Arthur Willner
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (April 2010) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2009) |
Arthur Willner (5 March 1881 – 6 April 1959[1]) was a Czech composer and teacher.
Willner was born in Turn (
On 15 March 1938, Willner left Austria for Paris to escape the German Anschluss of Austria; he moved to England later that year. After arriving in England, Willner received an invitation through the Jewish Centre, Woburn House from Arthur Franklin, director of Routledge & Co, to stay at Chartridge House, Buckinghamshire. Willner stayed for two months, during which time he composed the English Concerto for Chamber Orchestra (Op. 98).[4] This work is one of only three English-themed works in his entire known output (the others being the Hereford Suite (Op. 102) and a handful of English songs).
In September 1939, Willner and his wife, Cecile, moved to Kington, Herefordshire, to stay at the gardener's cottage at Gravel Hill, residence of English composer
Willner composed over well over 100 works. Despite his relatively prominent place in the German musical establishment during the first part of the century, most of his works are now completely unknown and many believed lost. They included orchestral music (including six symphonies, a violin concerto Op. 67, two piano concertos and a concerto for string orchestra, Op. 37), chamber music (much of it with piano, but also five string quartets), choral music and song.
References
- ^ There has been some confusion over the date of Willner's death: Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart gives 20 April 1959, whilst the 5th edition of Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians gives 7 April 1959. According to his death certificate, his death was registered on 6 April 1959. Raber 2007: 991;[incomplete short citation] Baker 1971b: 254.
- ^ Flutist Quarterly, vol. 40, iss. 2, Winter 2015
- ^ Willner was initially appointed as a composition teacher in 1902 after Gustav Holländer heard his first string quartet; he was promoted to deputy director in 1904. Geiringer 1927: 365;[incomplete short citation] Bekker 1908: 64–65.[incomplete short citation]
- ^ Manuscript score of English Concerto, op 98
- ^ "Arthur Willner", Memim Encyclopedia
- ^ "Review of Games of Light, solo flute music performed by Francesca Arnone, MSR Classics MS 1457 (2014)"
External links
- Free scores by Arthur Willner at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- Guide to the Arthur Willner Collection at the Leo Baeck Institute New York
- List of émigré musicians from Nazi Europe who settled in Britain
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
