Adolphe Gutmann

Adolphe Gutmann (originally Wilhelm Adolf Gutmann) (12 January 1819 – 22 October 1882) was a German pianist and composer who was a pupil and friend of Frédéric Chopin.

Lithopgraphy and signature of Adolphe Gutmann around 1879.

Life

Gutmann was born in Heidelberg. He came to Paris in 1834,[1] at the age of 15, to study with Chopin, becoming one of the composer's favourites.[2] He performed in concert with Chopin, Charles-Valentin Alkan and Pierre-Joseph Zimmerman, Alkan's transcription of part of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony at a concert of 1838.[3] Gutmann was also the dedicatee of Chopin's Scherzo, Op. 39, published in 1839.[4]

Gutmann acted as copyist for a number of Chopin's works, and acted as a courier to take Chopin's letters to his family in Warsaw. Gutmann's own set of Etudes (his Op. 12) is dedicated to Chopin.[3] He was present at Chopin's death bed and preserved the glass from which Chopin took his last drink of water. Both he and Alkan were bequeathed the notes that Chopin had compiled in preparation for a piano teaching method. Gutmann died in La Spezia.

Works

Inspired by the style of his master, Gutmann is the author of several nocturnes, and twelve studies, studies characteristics that seem to announce the coming of Impressionism (two of his studies are called Sea, and The Storm, and are respective replicas of the study No. 1, Op. 25, by Chopin, and the Révolutionnaire). All his works have been quite popular in their time; but faded thereafter.

  • Nocturne Lyrique
  • Nocturne No.7, Op.20
  • Deux Nocturnes, Op.8
  • Deux Nocturnes, Op.16
  • Notturno grazioso, Op.51
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References
  1. Szulc, Tad (1999). Chopin in Paris: The Life and Times of the Romantic Composer. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0684867389.
  2. Niecks, Frederick (1980). Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician. Library of Alexandria. pp. nn. ISBN 146552374X.
  3. "Wilhelm Adolf (Adolphe) Gutmann". Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  4. von Lenz, W. (1983). The great piano virtuosos of our time from personal acquaintance. Рипол Классик. p. 70. ISBN 5874708030.

4. Ewa Sławińska-Dahlig, "Adolphe Gutmann - ulubiony uczeń Chopina", Warszawa 2013. ISBN 978-83-61142-70-6.

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