Vladimir Sokoloff (February 21, 1913 – October 27, 1997) was an American pianist and accompanist on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music. In addition to his teaching work with the accompanying, piano and chamber music students, he was an active performer.
Vladimir Sokoloff (pianist)
Vladimir Sokoloff and pianist Ruth Butterfield-Winter in front of the Curtis Institute of Music
Vladimir Sokoloff was a cousin of composer Noel Sokoloff.[4] He was a nephew of conductor Nikolai Sokoloff.[5] Another first cousin was pianist Theodore Saidenberg.[2]
Sokoloff married pianist Eleanor Blum, who, at 105, was still on the faculty of Curtis.[6] The couple performed as a duo until the birth of their daughters: Kathy, director of development at the Settlement Music School,[7] and Laurie, principal piccolo player with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and professor at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.[8]
Vladimir Sokoloff died in 1997 in Philadelphia, aged 84, after a long illness.[3]
Efrem Zimbalist
Efrem Zimbalist playing violin
Zimbalist used to tour the world with the accompanist Theodore Saidenberg. When Saidenberg resigned to pursue a solo career, his place "was taken by his cousin, Vladimir Sokoloff, who had been acting as Zimbalist's class accompanist. On early U.S. tours Zimbalist had performed with Sokoloff's uncle Nikolai, founder and first conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra. Vladimir (or "Billy", as Zimbalist called him) remained with him for the rest of his concert career – some thirty years – excepting the period Sokoloff spent in Special Services during World War II. Sokoloff remembered how things started: 'It was so casual. I was just playing my regular schedule in the studio when he said, "Would you like to be my accompanist?" I was flabbergasted - never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be asked to fill so important a post. I was a young kid and had had no experience except playing in school and a few outside concerts that had been arranged for me. The end of August I went up to The Rafters, and we rehearsed solidly for two weeks.'[2]
Roy Malan said: "Shortly after starting to work with Zimbalist they performed ... Saint-Saëns's "Le cygne". Zimbalist liked to hold the final G of the solo part to the very end, in one bow, while the piano brings the piece to a close .... After Sokoloff's initial performance Zimbalist, in his gentle way, admonished him for playing the concluding arpeggio too quickly ... His pianist confessed to a fear of stretching the bow beyond its limit. 'Billy', Zimbalist smiled, 'I'll bet you $5 you can't play the ending slowly enough to make me run out of bow.' The next evening violinist and pianist exchanged glances before 'Le cygne'. when Zimbalist embarked on his last note Sokoloff jammed on the brakes, seeming to grind almost to a torturous halt on each note he played. Very pleased with himself, after what seemed an eternity he finally reached the cadence. Looking up, to his astonishement he saw Zimbalist, a scarcely concealed smirk on his face, comfortably sustaining at mid-bow. Sokoloff was $5 poorer."[2]
Joseph de Pasquale and Vladimir Sokoloff, after premiering the George Rochberg Sonata at the 1979 Viola Congress in Provo, Utah
Appreciation
Joseph Rezits wrote the following recollection of Sokoloff:
When I first entered the Curtis Institute in 1942, 1 was barely seventeen and eagerly searching for the path to excellence, strongly influenced by what I observed and heard. Hearing his absolutely superlative playing, with unfailingly impeccable taste and immaculate ensemble, whetted my appetite for ensemble music, the medium in which I ultimately specialized. I also was continuously impressed with his ability to learn scores with incredible rapidity and to do this by practicing a few minutes here and a few minutes there. He made maximum use of his time and proved that long warm-ups on both the physiological and psychological levels were not always possible or even necessary. ... The collaborating pianist must always be aware of his partners 'weak spots' or idiosyncrasies. The most vivid memory of a pianist's 'savoir faire' in this respect dates back to my student days at the Curtis Institute. Vladimir Sokoloff, the faculty accompanist and ensemble player, was playing for an older member of the faculty who, although retaining artistic powers of a high order, was somewhat, shall we say, in less than prime condition technically. The Wieniawski Violin Concerto was the major work in the program. One of the most difficult passages for the violin in the first movement is a melodic minor one-octave scale in fingered octaves. This passage is preceded by a similar one, an octave lower, in the piano (or orchestra). In hearing the described scale passage on the piano, I was startled to note that it was played with much hesitancy – almost as if the pianist were struggling to get to the end. When I heard the violinist continue the passage into the upper octave, I knew immediately why Sokoloff had done this. Understanding full well that the violinist would have great difficulty with the fingered octaves, Sokoloff had incorporated the anticipated problem in his own part – giving the whole passage a certain interpretative validity. It was an astounding experience, and one that I shall never forget.[9]
On Nina Simone: "She was not a genius, but she had great talent. I accepted her on the basis of her talent, and with the understanding that I would prepare her for [another] audition at Curtis. It was during that early period that she demonstrated, at one lesson, her ability to play jazz. I remember distinctly telling her, 'why don't you pursue this as your profession?' And she said, 'Oh no, my first love is classical music and I want to be a pianist'."[18]
Scriabin, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, Gilbert Johnson, Vladimir Sokoloff, RCA SB 6854, 1971
Mason Jones, Vladimir Sokoloff, Music for French Horn, Music Minus One, MMO 8044, 1973
Mason Jones, Vladimir Sokoloff, Music for French Horn, Music Minus One, MMO 8047, 1973
William Kincaid, Vladimir Sokoloff, Philadelphia Orchestra Solo Flutist: Platti, Handel, Bach, Mozart, Gluck, SKU BR1058 Boston Records, N.D.
Camilla Williams, Al Goodman and his orchestra (Rib), Guild Choristers, 'Summertime' 'Raphsody in Blue'(Gershwin), RCA Victor 46-0004, 78 mono, 1947?
Al Goodman and his orchestra, Träumerei & Undercurrent,(Brahms theme from 3rd Symphony) RCA Victor 46-0008, 78 mono, 1947?
References
^Thomson, Virgil (October 16, 2014). Virgil Thomson: Music Chronicles 1940-1954 (LOA #258). Library of America. ISBN9781598533644. Retrieved February 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
^ abcdRoy Malan. Efrem Zimbalist, a life Amadeus Press, 2004; ISBN1-57467-091-3, pp. 172, 217, 232–33.
^ ab"Vladimir Sokoloff, 84, Pianist Who Accompanied the Famous". November 4, 1997 – via NYTimes.com.
^Rorem, Ned (June 18, 2013). Knowing When to Stop: A Memoir. Open Road Media. ISBN978-1480427754. Retrieved February 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
^"The Norwalk Hour – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
^Ebony and ivory - and longevity: A master's influence reverberates over 73 years at Curtis, The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 15, 2009.
^"Odyssey of an Inveterate Eclectic", Joseph Rezits, American Music Teacher, Vol. 48, No. 3 (December/January 1998/99), pp. 16-22, Music Teachers National Association.
^"Archives | The Philadelphia Inquirer". inquirer.com. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
^Nadine Cohodas. Princess Noire: The Tumultuous Reign of Nina Simone, University of North Carolina Press (February 15, 2012); ASIN: B016L9VZ6G, pg. 56,
^"Ruth Butterfield-Winter: Bio & Choral Music | Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc". sbmp.com. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
^ abc"Recital programs". Curtis Institute of Music. February 10, 1982. Retrieved February 10, 2019 – via Internet Archive.
^Who's Who in American Music; R.R. Bowker Co., 1985. p. 194
^Who's Who in American Music; R.R. Bowker Co., 1985. p. 285
^"Recital programs". Curtis Institute of Music. February 10, 1988. Retrieved February 10, 2019 – via Internet Archive.
^Who's Who in American Music; R.R. Bowker Co., 1985, pg. 440
vladimir, sokoloff, pianist, vladimir, sokoloff, february, 1913, october, 1997, american, pianist, accompanist, faculty, curtis, institute, music, addition, teaching, work, with, accompanying, piano, chamber, music, students, active, performer, vladimir, sokol. Vladimir Sokoloff February 21 1913 October 27 1997 was an American pianist and accompanist on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music In addition to his teaching work with the accompanying piano and chamber music students he was an active performer Vladimir Sokoloff pianist Vladimir Sokoloff and pianist Ruth Butterfield Winter in front of the Curtis Institute of MusicBackground informationBornFebruary 21 1913New York City New York U S DiedOctober 27 1997 aged 84 Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S GenresClassicalInstrument s Piano Contents 1 Life 2 Family and private life 3 Efrem Zimbalist 4 Appreciation 5 Students at the Curtis Institute 6 Quote 7 Selected discography 8 References 9 External linksLife Edit Vladimir Sokoloff Born in New York in 1913 Sokoloff entered the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia in 1929 studying with Abram Chasins Harry Kaufman and Louis Bailly He joined the faculty in 1936 In 1942 he took part in the founding of the New School in Philadelphia now the Esther Boyer School of Music at Temple University with his colleagues Jascha Brodsky Max Aronoff and Orlando Cole citation needed From 1938 to 1950 he was pianist for the Philadelphia Orchestra As a recital accompanist and pianist with a career of over 70 years his repertoire spanned all instrumental and vocal genres and styles Sokoloff collaborated with such artists as the violinists Efrem Zimbalist 1 with whom he had a 27 year collaboration accompanying recitals all over the world 2 Jaime Laredo Aaron Rosand violists William Primrose and Joseph di Pasquale the cellists Gregor Piatigorsky and Emanuel Feuermann flautist Julius Baker William Kincaid oboist Marcel Tabuteau and soprano Marcella Sembrich 3 Family and private life Edit Eleanor Sokoloff Vladimir Sokoloff Vladimir Sokoloff was a cousin of composer Noel Sokoloff 4 He was a nephew of conductor Nikolai Sokoloff 5 Another first cousin was pianist Theodore Saidenberg 2 Sokoloff married pianist Eleanor Blum who at 105 was still on the faculty of Curtis 6 The couple performed as a duo until the birth of their daughters Kathy director of development at the Settlement Music School 7 and Laurie principal piccolo player with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and professor at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University 8 Vladimir Sokoloff died in 1997 in Philadelphia aged 84 after a long illness 3 Efrem Zimbalist Edit Efrem Zimbalist playing violin Zimbalist used to tour the world with the accompanist Theodore Saidenberg When Saidenberg resigned to pursue a solo career his place was taken by his cousin Vladimir Sokoloff who had been acting as Zimbalist s class accompanist On early U S tours Zimbalist had performed with Sokoloff s uncle Nikolai founder and first conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra Vladimir or Billy as Zimbalist called him remained with him for the rest of his concert career some thirty years excepting the period Sokoloff spent in Special Services during World War II Sokoloff remembered how things started It was so casual I was just playing my regular schedule in the studio when he said Would you like to be my accompanist I was flabbergasted never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be asked to fill so important a post I was a young kid and had had no experience except playing in school and a few outside concerts that had been arranged for me The end of August I went up to The Rafters and we rehearsed solidly for two weeks 2 Roy Malan said Shortly after starting to work with Zimbalist they performed Saint Saens s Le cygne Zimbalist liked to hold the final G of the solo part to the very end in one bow while the piano brings the piece to a close After Sokoloff s initial performance Zimbalist in his gentle way admonished him for playing the concluding arpeggio too quickly His pianist confessed to a fear of stretching the bow beyond its limit Billy Zimbalist smiled I ll bet you 5 you can t play the ending slowly enough to make me run out of bow The next evening violinist and pianist exchanged glances before Le cygne when Zimbalist embarked on his last note Sokoloff jammed on the brakes seeming to grind almost to a torturous halt on each note he played Very pleased with himself after what seemed an eternity he finally reached the cadence Looking up to his astonishement he saw Zimbalist a scarcely concealed smirk on his face comfortably sustaining at mid bow Sokoloff was 5 poorer 2 Joseph de Pasquale and Vladimir Sokoloff after premiering the George Rochberg Sonata at the 1979 Viola Congress in Provo UtahAppreciation EditJoseph Rezits wrote the following recollection of Sokoloff When I first entered the Curtis Institute in 1942 1 was barely seventeen and eagerly searching for the path to excellence strongly influenced by what I observed and heard Hearing his absolutely superlative playing with unfailingly impeccable taste and immaculate ensemble whetted my appetite for ensemble music the medium in which I ultimately specialized I also was continuously impressed with his ability to learn scores with incredible rapidity and to do this by practicing a few minutes here and a few minutes there He made maximum use of his time and proved that long warm ups on both the physiological and psychological levels were not always possible or even necessary The collaborating pianist must always be aware of his partners weak spots or idiosyncrasies The most vivid memory of a pianist s savoir faire in this respect dates back to my student days at the Curtis Institute Vladimir Sokoloff the faculty accompanist and ensemble player was playing for an older member of the faculty who although retaining artistic powers of a high order was somewhat shall we say in less than prime condition technically The Wieniawski Violin Concerto was the major work in the program One of the most difficult passages for the violin in the first movement is a melodic minor one octave scale in fingered octaves This passage is preceded by a similar one an octave lower in the piano or orchestra In hearing the described scale passage on the piano I was startled to note that it was played with much hesitancy almost as if the pianist were struggling to get to the end When I heard the violinist continue the passage into the upper octave I knew immediately why Sokoloff had done this Understanding full well that the violinist would have great difficulty with the fingered octaves Sokoloff had incorporated the anticipated problem in his own part giving the whole passage a certain interpretative validity It was an astounding experience and one that I shall never forget 9 Students at the Curtis Institute EditSokoloff s most famous non classical student was Nina Simone 10 11 who was not admitted to Curtis as a piano Student despite Sokoloff s efforts on her behalf Other students included Ruth Butterfield 12 13 Ruth Crane Friedberg 14 Thomas Jaber 15 Joan Lippincott Alan Morrison 16 Chie Nagatani 13 Orlando Otey 17 Norman Mittelmann Eytan Pessen Paul Romero and Susan Starr 13 Quote EditOn Nina Simone She was not a genius but she had great talent I accepted her on the basis of her talent and with the understanding that I would prepare her for another audition at Curtis It was during that early period that she demonstrated at one lesson her ability to play jazz I remember distinctly telling her why don t you pursue this as your profession And she said Oh no my first love is classical music and I want to be a pianist 18 Selected discography EditDohnanyi Curtis String Quartet Vladimir Sokoloff Westminster XWN 18514 1957 Scriabin The Philadelphia Orchestra Eugene Ormandy Gilbert Johnson Vladimir Sokoloff RCA SB 6854 1971 Mason Jones Vladimir Sokoloff Music for French Horn Music Minus One MMO 8044 1973 Mason Jones Vladimir Sokoloff Music for French Horn Music Minus One MMO 8047 1973 William Kincaid Vladimir Sokoloff Philadelphia Orchestra Solo Flutist Platti Handel Bach Mozart Gluck SKU BR1058 Boston Records N D Camilla Williams Al Goodman and his orchestra Rib Guild Choristers Summertime Raphsody in Blue Gershwin RCA Victor 46 0004 78 mono 1947 Al Goodman and his orchestra Traumerei amp Undercurrent Brahms theme from 3rd Symphony RCA Victor 46 0008 78 mono 1947 References Edit Thomson Virgil October 16 2014 Virgil Thomson Music Chronicles 1940 1954 LOA 258 Library of America ISBN 9781598533644 Retrieved February 10 2019 via Google Books a b c d Roy Malan Efrem Zimbalist a life Amadeus Press 2004 ISBN 1 57467 091 3 pp 172 217 232 33 a b Vladimir Sokoloff 84 Pianist Who Accompanied the Famous November 4 1997 via NYTimes com Rorem Ned June 18 2013 Knowing When to Stop A Memoir Open Road Media ISBN 978 1480427754 Retrieved February 10 2019 via Google Books The Norwalk Hour Google News Archive Search news google com Retrieved February 10 2019 Ebony and ivory and longevity A master s influence reverberates over 73 years at Curtis The Philadelphia Inquirer November 15 2009 Ebony and ivory and longevity inquirer com Laurie Sokoloff NFA Lifetime Achievement Award www nfaonline org Odyssey of an Inveterate Eclectic Joseph Rezits American Music Teacher Vol 48 No 3 December January 1998 99 pp 16 22 Music Teachers National Association Archives The Philadelphia Inquirer inquirer com Retrieved July 14 2020 Nadine Cohodas Princess Noire The Tumultuous Reign of Nina Simone University of North Carolina Press February 15 2012 ASIN B016L9VZ6G pg 56 Ruth Butterfield Winter Bio amp Choral Music Santa Barbara Music Publishing Inc sbmp com Retrieved February 10 2019 a b c Recital programs Curtis Institute of Music February 10 1982 Retrieved February 10 2019 via Internet Archive Who s Who in American Music R R Bowker Co 1985 p 194 Who s Who in American Music R R Bowker Co 1985 p 285 Recital programs Curtis Institute of Music February 10 1988 Retrieved February 10 2019 via Internet Archive Who s Who in American Music R R Bowker Co 1985 pg 440 What happened Miss Simone Crown Archetype 2016 ISBN 9781101904879External links EditEleanor Sokoloff Sharing Her Gift Ebony and ivory and longevity A master s influence reverberates over 73 years at Curtis The Philadelphia Inquirer November 15 2009 NY Times Obituary Vladimir Sokoloff Piano Solo with Henri Rene with Oscar Shumsky Poulenc Flute Sonata on Youtube with Julius Baker Frank piano quintett with the Curtis Quartett Westminster recording with Oscar Shumsky youtube recording with Jaime Laredo Youtube Sokoloff playing Brahms Haydn with his future wife Eleanor Blum in 1938 Barber Cello Sonata With David Sawyer Cello Kincaid Vladimir Sokoloff Philadelphia Orchestra Solo Flutist on youtube Goodman and his orchestra Traumerei amp Undercurrent Brahms Primrose Plays Brahms Harris Benjamin amp Kreisler Jaime Laredo 1 Prize Winner 1959 Queen Elizabeth Competition Portals Biography Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vladimir Sokoloff pianist amp oldid 1132326963, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
