Jimmy Braun
Inscrit le: 12 May 2002
Messages: 2126
Localisation: France
|
 Posté le: 29 Sep 2005 17:29 Sujet du message: William Schneiderman au paradis de la timbale |
 |
|
William Schneiderman
[Born/né Aug. 10, 1916, New York City (USA)| Dead/mort Sept. 12, 2005, Oakdale (USA)]
Le percussionniste classique américain William Schneiderman est disparu à l'âge de 89 ans le 12 septembre 2005.
| http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05257/570930.stm a écrit: |
Obituary: William Schneiderman / Longtime Pittsburgh Symphony percussionist
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
By Andrew Druckenbrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
For a man once known as "The Worried Drummer," William Schneiderman had few concerns during a long and prosperous career as percussionist and timpanist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He served in the group from 1943 to 1982.
"He played a long time, and terrifically," said former student Ronald Carlisle.
Mr. Schneiderman died Monday at Kindred Hospital, North Fayette, of complications related to heart surgery. The Scott resident was 89.
Born in New York City on Aug. 10, 1916, Mr. Schneiderman played in the concert band at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers and in several regional honors orchestras, eventually graduating from the Juilliard School. He played timpani extensively as a freelancer, including for the touring Ballet Russe de Basil in 1940.
But it was his move to Pittsburgh in 1943, when he was recruited by conductor Fritz Reiner, that launched Mr. Schneiderman's profile regionally and nationally.
Manning the timpani of the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Chautauqua Symphony until the mid-1950s, Mr. Schneiderman switched to percussion at the PSO in 1956. From 1943 to 1958, his tenure in Chautauqua included well-loved annual performances of Adolph Schreiner's "The Worried Drummer." This comic work imagines a smaller orchestra only able to afford one percussionist, who has to frantically jump from instrument to instrument to play all the parts.
It was a fitting role for Mr. Schneiderman, for he devoted his life to learning many instruments. In his retirement, he took up the Irish drum, or bodhran.
"He hung out at [Mullaney's] Harp and Fiddle in the Strip District every Tuesday night for the last 10 years," said his daughter, Carol Shaw, of North Strabane. "He would go there famously early, save the first table on the inside of the door and then he played his drum while the dancers danced. Everybody just let him play because he was so good at it."
He was an active member of the Pittsburgh Ceili Club, which sponsored the events.
"He was very knowledgeable about different musical styles and characteristics," said Carlisle. "He was an eclectic individual [who] was constantly learning."
Mr. Schneiderman's appetite for knowledge extended beyond music.
"He was a walking encyclopedia," said Shaw. "He was a man of wisdom. He taught himself German and Japanese."
Mr. Schneiderman also taught percussion at Carnegie Mellon University (from 1945 to 1955), at Duquesne University (1953 to 1984) and privately.
"Sometimes he could be tough on you, particularly if you had dragged your feet that week and not practiced much," said Carlisle, of Scott. "But if you came in and you had done your work and played something well, he was very good about telling you this was acceptable. He had a methodical approach to things, a clear case of first principles first, then you build on that."
Mr. Schneiderman played on many Pittsburgh Symphony recordings and went on several of the orchestra's national and international tours. After retirement, he continued to play timpani with the Community Band South.
"He loved to play. He loved to teach, as well," said Carlisle. "That is why he wanted to keep playing with an amateur band. Many who played in the band profited by his tips."
In addition to his daughter, Mr. Schneiderman is survived by a grandson.
The Thomas-Little Funeral Service will welcome friends of Mr. Schneiderman from 7 to 9 p.m. today, and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at 5000 Noblestown Road, Oakdale. A funeral service will be held there at 10 a.m. Friday, with interment following at Robinson Run Cemetery. The family asks that donations be made to the Pittsburgh Symphony. |
| http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/regional/s_373893.html a écrit: |
Co-workers, students respected musician
By Jerry Vondas
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
William Schneiderman, a former timpanist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and music professor at Duquesne University, died Monday, Sept. 12, 2005, in Kindred Hospital, Oakdale. He was 89.
Vocal operatic coach Lorenzo Malfatti said Mr. Schneiderman, of Scott, was a "superb percussionist who was respected by all those who worked with him and by his students at Duquesne University."
"I met him when I was asked on occasion to sing with the Pittsburgh Symphony. He had a wonderful repertoire with his fellow musicians. Even if you were a bit nervous before going on, his warm smile and understanding temperament put you at ease."
Born and raised in New York City, Mr. Schneiderman began his music career by playing in the band at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers.
He was awarded two successive scholarships to study at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.
After a stint with the National Orchestral Association, Mr. Schneiderman was the timpanist with several touring ballet and opera companies, including the Ballet Russe de Basil, and performed under such noted conductors as Sir Thomas Beecham and Igor Stravinsky.
In 1943, he was selected by Hungarian-born conductor Fritz Reiner to become the timpanist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. It was a position he held for 13 years, while also performing with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in Chautauqua, N.Y.
Mr. Schneiderman later was assistant timpanist and percussionist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
He also taught percussion at the Chautauqua Summer Music School and at Duquesne University.
Ronald Carlisle -- whose mother, Florence Inghram Carlisle, was the concertmaster for the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra -- began his timpanist studies with Mr. Schneiderman in 1962 and joined the percussion section of the McKeesport Symphony in 1966, his senior year in high school.
Upon retiring from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1982, Mr. Schneiderman pursued many of his special interests, including performing for the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra, the Community Band in the South Hills, the Butler Symphony and the McKeesport Symphony.
"Mr. Schneiderman also pursued his interest in the German, Japanese and Celtic languages, and traveled to Ireland to participate in performances of traditional Irish music," Carlisle said. "He also learned to play the bodhran, an Irish hand-held, single-headed skin drum."
Mr. Schneiderman is survived by his daughter, Carol Shaw, of Scott, and a grandson, Adam C. Shaw. He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Pollock Schneiderman.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 tonight and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Thomas-Little Funeral Service Inc., 5000 Noblestown Road, Oakdale, where a funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Dan Ekas officiating.
Burial will be in Robinson Run Cemetery, McDonald. |
|
|
| ["Le bruit règne en maître sur la sensibilité humaine" | Luigi Russolo ] |
|
