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Envoi: Erik Chisholm talks about Adolf Busch

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2024

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Summary

This talk, one of a series on ‘Men and Music’ given at the University of Cape Town summer school in 1964 by the Scottish composer, pianist and musical administrator Erik Chisholm and illustrated with slides and recordings, came to light too late to be included in the first edition of this book, but its closing image of the departing Busch brothers can now provide an apposite, and touching, envoi. Chisholm met Adolf, Herman and Serkin when he asked Adolf to present a programme of his own works to the Active Society for the Propagation of Contemporary Music1 in Glasgow. This concert by the Busch Trio, on 14 December 1934, included the world premiere of the Trio in C minor, Op. 48. It is good to be able to note that Chisholm's pessimism over the future of Busch's music has not been borne out.

One of the most talented German families of musicians born in the last decade of the nineteenth century was the Busches of Westphalia: Fritz Busch, founder conductor of the Glyndebourne Opera; Adolf Busch, noted violinist, leader of the famous string quartet which bore his name, and composer of concertos, symphonies and much chamber music; and Herman Busch, a very fine cellist. All three of them were friends of Sir Donald Tovey who, in 1934, nominated Fritz and Adolf for honorary D.Mus. degrees at Edinburgh University. As soon as I heard of this plan, I wrote to Adolf Busch in Switzerland, asking him if there was a possibility of him giving us a concert. He replied by telegram; I have it here – it reads:

Chisholm, Active Society, 221 West George Street Glasgow In this moment I finished my new trio for piano violin and cello stop Programme would be sonate for piano and violin secondly sonata piano solo thirdly the new trio stop Propose in communication (he meant co-operation) with Edinburgh 11 or 14 December Greetings your Adolf Hitler – I mean Adolf Busch

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Adolf Busch
The Life of an Honest Musician
, pp. 1283 - 1288
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Print publication year: 2024

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