July 21: Names and Notes in Music

[Lance]

JULY 21

Births and Deaths

• Born 1903: Paul Baumgartner, pianist, died 10-19-1976
• Died 1996: Claudia Cassidy, music critic/reviewer, born 11-15-1899
• Born 1883: Carl Engel, musicologist, died 05-06-1944
• Born 1926: Albert Fuller, harpsichordist
• Died 2000: Iain Hamilton, composer, born-?? [aged 78]
• Born 1938: Anton Kuerti, pianist
• Died 1996: Sofia Preobrazhenskaya, mezzo-soprano, born 09-14-1904
• Died 1946: Paul Rosenfeld, writer/music critic, born 05-04-1890
• Born 1935: Margit Schramm, soprano, died 05-12-1996
• Born 1920: Issac Stern, violinist, died 09-22-2001
• Died 1976: Gerhard Taschner, violinist, born 05-22-1922
• Born 1873: Herbert Witherspoon, bass singer, died 05-10-1935

Musical Quote for Today

"[Tenor] Giovanni Martinelli, asked by a reporter why he had endorsed a certain brand of cigarettes, delcaring they didn't irritate his throat. 'Yes, yes, of course I gave that endorsement. How could they irritate my throat? I have never smoked.'"
from Bartlett's Familiar Anecdotes

[oisfetz]

Taschner was a great violinist, with a superior technique. Very few remember him now. His recording from the 40s.and 50s.are excelent.

[Lance]

Taschner was a great violinist, with a superior technique. Very few remember him now. His recording from the 40s.and 50s.are excelent.

I came to enjoy Taschner's art only within the last few years or so when his recordings began to be reissued. For those interested, Bayer Records issued a marvelous 2-disc set [200.053], and there are several recordings on the Tahra label. But probably the best I've enjoyed is a 4-CD set on the Dabringhaus und Grimm label [642.0985]. Taschner also made some recordings with the celebrated pianist Walter Gieseking.