Rudolph Schirmer

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G. Schirmer, Inc. cover page of Beriot's Airs Varies. Schirmer was the former chairman of the Board of the music publishing corporation. Schirmer cover page of Beriot's Airs Varies.jpg
G. Schirmer, Inc. cover page of Bériot's Airs Variés. Schirmer was the former chairman of the Board of the music publishing corporation.

Rudolph Edward Schirmer Jr. (June 18, 1919- Nov 19, 2000) was a composer, lyricist, poet, and the former chairman of the Board of G. Schirmer Music Inc., an American classical music publishing company. [1] In World War II, he worked in the U.S. Military Intelligence Service during the war in a unit called the Ritchie Boys, which was a unit that consisted of German-speaking personnel for roles in counterintelligence in Europe, translating key information from German prisoners of war (POW), and related services. [2]

Contents

Starting in 1949, Schirmer was a prolific song writer for over 20 years. He occasionally used poetry by notable poets or books by notable authors as the lyrics for songs.

In 1968, he wrote Hymn to the Americas (Himno a las Americas in Spanish) which was performed by the Washington National Symphony at the Fourth Inter-American Music Festival in 1968.

Early life

Rudolph Schirmer was the son of Rudolph Edward Schirmer Sr., the previous publisher and president of G. Schirmer. [3] His grandfather was Gustaf Schirmer, the founder of the G. Schirmer corporation. [4]

Rudolph E. Schirmer Jr. originally attended Princeton University. He later left Princeton during his sophomore year to attend the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied composition under Rosario Scalero. Although he left Princeton to transfer to another school, he is considered a 1941 alumnus by the university. [5]

Music and writing career

Schirmer's works in music and literature span close to 50 years:

1949

In 1949, he was one of the co-writers for the German book 3 Briefe an Kurt Leimer (3 Letters to Kurt Leimer). [6] Kurt Leimer was a German pianist, composer, and piano teacher who had been drafted in World War II into the Wehrmacht (collective of armed forces of Nazi Germany) and became a POW in Livorno, Italy in 1944, as the war was coming to a close. [7] Schirmer worked in the Ritchie Boys unit in WW II, which consisted of German-speaking interrogators for interviewing German POWs. However, it is unclear if Schirmer and Leimer had met during the war.

In terms of musical works, Schirmer had copyrighted the song he had written "Remember thee!" for voice and piano, with words by the English Romantic poet Lord Byron (1788- 1824). [8] The same year, he also wrote the song "Love's Secret" with words by English poet and artist William Blake (1757- 1827) [9] as well as "So we''ll go no more a-roving" with words also by Lord Byron. [10]

1955

In 1955, he did the music arrangement of "A Child's Prayer", which was a song for three-part chorus of women's voices accompanied by piano. The lyrics were from the 1944 book Prayer for a Child by American novelist, poet, and children's fiction writer Rachel Field (1894-1942), which was a classic bedtime prayer. [11] [12]

1960s

In 1960, Schirmer copyrighted his musical compositions for the musical Forty Ways to Sunday. Some of the compositions can be below in the section named Music for musical 40 ways to Sunday.

Between 1961 and 1963, he wrote the music and lyrics for the following songs:

In 1964, he wrote the collection of poems titled A Friend in Fantasy: Poems. [13]

In 1968, he wrote Hymn to the Americas (Himno a las Americas in Spanish), which was for a four-part chorus of mixed voices with a soprano solo and piano accompaniment. The Spanish text was written Fernando Flores. It was performed by the Washington National Symphony at the Fourth Inter-American Music Festival in 1968. [14] [15]

1998


In 1998, he was reader/performer for the published audiobook The Doors of Perception , which is reading of the 1954 book of English philosopher and writer Aldous Huxley. [16] The work ties into the earlier works of Schirmer based, in that as the song "Love's Secret" (1949) incorporates the words from the poem of the same name by William Blake, so is the title of "The Door of Perception" from Blake's 1793 book The Marriage of Heaven and Hell : [17]

If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.

Discography (recorded media)

TitleDateWordsMusicArrangementPerformer
Remember thee! Remember thee! [8] 1949 Romantic poet Lord Byron (1788- 1824)Rudolph Schirmer
Love's Secret [9] 1949English poet and artist William Blake (1757- 1827)Rudolph Schirmer
So we''ll go no more a-roving [10] 1949George Gordan Byron (Lord Byron)Rudolph Schirmer
A Child's Prayer: [11]

for three-part chorus of women's voices with piano accompaniment.

1955American novelist, poet, and children's fiction writer Rachel Field Gustav KlemmRudolph Schirmer
Yvonne [18] 1957Rudolph SchirmerAbbey McVayRudolph Schirmer
United States Victory March [19] 1961Rudolph

Schirmer

Gene von Hallberg
Bluebird [20] [21] 1961Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Seven Songs: [22]
  • Form of Wooing.
  • Sound of Laughter.
  • Honey Shun.
  • Wanderlust.
  • Lullaby.
  • Ianthe.
  • My Heart is a River
1962Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Don't Mention Love Again [23] 1963Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
The Gift of Christmas [24] 1963Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Nobody Wants My Heart [25] 1963Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
You [26] 1963Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Hymn to the Americas [14] 1968Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
The Doors of Perception [16] (Audiobook)1998English writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley Rudolph Schirmer

Books and poetry (printed media)

TitleAuthor
3 Briefe an Kurt Leimer [6] 1949 Hans W. Heinsheimer, Kurt Leimer, Gustave Schirmer, Rudolph Schirmer
A Poem for Spain: Santa Cruz del Valle de Los Caidos [27] Rudolph Schirmer
A Friend in Fantasy; Poems [28] 1964Rudolph Schirmer
Introduction to Art Song. Mezzo-soprano/alto : Songs in English for Classical Voice Students. [29] 2016Joan Frey Boytim (Compiler), Laura Ward (Instrumentalist), Brendan Fox (Instrumentalist), Richard Hageman, C. Alison-Crompton, Rudolph Schirmer, Easthope Martin, Carl Hahn, Herbert Kingsley, Eric H. Thiman, Clara Edwards, Franco Leoni, Samuel Barber, Thomas Linley, William Schuman, Thomas Vincent Cator, John Jacob Niles, Roger Quilter, Thomas Augustine Arne

Personal life

Schirmer's first marriage was in 1949 to Countess Marnegu Eugenia Wenckheim (Countess Ena Wenkheim), a descendant of the leadership of the Austria-Hungarian Empire. The wedding was at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In the same year of Shirmer's first marriage to Countess Ena Wenkheim, he was one of the co-writers for the German book 3 Briefe an Kurt Leimer (3 Letters to Kurt Leimer). However, they were divorced in 1953. [30] [31]

On February 8, 1958, Schirmer married film actress Iris Flores in New York City. Flores was the granddaughter of the former president of Costa Rica, the late Rafael Yglesias Castro. [32] While they were married, Schirmer wrote Hymn to the Americas (Himno a las Americas in Spanish), which was for a four-part chorus of mixed voices with a soprano solo and piano accompaniment. The Spanish text was written by his brother-in-law and the former Vice Consul to the Government of Costa Rica, Fernando Flores. [33] It was performed by the Washington National Symphony at the Fourth Inter-American Music Festival in 1968. After 12 years of marriage, they were divorced in November of 1970. [34]

On January 9, 1972, Schirmer married Maria Raffaela Mormino. [35] They were married until Schirmer passed away in 2000. [1]

Lyrics for Love's Secret

The William Blake poem Love's Secret were the lyrics for the Schirmer song of the same name. The poem is presently in the public domain: [36]

Never seek to tell thy love,

 Love that never told can be;

For the gentle wind doth move

 Silently, invisibly.

I told my love, I told my love,

 I told her all my heart,

Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears.

 Ah! she did depart!

Soon after she was gone from me,

 A traveller came by,

Silently, invisibly:

 He took her with a sigh.

Music for musical Forty Ways to Sunday

In 1960, Schirmer copyrighted his musical compositions for the musical Forty Ways to Sunday. The following are the majority of the songs:

Forty Ways to Sunday
TitleWordsMusic
Forty Ways to Sunday [37] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Biggest Little City [38] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Divorcing Quietly [39] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Don't Be a Martyr [40] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Evening Star [41] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Gosh, Darn, Dern It [42] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Him Again [43] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
I Get a Yen [44] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
I Wonder if I'll Ever Fall in Love? [45] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
It's a Glowing [46] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Just Do It [47] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Little Old We [48] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Lullaby [49] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
A Man Has to Get Away [50] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
My Man O' War [51] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Wandering Man [52] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Pullin' Up Stakes [53] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
See You Later [54] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer
Slot Machine [55] Rudolph SchirmerRudolph Schirmer

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References

  1. 1 2 "Paid Notice: Deaths SCHIRMER, RUDOLPH EDWARD". The New York Times. 2000-12-03. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  2. ↑ Service and Citizenship: Examining the Historical Relationship between Immigration and Military Service in the United States...Page 68 (kennesaw.edu)
  3. ↑ Webmaster (2020-05-03). "Rudolf Schirmer (1859-1919)". Mahler Foundation. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  4. ↑ "G. Schirmer / AMP". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  5. ↑ "Rudolph Edward Schirmer '41". Princeton Alumni Weekly. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  6. 1 2 Heinsheimer, Hans W., et al. 3 Briefe an Kurt Leimer. 1949.
  7. ↑ "Kurt Leimer Stiftung". www.kurtleimer.ch. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  8. 1 2 Remember thee! remember thee! For voice and piano, by Rudolph Schirmer, (words by Lord Byron) Copyright: G. Schirmer, Inc. 22 August 1949, EP39818
  9. 1 2 Love's Secret; for voice and piano, by Rudolph Schirmer, (word by William Blake. Copyright by G. Schirmer, Inc., 19 August 1949; EP40084.
  10. 1 2 So we'll go no more a-roving; for voice and piano, by Rudolph Schirmer, (words by Lord Byron). Copyright G. Schirmer, Inc., 19 August 1948; EP40085.
  11. 1 2 Type of Work: Music Registration Number / Date: RE0000189852 / 1983-12-12 Renewal registration for: PA0000196258 / 1955-05-17 Title: A Child’s prayer. For three-part chorus of women’s voices with piano acc. Arr. Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Claimant: Rudolph Schirmer (A) Basis of Claim: New Matter: "arr." WebVoyage Record View 1 (loc.gov)
  12. ↑ Field, Rachel (2004). Prayer for a child. Internet Archive. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN   978-0-689-87356-0.
  13. ↑ A Friend in Fantasy. 1st edition. Exposition Press, 204 pages. Copyright: Rudolph Schirmer, 24 June 1964. A720277,
  14. 1 2 Hymn to the Americas. Words & music: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright G. Schirmer. 18 June 1968. EP247185
  15. ↑ Times, Allen Hughesspecial To the New York (1968-06-25). "A SCHIRMER WORK GIVEN AT FESTIVAL; First U.S. Piece Is Offered at Inter-American Series". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  16. 1 2 Type of Work: Sound Recording Registration Number / Date: SR0000179059 / 1999-06-21 Title: The doors of perception / by Aldous Huxley. Description: 2 sound cassettes. Performer: Read by Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Claimant: ℗ Audio Partners Publishing Corporation (employer for hire) Date of Creation: 1998 Date of Publication: 1998-08-14 Previous Registration: Text preexisting. Basis of Claim: New Matter: sound recording. Names: Huxley, Aldous Schirmer, Rudolph Audio Partners Publishing Corporation
  17. ↑ Aldous Huxley - The Doors of Perception.pdf (archive.org)
  18. ↑ Yvonne. Words and arrangement: Rudolph Schirmer. Music: Abbey McVay. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer & Abbey McVay. 8 March 1957, EU470255
  19. ↑ United State Victory March. Music: Rudolph Schirmer. Arranged for band by Gene von Hallberg. Copyright: G. Schirmer. 11 November 1966. EP223860.
  20. ↑ Type of Work: Music Registration Number / Date: RE0000429000 / 1989-02-09 Renewal registration for: EP0000150403 / 1961-03-24 Title: Bluebird. For voice and piano. w & m Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Claimant: Rudolph Schirmer (A) Variant title: Bluebird WebVoyage Record View 1 (loc.gov)
  21. ↑ "Bluebird : for voice and piano | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  22. ↑ Schirmer, Rudolph. Seven Songs. For Voice and Piano ... [1.] Form of Wooing. [2.] Sound of Laughter. [3.] Honey Shun. [4.] Wanderlust. [5.] Lullaby. [6.] Ianthe. [7.] My Heart Is a River. G. Schirmer, 1962.
  23. ↑ Type of Work: Music Registration Number / Date: RE0000525156 / 1991-02-08 Renewal registration for: EP0000181049 / 1963-11-01 Title: Don’t mention love again. For voice & piano. w & m Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Claimant: Rudolph Schirmer (A) Variant title: Don’t mention love again WebVoyage Record View 1 (loc.gov)
  24. ↑ Type of Work: Music Registration Number / Date: RE0000525126 / 1991-02-08 Renewal registration for: EP0000181050 / 1963-11-01 Title: The Gift of Christmas. For voice & piano. w & m Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Claimant: Rudolph Schirmer (A) Variant title: The Gift of Christmas WebVoyage Record View 1 (loc.gov)
  25. ↑ Type of Work: Music Registration Number / Date: RE0000525160 / 1991-02-08 Renewal registration for: EP0000181048 / 1963-11-01 Title: Nobody wants my heart. For voice & piano. w & m Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Claimant: Rudolph Schirmer (A) Variant title: Nobody wants my heart
  26. ↑ Type of Work: Music Registration Number / Date: RE0000525125 / 1991-02-08 Renewal registration for: EP0000181047 / 1963-11-01 Title: You. For voice & piano. w & m Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Claimant: Rudolph Schirmer (A) Variant title: You
  27. ↑ Schirmer, Rudolph. A Poem for Spain: Santa Cruz Del Valle de Los Caidos. Schirmer, Ronald.
  28. ↑ Schirmer, Rudolph. A Friend in Fantasy; Poems. Exposition Press, 1964.
  29. ↑ Boytim, Joan Frey, et al. Introduction to Art Song. Mezzo-Soprano/Alto : Songs in English for Classical Voice Students. G. Schirmer, Inc., 2016, https://www.halleonard.com/mylibrary/.
  30. ↑ "La Sistina: la misteriosa isla bonaerense que fue hogar de una condesa austríaca y hoy es un santuario de naturaleza". LA NACION (in Spanish). 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  31. ↑ "Dec 10, 1954, page 367 - Daily News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  32. ↑ "MRS.'IRIS FLOS. REMARRIED 'HERE; Wed to Rudolph Schirmer Music Publisher, in Home of Bridegroom's Mother". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  33. ↑ "Film Actress and Husband on Honeymoon Here". Palm Springs Desert Sun .
  34. ↑ Ancestry.com - California, U.S., Divorce Index, 1966-1984
  35. ↑ "Join Ancestry®". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  36. ↑ Poets, Academy of American. "Love's Secret by William Blake - Poems | Academy of American Poets". Poets.org. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  37. ↑ Forty Ways to Sunday; from Forty Way to Sunday, w & m Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960. EU643252
  38. ↑ Biggest Little City; from Forty Way to Sunday, w & m Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960. EU643260
  39. ↑ Divorcing Quietly; from Forty Way to Sunday, w & m Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960. EU643261
  40. ↑ Don't Be a Martyr; from Forty Way to Sunday, w & m Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960. EU643242
  41. ↑ Evening Star; from Forty Way to Sunday, w & m Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960. EU643233
  42. ↑ Gosh, Darn, Dern It; from Forty Way to Sunday, w & m Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960. EU643250
  43. ↑ Him Again; from Forty Way to Sunday, w & m Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960. EU643244
  44. ↑ I Get a Yen; from Forty Way to Sunday, w & m Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960. EU643251
  45. ↑ I Wonder if I'll Ever Fall in Love. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643250
  46. ↑ It's a Glowing. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643236
  47. ↑ Just Do It. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643234
  48. ↑ Little Old We. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643234
  49. ↑ Lullaby. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643256
  50. ↑ A Man Has to Get Away. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643257
  51. ↑ My Man O' War. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643241
  52. ↑ Wandering Man. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643238
  53. ↑ Pullin' Up Stakes. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643245
  54. ↑ See You Later. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643240
  55. ↑ Slot Machine. From Forty Way to Sunday, w & m: Rudolph Schirmer. Copyright Rudolph Schirmer. 10 October 1960; EU643258

Sheet music of "Bluebird" by Schirmer

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