Contents


Collection Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Organization of the Rudolf Kolisch Collection

Selected Search Terms

Container List

Musical Analysis and Examples

Correspondence

Miscellaneous

Rudolf Kolisch Collection

Processed by the Music Division of the Library of Congress

2010

Collection Summary

Creator Kolisch, Rudolf, 1896-1978
Title Rudolf Kolisch Collection
Span Dates 1921-1943
Abstract: Rudolf Kolisch was a Viennese-American violinist and string quartet player. The collection contains thirty-one items, principally holograph manuscript correspondence, that provide insight into the professional relationship between Kolisch and composers Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern. Included among these are two Berg manuscripts that present analysis and musical examples from his Lyric suite and String quartet, op. 3.
Extent: 31 items1 container1 linear foot
Language: Collection material in German.
Identification: ML31.K63

Biographical Note

Rudolf Kolisch (1896-1978) was a prominent Viennese-American violinist and string quartet player who played his instrument left-handed as a result of a childhood injury. His Kolisch Quartet gave seminal performances and premieres of chamber music that included compositions by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern. In 1935, Kolisch immigrated to the United States, where he developed a parallel career as a professor of music at the University of Wisconsin, the New England Conservatory of Music, and other institutions.

Date Event
1896 July 20 Born in Klamm, Austria
1913 Graduates from Vienna Music Academy and Vienna University
1919 Studies composition with Arnold Schoenberg
1919-1921 Plays a leading role in Schoenberg's "Verein für Musikalische Privataufführungen" (Society for Private Musical Performances)
1921 Forms the Wiener Streichquartett (Rudolf Kolisch, Fritz Rothschild, Marcel Dick, Joachim Stutschewsky)
1924 Arnold Schoenberg marries Kolisch's sister, Gertrud
1927 Forms the Kolisch Quartett (Rudolf Kolisch, Felix Khuner, Eugene Lehner, Benar Heifetz)
1935 Kolisch Quartett immigrates to the United States and makes its American debut performance at the Library of Congress
1939 Kolisch Quartett disbands
1939 Begins teaching at the New School for Social Research, New York
1943 Publishes his best known article, Tempo and character in Beethoven's music
1944 Becomes first violinist of Pro Arte Quartet
1944 Begins teaching at the University of Wisconsin
1953-1958 Teaches at the Akademie für Tonkunst and Ferienkurse für neue Musik in Darnstadt, Germany
1967 Begins teaching at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston
1974-1977 Teaches chamber music performance at the annual Schoenberg Seminars in Mödling, Austria
1978 Aug. 1 Dies in Watertown, Massachusetts

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Scope and Content Note

The Rudolf Kolisch Collection contains thirty-one items, principally manuscript correspondence, that provide insight into the professional relationship between Kolisch and composers Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern, from 1921-1943. The Musical Analysis and Examples series includes materials related to Berg's Lyric suite and String quartet, op. 3. The Correspondence series consists of postcards and letters, chiefly from Webern to Kolisch, that discuss compositional progress and upcoming performances. Among the works mentioned are Webern's String trio, op. 20, String quartet, op. 28, Six bagatelles, op. 9, Fünf Sätze, op. 5, Symphony, op. 21, and Variations for piano, op. 27, as well as various compositions by Schoenberg, Berg, and Beethoven.

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Selected Search Terms

People

  • Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827--Criticism and interpretation.
  • Berg, Alban, 1885-1935--Correspondence.
  • Berg, Alban, 1885-1935--Criticism and interpretation.
  • Berg, Alban, 1885-1935--Performances.
  • Berg, Alban, 1885-1935. Lyrische Suite.
  • Berg, Alban, 1885-1935. Quartet, strings, op. 3.
  • Kolisch, Rudolf, 1896-1978--Correspondence.
  • Kolisch, Rudolf, 1896-1978.
  • Kolisch, Rudolf, 1896-1978.
  • Schoenberg, Arnold, 1874-1951--Correspondence.
  • Schoenberg, Arnold, 1874-1951--Criticism and interpretation.
  • Schoenberg, Arnold, 1874-1951--Performances.
  • Webern, Anton, 1883-1945--Correspondence.
  • Webern, Anton, 1883-1945--Criticism and interpretation.
  • Webern, Anton, 1883-1945--Performances.

Form/Genre

  • Correspondence.

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Organization of the Rudolf Kolisch Collection

The Rudolf Kolisch Collection is organized in 3 series:

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Container List

Musical Analysis and Examples

Berg, Alban

Analysis of Lyric suite Holograph manuscript in ink, with additions in pencil; [9] p.

Fragebogen Holograph manuscript with music in ink and text in pencil; [2] p.

Correspondence

Arnold Schoenberg to RK, 1943 Dec. 2 Typescript letter with notes in pencil; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1921 July 25 Holograph manuscript postcard in black ink

Anton Webern to RK, 1927 Aug. 13 Holograph manuscript postcard in black ink

Anton Webern to RK, 1927 Aug. 23 Holograph manuscript postcard in black ink

Anton Webern to RK, 1927 Sept. 7 Holograph manuscript postcard in black ink

Anton Webern to RK, 1927 Sept. 21 Holograph manuscript postcard in black ink

Anton Webern to RK, 1928 July 14 Holograph manuscript postcard in black ink

Anton Webern to RK, 1928 July 19 Holograph manuscript postcard blue-purple pencil

Anton Webern to RK, 1928 Sept. 22 Holograph manuscript postcard in black ink

Anton Webern to RK, 1929 Apr. 1 Holograph manuscript postcard in black ink

Anton Webern to RK, 1921 Aug. 8 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1924 Mar. 4 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1927 June 13 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [1] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1927 Oct. 9 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1928 Jan. 20 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1928 Mar. 11 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1928 Mar. 17 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [1] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1929 July 1 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [1] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1931 Mar. 21 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1934 Oct. 4 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1936 Nov. 7 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [3] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1937 Mar. 31 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1937 May 31 Holograph manuscript letter in black-blue ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1937 Dec. 22 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1938 Apr. 19 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [4] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1938 Dec. 1 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1938 Aug. 17 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [2] p.

Anton Webern to RK, 1939 Mar. 30 Holograph manuscript letter in black ink; [1] p.

Miscellaneous

[Unidentified drawing of a stage?] Crayon; [2] boards

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