Richard Hoffman (24 May 1831 – 17 August 1909) was an English-born American pianist and composer.
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Early life and education edit
Richard Hoffman was born on 24 May 1831 in Manchester, England.[1] He migrated to New York City in his 16th year. He received early instruction from Anton Rubinstein, Franz Liszt, Sigismond Thalberg, Theodor Döhler and Leopold von Meyer.[2]
Career edit
After his arrival in America he made a tour of the country as a soloist,[2] and accompanied Jenny Lind on her tours beginning in 1850.[3] He also played with Louis Moreau Gottschalk and in 1875 with Hans von Bülow in New York.[2] He also appeared with the New York Philharmonic regularly.[3]
He composed music for the piano, songs, anthems, ballads and church music[2] and was also a teacher. He attained an international reputation for his performances. He wrote Some Musical Recollections of Fifty Years about his life, which was published in 1910.[3]
Personal life edit
Hoffman married Fidelia Marshall Lamson in 1869. They had a daughter, Malvina Hoffman, who was a portrait sculptor.[3]
He died on 17 August 1909 in Mount Kisco, New York.[3][4] The marble replica of the bust of her father was exhibited at the National Academy of Design.[3]
Selected recordings edit
- "Dixiana", and "In Memoriam L.M.G." on recital The Wind Demon and other 19th-century piano works by Ivan Davis (piano)
References edit
- ^ Louis Charles Elson (1904). The History of American Music. Macmillan. p. 290.
- ^ a b c d Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). . Encyclopedia Americana.
- ^ a b c d e f "Richard Hoffman". New York Historical Society. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
- ^ E. Douglas Bomberger (1999). Brainard's Biographies of American Musicians. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-313-30782-9.
Further reading edit
- Frederick James Crowest (1895). The Dictionary of British Musicians: From the Earliest Times to the Present. Jarrold and Sons. p. 10.