Letters from Coast to Coast indicate their worth as helps to divine worship A quote from Musical America Magazine praises one anthem as One of the most conspicuous numbers of devotional music by a contemporary composer that we know 13 Published Songs EditOpus Title Publisher Publication date 12 1 I would my song were like a Star G Schirmer 1910 12 2 How very Near G Schirmer 1910 12 3 Lines of a Flame G Schirmer 1910 13 1 Song of Life Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 13 2 Canticle of Love Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 13 3 Invocation to Eros text by Edith A Pusey Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 14 1 Leave Me Not Yet O Love Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 14 2 Love My Queen Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 14 3 Night from the Dark World Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 14 4 That One Refrain Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 14 5 Rose of the World Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 15 1 Morning Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 15 2 Of A the Airts the Wind can Blaw Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 15 3 The Betrothal Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 16 1 Awake My Love Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 16 2 His Lullaby Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 17 1 My Heart Sings as the Birds Sing Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 17 2 O Breath of the Golden Day text by James B Kenyon Kursteiner amp Rice 1912 19 Three Night Songs text by Martin Schutze Kursteiner amp Rice 1912 20 1 If I Were a Raindrop Kursteiner amp Rice 1912 20 2 Only a Day for Tears Kursteiner amp Rice 1913 24 2 The Salutation of the Dawn text translated from the Sanskrit Kursteiner amp Rice 1915 24 3 The Soul s Victory Dramatic Kursteiner amp Rice 1916 24 4 Nightfall Lyric Song Kursteiner amp Rice 1916 25 1 Supplication Religious Dramatic Kursteiner amp Rice 1916 25 2 Hope Religious Dramatic Kursteiner amp Rice 1916 25 3 Deliverance Religious Dramatic Kursteiner amp Rice 1916 25 4 Triumphans Religious Dramatic Kursteiner amp Rice 1917 26 1 Penitence publisher unknown nd 14 26 2 Promise publisher unknown nd 26 3 Praise Lyric Sacred Kursteiner amp Rice 1918 26 4 The Message publisher unknown nd12 4 Serenade G Schirmer 1910Published Piano Solos EditSecond Nocturne for Piano G Schirmer 1910 Dreams of Myrta Ladies Home Journal magazine 1910 15 16 Bridal Morning Waltz Ladies Home Journal magazine nd Second Nocture for piano G Schirmer Boston Music Co 1910 Third Nocturne in A flat Kursteiner amp Rice 1911 22 1 La Turquoise Valse in C unknown publisher nd Mazourka de Concert unknown publisher nd 17 Etude de Concert unknown publisher nd Etude Melodique for left hand unknown publisher nd Appassionato in D minor unknown publisher ndPublished Choral works Edit25 1a Supplication publisher unknown nd 25 2a Hope Kursteiner amp Rice 1919 25 3a Deliverance Kursteiner amp Rice 1919 26 2a Promise publisher unknown nd 26 3a Praise Kursteiner amp Rice 1919Educational Publications EditEssays on Expert Aid to Artistic Piano Playing Unz and Co publisher New York 1910s 2 12 articles on Artistic Piano Playing in The Foyer of Philadelphia 3 Footnotes Edit In his list of Noted names in Music Elson 1919 refers to Kursteiner only as a composer a b c d Baker and Slonimsky p 1277 a b c d Saerchinger 1918 Who s Who in Music entry p 349 His ad in the Musical Blue Book of America 1915 calls it the Ogontz School for Young Ladies See his entry in Saerchinger 1918 Who s Who in Music p 522 For example the review of his concert in the July 12 1912 New London Connecticut newspaper The Day on p 12 indicates that he sang four of Kursteiner s songs Canticle of Love The Betrothal If I Were a Rain Drop and His Lullaby According to the announcement of his concert in the May 9 1912 Meriden Connecticut newspaper The Meriden Morning Record on p 25 the tenor would sing four of Kursteiner s songs Canticle of Love The Betrothal Invocation to Eros and Morning and the article further indicates that The Betrothal and Morning were written for and dedicated to Mr Rice The 1919 20 Musical Blue Book of America p 225 Prior to her marriage French was doing well as a performer on September 29 1895 the New York Times reported that she would be touring with the Sousa band the following season French s young career was also mentioned in the 1896 edition of Munsey s Magazine volume 15 UMS Concert Program October 10 1928 Fiftieth Annual Choral Union Concert Series Rosa Ponselle Ann Arbor District Library aadl org Retrieved 2022 10 13 This review is archived at https timesmachine nytimes com timesmachine 1916 11 07 104694131 pdf American Organist American Guild of Organists 1920 The Op 26 songs numbers 1 2 and 4 are listed as part of the William Huber Jr special collection at the Library of Congress without publishing information The Ladies Home Journal v 27 8 July 1910 His entry in the 1919 20 Musical Blue Book of America lists his wife s maiden name as Myrta French probably the inspiration for the title of this piece The last four piano works are listed in the Saerchinger 1918 Who s Who in Music entry p 349References EditBaker Theodore 1984 Kursteiner Jean Paul in Slonimsky Nicolas ed Baker s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians Seventh Edition New York Schirmer Books p 1277 ISBN 0 02 870270 0 Elson Louis C 1919 Kursteiner Jean Paul in Elson Louis C ed Elson s Pocket Music Dictionary Bryn Mawr PA Oliver Ditson Co Saerchinger Cesar 1918 Kursteiner Jean Paul in Saerchinger Cesar ed International Who s Who in Music and Musical Gazetteer First Edition New York NY Current Literature Publishing Company p 349 Trapper Emma L 1915 Kursteiner Jean Paul The Musical Blue Book of America 1915 New York NY The Musical Blue Book Corporation pp 16 advertisement section Trapper Emma L 1919 1920 Kursteiner Jean Paul The Musical Blue Book of America 1919 1920 New York NY The Musical Blue Book Corporation pp 225 New York section External links Edithttp ums aadl org ums programs 19281010e Rosa Ponselle at Hill Auditorium Ann Arbor Michigan https timesmachine nytimes com timesmachine 1916 11 07 104694131 pdf Review of a concert including Kursteiner s songs https books google com books id UZRhAAAAIAAJ amp dq Jean Paul K C3 BCrsteiner amp pg PP9 Advertisement in the American Guild of Organists magazine 1920 http www philsp com homeville fmi t851 htm A18612 Contents of The Ladies Home Journal v 27 8 July 1910 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jean Paul Kursteiner amp oldid 1148167653, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
