Hoffmeister, Karel

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Hoffmeister, Karel

Hoffmeister, Karel, Czech pianist, pedagogue, and writer on music; b. Liblice, Sept. 26, 1868; d. Hlubokâ, Sept. 23, 1952. He studied piano with Jindčich Kàan, and later attended Hostinský’s lectures at the Univ. of Prague and graduated from the Prague Organ School. After teaching piano in Laibach (1891–98), he was made asst. lecturer (1898) and then prof. (1902) at the Prague Cons.; from 1919, gave master classes there. With K. Stecker, he was co-ed, of Hudebni revue (1908–18). As a pianist, Hoffmeister was a fine chamber music player, being the founder of the Czech Trio.

Writings

(all publ. in Prague): Bedrich Smetana (1915; 2nd ed., abr., 1917); Klavir (1923; 2nd ed., 1939); Antonin Dvorak (1924; Eng. tr., 1928); Josef Klička (1944); Tvorba Vitëzslava Novâka z let 1941-8 (The Works of Vitëzslav Novák Between 1941-8; 1949); 50 let s Vitëzslavem Novâkem (50 Years with Vitëzslav Novâk; 1949); Vývoj klavirni virtuosity (The Development of Piano Virtuosity; n.d.).

Bibliography

O. Kredba, K. H.: Obraz zivota a dila (K. H.: A Picture of Life and Works; Prague, 1948).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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