Myrtle Elvyn was born in Sherman, Texas and raised in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Edward Elvyn and Fannie M. Goldsmith Elvyn. Her parents were from Arkansas and Kentucky. Theatrical manager Sid Grauman was her first cousin; their mothers were sisters.[1] She studied music with Carl Wolfsohn in Chicago, and in Europe with Leopold Godowsky. She also studied composition with Hugo Kaun.
Careeredit
Elvyn made her debut as a pianist in Berlin in 1904, and played in Germany, Austria, Holland, Belgium, and Great Britain from 1905 to 1907.[2][3][4] She was described as one of the three great American women pianists in 1908, along with Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler and Julie Rivé-King.[5] "Myrtle Elvyn is wholly unexcelled in power, brilliance and endurance in the playing of strictly 'show pieces'", declared one music writer in 1914.[6]
Elvyn toured nationally in the United States from 1909 to 1914.[7][8][9] She performed Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major with the New York Philharmonic on November 21, 1909.[10] She lived in Chicago and concentrated her performing schedule especially in the American midwest. She played with the symphony orchestras of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Detroit, and Cincinnati, and toured with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.[11] She gave the closing performance at the Iowa State Music Teachers' Convention in 1914.[12]
Despite her announced retirement in 1917,[13] returned briefly to the stage in 1918 and 1919, after marriage and motherhood, as Myrtle Elvyn-Bloch.[14] In 1918 she gave a recital to benefit the Mother's Aid organization of the Chicago Lying-in Hospital.[15] She gave another benefit performance for Mother's Aid in 1921.[16]
Compositions by Elvyn included "Serenade" (1911) and "Novelette" (1911).[17]
Personal lifeedit
Myrtle Elvyn married Harry L. Bloch (1882-1967) in February 1917, in a ceremony performed by Chicago rabbi Gerson B. Levi.[18] They had sons Harry (1917-1973) and Edward. She was widowed when Harry L. Bloch died in Switzerland in 1967.[19] She died in February 1975, aged about 88 years.[20]
^"South Side Clubs" Chicago Tribune (May 1, 1921): 103. via Newspapers.com
^Library of Congress, Copyright Office, Musical Compositions (1912): 71, 124.
^"Weddings" Chicago Tribune (February 11, 1917): 32. via Newspapers.com
^"Deaths" New York Times (July 11, 1967): 37. via ProQuest
^"Deaths" New York Times (February 19, 1975): 35. via ProQuest
December 18, 2023
myrtle, elvyn, born, circa, 1887, died, february, 1975, later, bloch, american, pianist, composer, from, 1908, publication, from, 1914, publication, contents, early, life, career, personal, life, referencesearly, life, edit, born, sherman, texas, raised, chica. Myrtle Elvyn born circa 1887 died February 1975 later Myrtle Elvyn Bloch was an American pianist and composer Myrtle Elvyn from a 1908 publication Myrtle Elvyn from a 1914 publication Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life editMyrtle Elvyn was born in Sherman Texas and raised in Chicago Illinois the daughter of Edward Elvyn and Fannie M Goldsmith Elvyn Her parents were from Arkansas and Kentucky Theatrical manager Sid Grauman was her first cousin their mothers were sisters 1 She studied music with Carl Wolfsohn in Chicago and in Europe with Leopold Godowsky She also studied composition with Hugo Kaun Career editElvyn made her debut as a pianist in Berlin in 1904 and played in Germany Austria Holland Belgium and Great Britain from 1905 to 1907 2 3 4 She was described as one of the three great American women pianists in 1908 along with Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler and Julie Rive King 5 Myrtle Elvyn is wholly unexcelled in power brilliance and endurance in the playing of strictly show pieces declared one music writer in 1914 6 Elvyn toured nationally in the United States from 1909 to 1914 7 8 9 She performed Liszt s Piano Concerto No 2 in A major with the New York Philharmonic on November 21 1909 10 She lived in Chicago and concentrated her performing schedule especially in the American midwest She played with the symphony orchestras of Minneapolis St Paul Detroit and Cincinnati and toured with the St Louis Symphony Orchestra 11 She gave the closing performance at the Iowa State Music Teachers Convention in 1914 12 Despite her announced retirement in 1917 13 returned briefly to the stage in 1918 and 1919 after marriage and motherhood as Myrtle Elvyn Bloch 14 In 1918 she gave a recital to benefit the Mother s Aid organization of the Chicago Lying in Hospital 15 She gave another benefit performance for Mother s Aid in 1921 16 Compositions by Elvyn included Serenade 1911 and Novelette 1911 17 Personal life editMyrtle Elvyn married Harry L Bloch 1882 1967 in February 1917 in a ceremony performed by Chicago rabbi Gerson B Levi 18 They had sons Harry 1917 1973 and Edward She was widowed when Harry L Bloch died in Switzerland in 1967 19 She died in February 1975 aged about 88 years 20 References edit Noted Pianist Coming Soon Holly Leaves February 8 1919 30 Myrtle Elvyn s Holland Successes Musical Courier March 27 1907 31 Belgium and Holland Praise Myrtle Elvyn Musical Courier April 10 1907 35 Myrtle Elvyn s London Success Musical Courier June 5 1907 10 William Lines Hubbard ed History of American Music I Squire 1908 309 C E W Myrtle Elvyn in Recital Music News January 30 1914 8 Myrtle Elvyn Secured for Valley City Recital The Weekly Times Record February 19 1914 1 via Newspapers com nbsp Myrtle Elvyn Piano Recitals San Francisco Examiner February 20 1910 71 via Newspapers com nbsp Myrtle Elvyn The Evening Statesman February 26 1910 7 via Newspapers com nbsp Leon Levy Digital Archives of the New York Philharmonic https archives nyphil org Myrtle Elvyn Music News January 16 1914 10 Iowa State Music Teachers Convention at Muscatine Music News June 26 1914 15 Popular Pianist is now the Bride of Harry L Bloch Quad City Times February 8 1917 8 via Newspapers com nbsp Myrtle Elvyn Reappears in Concert Musical Courier December 26 1918 4 Mother s Aid The Advocate America s Jewish Journal November 16 1918 349 South Side Clubs Chicago Tribune May 1 1921 103 via Newspapers com nbsp Library of Congress Copyright Office Musical Compositions 1912 71 124 Weddings Chicago Tribune February 11 1917 32 via Newspapers com nbsp Deaths New York Times July 11 1967 37 via ProQuest Deaths New York Times February 19 1975 35 via ProQuest Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Myrtle Elvyn amp oldid 1144841742, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
