Curtis Institute of Music Duo-Art Piano Roll Collection ARS.0215

Benjamin E. Bates
Archive of Recorded Sound
soundarchive@stanford.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: Archive of Recorded Sound
Title: Curtis Institute of Music Duo-Art Piano Roll Collection
source: Groman, Richard
source: Taylor, Robert M.
source: Hofmann, Josef, 1876-1957
Identifier/Call Number: ARS.0215
Physical Description: 14 box(es) (230) piano roll(s)
Date (inclusive): 1913-1932

Content Description

This collection consists of Duo-Art piano rolls once curated by Josef Hofmann, pianist and director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, from 1926 to 1938. His performances of Beethoven, Chopin, and his own compositions are included. Other notable pianists include Harold Bauer, Alfred Cortot, Guiomar Novaes, Ignace Jan Paderewski, and Serge Prokofieff among others.

Curator's biography

"Josef Casimir Hofmann, (born Jan. 20, 1876, Podgorze, near Kraków, Pol.—died Feb. 16, 1957, Los Angeles), Polish-born American pianist, especially noted for his glittering performances of the music of Frédéric Chopin.
He gave his first concert at the age of 6 and toured the United States at 11. Later he studied with two leading pianists of the late 19th century, Moritz Moszkowski and Anton Rubinstein. He resumed his public career at 18 and from 1898 lived mainly in the United States. From 1926 to 1938 he was director of the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia. His playing was considered noble and poetic, free from any eccentricity, and never routine. He composed a symphony, five piano concerti, and solo piano music, some published under the pseudonym Michel Dvorsky. He also wrote three books on piano playing."--Encyclopædia Britannica.

Access

Open for research; material must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use. Contact the Archive of Recorded Sound for assistance.

Restrictions

Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the creators or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound.

Cite as

Curtis Institute of Music Duo-Art Piano Roll Collection, ARS-0215. Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, CA.

Source of acquisition

The Curtis Institute of Music Duo-Art Piano Roll Collection was donated to the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound by Richard Groman in 2020.

Other Finding Aids

Draft inventory is available, and contains most current description of individual piano rolls: https://purl.stanford.edu/ff979pf4475

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Piano music
Player piano rolls
Groman, Richard
Taylor, Robert M.
Hofmann, Josef, 1876-1957