Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler

Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler (July 16, 1863 – August 20, 1927)[1] was an Austrian-born U.S. pianist.[2][3]

Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler
Zeisler at piano circa 1915
Background information
Birth nameFannie Blumenfeld
Also known asFannie Bloomfield
Born(1863-07-16)July 16, 1863
Bielitz, Austrian Silesia, Austrian Empire
DiedAugust 20, 1927(1927-08-20) (aged 64)
Chicago, United States
Genresclassical
InstrumentsPiano
Years active1875–1925
Associated actsTheodor Leschetizky
Portrait from The New York Times, November 26, 1911

Biography

Zeisler was born Fannie Blumenfeld on July 16, 1863, in Bielitz, Austrian Silesia, to Jewish parents.[4] She emigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 4 in 1867. The family settled in Chicago, Illinois where they later changed their name to Bloomfield. She was the sister of Maurice Bloomfield and the aunt of Leonard Bloomfield.

At the age of six, before receiving any musical instruction, she began picking out tunes on the piano. Her first teachers were in Chicago; Bernard Ziehn and Carl Wolfsohn. In 1877, Annette Essipova, then on tour in the United States, heard her play and advised that she became a pupil of Theodor Leschetizky. She made her debut at the age of 11 in February 1875. In 1878, she returned to Austria to study in Vienna, under Leschetizky. While in Austria, she changed her name from Blumenfeld to Bloomfield. She returned to Chicago in 1883.

Bloomfield performed in concert in Chicago in April 1884. In January 1885, she debuted in New York City. Around the turn of the century, she made piano rolls of various piano compositions, Chopin's Waltz No. 11 in G minor being among them.[5][6] In 1888, she was honorably initiated into musical women's fraternity Alpha Chi Omega[7].

Personal life
ca. 1893

Bloomfeld married the attorney Sigmund Zeisler in 1885 and had three sons: Leonard Bloomfield Zeisler, Paul Bloomfield Zeisler, and Ernest Bloomfield Zeisler (married to Claire Zeisler). In 1888, she returned to Vienna to study with Leschetizky. She also began to tour in Europe and the United States, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Her last performance was in February 1925 in Chicago. She played the Beethoven Andante Favori and concertos by Chopin and Schumann.

Zeisler died in Chicago, Illinois on August 20, 1927.[3]

Discography and interviews
  • Caswell Collection, Vol. 3: Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler ASIN: B00005B7H6
  • The Genesis Recordings of Legendary Pianists, Vol. 1 ASIN: B00000J89K
  • Great pianists on piano playing from James Francis Cooke, (published in 1917 republished by Dover 1999)
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References
  1. Slonimsky, Nicolas (1978). "Zeisler, Fannie (Bloomfield)". Baker's Biographical dictionary of musicians (6th ed.). New York: Schirmer Books. p. 1940. ISBN 0-02-870240-9.
  2. She used different birth dates each time she applied for a passport. She used 11 April 1860 on 6 Jun 1902. She used 16 July 1863 on 27 July 1888. The rule of thumb is that the earliest records are the most reliable.
  3. Associated Press (August 21, 1927). "Fannie Zeisler Dies; Was Concert Pianist. 'Bernhardt of the Piano' Victim of Heart Attach After Long Illness in Chicago". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  4. Hallman, Diana. "Fannie Bloomfield Zeissler 1863–1927". Jewish Women's Archive.
  5. Teldec CD, 8.43930 (1988)
  6. Gerhard Dangel and Hans-W. Schmitz: Welte-Mignon Reproductions. Complete Library Of European Recordings For The Welte-Mignon Reproducing Piano 1905-1932. Stuttgart 2006. ISBN 3-00-017110-X. S. 420
  7. https://alphachiomega.historyit.com/item-detail.php?id=50#?c=&m=&s=&cv=1&xywh=-810%2C-1%2C3347%2C2627

Further reading
  • Dilworth, Hiram P. Ode on the pure art and the great achievement and the enduring name of Fannie Bloomfield-Zeisler (1928), ASIN: B00088ZRT8
  • Great pianists on piano playing, James Francis Cooke (Dover Publications, ISBN 0-486-40845-0)
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