Kurz, Vilélm
Kurz, Vilélm
Kurz, Vilélm, Czech pianist and pedagogue; b. Nemecky Brod, Dec. 23, 1872; d. Prague, May 25, 1945. He studied piano with Julius Höger (1884–86) and Jakub Holfeld (1886–98), and also received training in organ and theory at the Prague Organ School (1886–87) before passing the state music examinations at the Prague Cons. (1892). He was active as a soloist and chamber music player, founding the Czech Trio and playing in the Czech Quartet. He was prof, of piano at the Lwów Cons. (1898–1919) and the Brno Cons. (1919–20). After teaching at the Brno branch of the Prague Cons. (1920–28), he settled in Prague and taught at the Cons. (1928–0), where he also was its rector (1936-37; 1938-39). Kurz was highly regarded as a pedagogue and publ. several piano methods. His most famous pupil was Rudolf Firkusny.
Bibliography
Z. Böhmova-Zahradnikova, V. K.:Zivot, pmce, meth-odika (V. K.: Life, Work, and Methods; Prague, 1954).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire