RRC Blog

A former violinist and Curtis student, Rockmore became the first, and arguably best, theremin virtuosa...

In October 1920 a young Russian physicist named Lev Termen inadvertently invented a new musical instrument while conducting government research on proximity sensors.  Christened the Theremin, the instrument was completely novel in that it was not played through physical touch – rather performers controlled pitch and volume strictly through the movement of their hands near the instrument’s precisely placed antennas.  The result is a synthesized, eerie pitch reminiscent of 1950s science fiction which – under the right hands – can be mesmerizingly beautiful.

The violinist, composer, conductor, and teacher was born April 9, 1889 in Rostov on Don, Russia. At the age of 12 he entered the prestigious Saint Petersburg Conservatory to study under famed pedagogue Leopold Auer. Following his graduation in 1907, the 18-year-old Zimbalist won the highly competitive Rubinstein Prize, cementing his reputation as one of the world’s great violinists.

On April 3, 1925, students of the Curtis Preparatory Department gave a concert in Knapp Hall (now the Rock Resource Center). The Preparatory Department, an original core element of Curtis’s educational structure, was intended for students who, though less advanced, showed an exceptional aptitude and interest in music. The goal for these preparatory students was admission to the Conservatory Department, which was analogous to the Curtis of today.

Happy birthday to Mstislav "Slava" Rostropovich! The Russian cellist and conductor was born on March 27, 1927 in the Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan. Considered one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century due to his interpretations and technique, he was also well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enlarged the cello repertoire more than any cellist before or since. These collaborations led to long-standing friendships and artistic partnerships with composers including Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Berio, Penderecki, Bernstein, Khachaturian, and Britten. Rostropovich was also a staunch advocate of human rights and, in 1974, was given the Award of the International League of Human Rights.