Ivan Galamian

Ivan Galamian

Galamian, circa 1930s
Born Ivan Alexander Galamian
(1903-01-23)January 23, 1903 O.S.
Tabriz, Iran
Died April 14, 1981(1981-04-14) (aged 78)
New York City, U.S.
Nationality American
Education Moscow School of Philharmonic Society
Occupation Violinist, teacher
Years active 1924–1981
Known for Teaching at Juilliard, Meadowmount School of Music
Spouse(s) Judith Johnson

Ivan Alexander Galamian (Armenian: Իվան Ղալամեան; February 5 [O.S. January 23] 1903[1] – April 14, 1981) was an Iranian-born Armenian violin teacher of the twentieth century.

Biography

Galamian was born in Tabriz, Iran to an Armenian family. Soon after his birth the family emigrated to Moscow, Russia. Galamian studied violin at the School of the Philharmonic Society with Konstantin Mostras (a student of Leopold Auer) and graduated in 1919.[2][3] He was jailed at age fifteen by the Bolshevik government. The opera manager at the Bolshoi Theatre rescued Galamian; the manager argued that Galamian was a necessary part of the opera orchestra, and subsequently the government released him. Soon thereafter he moved to Paris and studied under Lucien Capet in 1922 and 1923. In 1924 he debuted in Paris.[2][3] Due to a combination of nerves, health, and a fondness for teaching, Galamian eventually gave up the stage in order to teach full-time.[4] He became a faculty member at the Conservatoire Rachmaninoff where he taught from 1925 to 1929. His earliest pupils in Paris include Vida Reynolds, the first woman in Philadelphia Orchestra's first-violin section, and Paul Makanowitzky.[2][5]

In 1937 Galamian moved permanently to the United States. In 1941 he married Judith Johnson in New York City.[2] He taught violin at the Curtis Institute of Music beginning in 1944, and became the head of the violin department at the Juilliard School in 1946. He wrote two violin method books, Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching (1962) and Contemporary Violin Technique (1962).[1] Galamian incorporated aspects of both the Russian and French schools of violin technique in his approach.[6] In 1944 he founded the Meadowmount School of Music, a summer program in Westport, New York. The school has remained operational and has trained thousands of world class musicians.[4][7] Galamian taught concurrently at Curtis, Juilliard, and Meadowmount schools. He did not retire and maintained an active full-time work schedule. He died at the age of 78 in 1981 in New York City. Following his passing, his wife took on an active role in managing the Meadowmount school.[1][6]

Galamian's most notable teaching assistants — later distinguished teachers in their own right — were Margaret Pardee, Dorothy DeLay, Sally Thomas, Pauline Scott, Robert Lipsett, Lewis Kaplan, David Cerone, and Elaine Richey.

Galamian held honorary degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music, Oberlin College, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. He was an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music, London.[1]

Notable pupils

Edited works

Publications

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ivan Galamian (2013). "Ivan Galamian: A Biographical Sketch, by Stephanie Chase". Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching. Courier Corporation. p. xi–xv. ISBN 9780486498645. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Anthony Feinstein (2005). Michael Rabin: America's Virtuoso Violinist. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 19. ISBN 9781574671094. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Barbara Laurie Sand (2005). Teaching Genius: Dorothy DeLay and the Making of a Musician. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 47. ISBN 9781574671209. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Judith Karp (April 26, 1981). "Galamian - A Great Violin Teacher". New York Times. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  5. ↑ Peter Dobrin (February 10, 2000). "V. Reynolds, 78, Violinist and Teacher". philly.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  6. 1 2 John Rockwell (April 15, 1981). "Ivan Galamian, Teacher of Famous Violinists, Dies". New York Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Meadowmount School of Music – Distinguished Meadowmount Alumni". meadowmount.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Vincent Frittelli". angelfire.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  9. ↑ "James Maurer". Suzuki Association of the Americas. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
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