I
2445 Pickwick Rd. Dickeyville, Md. 21207 Dec. 27, 1976
Dear Artur Rubinstein, Happy, happy birthday ! I have always been gratly inspired by your public concerts and recordings as well as by your book My Younger Years, and the excce and inspiring book by Aylesa Porsee about you. I have a particularly warm feeling since my mother came from the same city as your birth ( my father, unbelievably, came from the same city as Horowitz-which I suppose pre-ordained me to become a pianist... I was also, very moved by the wonderful film you made -which I was fortunate to see during a visit to Sydney. How I wish it would be distributed here. Am enclosing my own small contribution to your 90th birthday gifts. With many thanks for the inspiration over so many yeai$ :^3SS PEVHfiH , ( Piano Performance- Value to Experience by E. Clyde Whitlock * ( A piano recital probably without-parallel in the musical annals of the city was played Wednesday afternoon as a .cultural and educational project tendered to the: city by the department of. music of Texas Christian “university^ --y...... ' ... - ' • The entire program, consisted of contemporary music for piano. As such?yy it was a valuable experience, since this music usually is offered piece.—- - meal along with more conventional material. The hearer is . challenged ina field .in which he probably is-, not literate He music admit-his limitations, and. concede that his frustattohs-^^though"" . normal and "“justifiable' according-, to "his upbringing, must be -met'byyan^y . attitude of-honest and most concentrated listening. If he can -makeyli||tl.a of this music it' does not follow that the music is without significant^.-' content. • vf -- .? f ...... Ths first error- of approach is to-assume that it’s being contemporary^^ indicated that the output has no - contact .with the past. Much nf .it • ■lsy|y not revolutionary but a product■of evolutionary growth f rom< es’tablishedy’._. tenets.. Most of the literature seems to be an expression of defiancy^’ and rebellion, repudiating "expression” and emotion.- Whether it-is ra
fation from theV t. trammels of the past it was well to hear him expounded• ’ ' ' by one who intimately knows the creed. It was a hard sum for the hearers although they recognized the remarkable pianism exhibited. This was a valuable educational experience compounded by the skill and devotion of the performed.' \ . Port Worth Star Telegram Thursday morning, November 12, 1964 PRESS RELEASE December 1965
From Sydney Australia to Madison Wisconsin, from Kiel Germany to Manila,
in almost every eorner of the globe, the provocatively brilliant American
pianist Selma Epstein has had a unique and unprecedented success presenting
piano program«* of twentieth century mu3ie> Her recently completed tour of
Australia, New Zealand, The Phillip lues, Hoag Kong, Okinawa and Japan is
a striking illustration of this success»
During a seven week period she presented a total of forty seven programs
including public recitals, lectures, children*^ music appreciation concerts,
workshops »rd radio and television broadcasts** Critical aeelaim of this
staggering feat emphasized the reaction of both lay audiences and muiioians
to this pioneering effort in calling it a. remarkable achievement and historic
milesbeae in the ®a.use of aa»temporary music*
Recent Headlines
Sydney Morning Herald, October 12, 1965 Contemporary music Expert Performs
Wellington Evening Post,October 16, 1965 A Stimulating U.S«, Pianist
Auckland Times, October 17, 1965 Expert Shows How to Play Inside of Plan®
The Oregonian, November 15, 1965 Selma Epstein Assumes Role As Champion Of Current Music «by Hilmar Grondahl
Wisconsin State Journal, November 24-, 1965 Mrs* Epstein Shows Command of Music Press Reviews: Notas Musicales Selma Epstein, pianista da primera linea (Nvbre. de 1967 ) Con el auspicio de la Casa de la Cultura y del Servicio de Cultura e Información de los Estados Unidos, se presenté, en el Sallón de la CCE, la pianista Selma Epstein, el pasado viernes. Graduada en la Juilliard school ha levantado su propio prestigio con^ numerosos conciertos a travos de varios continentes. Encellante interprete de la música, tradicional, ha quirida damos, en su primer,recital de su gir a por SudamErica,demostrativo de la evolución musical de los Estados Unidos. Desde Mac Dowell hasta los compositores de vanguardia, el programa se convertió* en una clase de técnicas nuevas y de estilos pianísticos ex per- imentilistas. Mac Dowell, colocada entre los primeros innovadores, fue precisemente lo contraireo. Después de doce anos de residir en Europa, especialment en Alemania, fue uno de los compositores más viriles y’técnic os de su generación; de noble inspiración, mantuvo una línea consevradora, juntemente con John Knowles Paine (1839 - 1906), del Groupo de Boston, en contra del bohemio Dvorak que patrocinó la formavion de le escuela nacional norteamericana. Mac Dowell era musicalemente germannofilo, y Prácticamente romántico, de línea totalemente europea. El verdadero, innovador fue Arthur Farwel (1872-1951), portaestandarte de la neuva gener ación. la hegamonía alemana tuvo que terminar hacia 1920, y los composites norte americanos se inclinaron hacia París, bajo la influencia de Strawinsky y de Prokofiev, sin perderse la influencia de los impresionistas franceses. La Sonata de Charles Ives (1874—1954-), interpretada por Selma Epstein, es una demostradción de la nueva linea. Selma Epstein, indubitment, demostró su categoría túcnoica e interpretiva. Artista completa, enorgullece a su país y a los auspiciadores del recital. Por ello recibió el aplauso de los nomueroses asistentes. Música Lo más importante de nuestra semana musical fue la presentación de la virtuosa norteamericana SELMA EPSTEIN en la Casa de la Cultura.En la Salón de Sesiones llenó hasta reventars -urge en Quito una sala de conciertos con capacidad adecuada- , donde se habían congregado casi todas les person alidades de nuestra mundo musical, Selma Epstein ofreció un orograma de enorme atractivo que constituye un pequeño panorama de la música contemp oránea y que estuvo ^dividido en ’’primeros innovadores" -Mac Dowell, Ives- --, conservadores mas antiguos" -Dello Joio-, "jovenes conservadores" lled rorem,Benjamín Lees-, "la vanguardia" -Henry cowell,Gearge Grumb ,Dav^d Ahlstrom- y cosas de Peter Sacco. Buena Acogida Tuvo Selma Epstemn en Recital de Piano Excelente acogada tuvo oelma Epstein, en el recital de piano ofrecido en la Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, Confirmando su prestigo alcanzado la artista norteamericana ofreció un programa de música selecta de autores norteamericanas del Siglo XX. vonsidereda como la pionera de música contemporánea la señorita Epstein es actualmente una denlas pocaszconcertistas cañacaes de interpretar músicas clasica de varias épocas y géneros a la vez; en su actuación en esta cuidad que conoso.con les auspicios de la Casa de la Cultura e Information de los Estados Unidos, la concertista demonstró un amplio conomiento de su arte en un dominio de la técnica, en la qur usa varios recursos para obtenir los mejores efectos en las obras. The Townsville Music Association presents 2 recitals by . Selma Epstein, American pianist Sunday, April 27, 1975 Program 1 at 8:00
American.- Australian piano music Mse Epstein will lecture and perform the following works: MacDowell - To a Selma Epstein Seeks to Make Contemporary Piano Works More 'Palatable' By Helen Henry DeSTINY touched pianist Selma Epstein "As I began to investigate," she says. the serious piano music written in this scores, for really musical works with an a few years ago and turned her from the “1 was astonished that so few pianists out century.” emotional quality, no matter who or where conventional repertoire to the interpreta side New York were performing new In the course of pioneering on their be the composers are.” tion of Twentieth Century composers. As a works, beyond an occasional piece. Study half Mrs. Epstein has become the darling Critical reviews of Mrs. Epstein's per result she has become an outstanding au ing such works, I found I had a special sen of a growing list of composers; they have formances reflect the interest and enthusi thority on the piano literature of our time. sitivity to the new music—the new ideas, dedicated works to her and are writing asm her recitals have evoked. “I find It happened in Cincinnati, before Mrs. texture and technique.” And she became pieces expressly for her. She has been young people particularly receptive,” she Epstein—a youthful mother of four children convinced that she was destined to com playing mostly American composers, but says, “and older listeners have been chal —and her husband Joseph, who is an engi municate its meaning and beauty. with a liberal programming of Japanese lenged by the new sounds and rhythms.” composers, whose works have become “a neer. with the Goddard Space Flight Center, FELT there was need for this communi Knowing that appreciation grows out of I repeated hearings, Mrs. Epstein before moved to Baltimore. cation, especially to students in colleges bit of a specialty." The pianist, an award-winning Juilliard and universities, who are the audiences and “What I am aiming for," she says, “is to her recitals informally discusses styles and graduate with several Town Hall concerts music patrons of tomorrow. I began a cor do for new music what Landowska did for trends of modem music; frequently holds to her credit, had given a recital before respondence with music educators over the the old—make it palatable.” She was re post-concert forums as well. She also per mits the schools to make tape recordings of Cincinnati’s “New Music Group." Its mem country. The response was tremendous, ferring to Wanda Landowska, the cele bers urged her to prepare another program with invitations to play at schools in nearly brated artist who devoted herself to music her performances, as a study aid and refer emphasizing contemporary works, and to every state. And I learned, as I traveled, of the past and to the revival of the harpsi ence. seek out the new composers. that a majority of students had never heard chord. "And I am always looking for new This spring, on a tour of eight European countries, she played for many of their composers. In a number of places she had the distinction of being the first pianist to present an all-American program—as in London, before the Composers Guild of Great Britain and at the United States Em bassy; in Manchester and at Oxford in Europe’s oldest concert hall, the Holywell Music Room; in Copenhagen at the Royal Danish Conservatory, and in Turin at the Giuseppe Verdi Academy. In several coun tries she made tape recordings of Ameri can music for radio. And she has been re engaged for an extensive Continental tour next spring. This fall Mrs. Epstein has been invited to be the first American pianist to present a series of contemporary programs in the Far East, including guest performances with orchestra, seminars and master classes in Japan, Hong Kong, the Philip pines and Australia. She is to premiere three American piano concerti, written for her, at Japan’s major music festivals. Contemporary composers Mrs. Epstein has favored include Alan Stout, a Balti morean now at Northwestern University, who recently has dedicated a large work to her. Robert Hall Lewis, of the Goucher College music faculty is also represented, as is Benjamin Lees, formerly on the Pea body faculty. With all her commitments, and the disci pline of five hours' daily practice, the pianist organizes her time to enjoy her family to the fullest, a creative family with great zest for living. Already Meta Joy, 14, the eldest Epstein daughter, who is a Bryn Mawr School stu dent, has attained a professional level as a harpist (she is also a pianist' and has ap peared in concert with her mother. She commutes regularly to New York for les sons with Mildred Dilling. The other three children, Leslie, 12; Joshua, 9, and Bonney Sue, 6, share their mother’s side interests in painting and other art crafts. Their handiwork is dis played all over the Epsteins’ rambling house on Harford terrace. Mr. Epstein is a Twentieth Century man in his own specialty: energy conversion for space vehicles. Besides his work in the Goddard Space Flight Center, he teaches Selma Epstein, of Baltimore, a pianist specializing in the works in the graduate school of the Department of of present-day composers, playing with her daughter Meta Joy. who Agriculture in Washington, takes part in although only 14 years of age is already an accomplished harpist. his sons' Boy Scout activities and, when his wife is on tour, is an accomplished cook. SUNDAY SUN MAGAZINE, AUGUST 1, 1965 ALL Mozart Program to be presented by Selma Epstein American pianist I» Menuetto Kv 355 Hondo in D (from the London Sketch book) Adagio in B Minor Kv540 Pour Waltzes (or Gigue Kv 574) II.Sonata in A K. 331 Andante con Variations Menuetto Trio Hondo Alla Turca INTERVAL III»Fugue in G Minor ( or Rondo in A Minor K. 511 ) Fantalsie in D Minor K. 397 (or 10 Variations on a Theme of Gluck K. 455) IV. Sonata in a K. 310 Allegro Maestoso Andante Cantabile con Espressione Presto WM© STATE COLLEGE Department of Music presents SELMA I Z H 111) PIANIST 453 State >11 Berceuse <> * » » 0 » o o o e 0 o . o 0 o o 0 , . o Ned toera Four Senates . * o • ., » » * <> w e * . , . o . * L©u Harrison Three Page Sonata o * Q . . . o o 0 o „ u o „ e . Charles Ives Eaparisiental Music . <-, . a o e n o c 0 3 o o « Barney Childs ^©CtiSTWe o * o 3 o o O O O , a o , o o 0 e 0 'iJenjamiu Britten Contrapuntlsfcica Fa&tantiea o o 0 <> a o Fermcl© Busoni 453 State Hall Sonata Opo 450 Neo 1 o * „ c o „ 0 0 {> o „ o Q „ o Alm Stout OraaesUl Etudes <, o <> ® B o *'o „ o o „ ' o o Benjamin Lees Piano Flee® Moa 1 o o ? o „ o ( o o o e o „ B George Crumb (played wice.) Aeolian itap Henry Cowell Ste Little Pieces » «. » » □ e « o » e 0 o „ Arnold Schoenberg Calligraphy <> o . « . . - * » » « . ♦ u u . , Keijlro Sato Suit« Ho. 4 . . » , o t . o e « . . o 0 . 0 Nikos Skalkottas There will he an informal seminar with MRS. EPSTEIN, Sunday, Is30 t© 4g00, in Room 449 State Hall. All are invited. The Humanities Institute is pleased to announce a new lecture-recital series (in conjunction with ths College of Notre Dame). The series will consist of ten consecutive Sunday afternoon two hour piano programs by the eminent American pianist Selma Epstein. Commencing in Jan. 1978 the prog rams will include the Baltimore premiere of Scottish compser Ronald ! Stevenson’s Passacailla, and Erich Itor Kahns Chiaccona di Tempi de Guerra, as well as numerous Australian and American compositions and seldom heard nieces of the standard repertoire. Four of the ten programs will.feature contemporary music with the full schedule as follows: 1. Jan. 15 all Bach program: Italian Concerto, French Suite in G Major, 4 preludes’and Fugues from Book I Well Tempered Clavier, 4 two part Inventions, Organ Prelude in G Minor. All works to be illustrated on the Piano, harpsichord and Clavichord. 2. Jan. 22 all Mozart program: Sonata in A Major, K. 331, Sonata in A Minor, K. 310, Menuetto K. 355, Rondo in A Minor, K. 511, Adagio in B Minor, K. 540, Four Waltzes. K. 600, Fugue in G Minor (first performance in Baltimore). 3. Jan. 29 s-11 Beethoven program: Sonatà in Eb -composed at the age of eleven(balto? premiere), Sonata op 2# 1, Sonata op. 32 #1 , Sonata op. 53, Sonata'op. 106 4. Feb. 5 Schubert" Mendelssohn program:various short works of Schubert Sonata op." 42, Mendelssohn Songs Without Words, Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, op. 35, Variations Seriuuses 5. Feb. 12 all. Schumann program: Abegg Variations op.1, Carnaval op. 9S Sonata in G Minor, op. 22, Fantaisie op. 17, Arabesque op. Scenes of Childhood op. 15, Kreisleriana^op. is 6. Feb. 19 all Chopin program: Sonata in B Minor opi 58, Scherzo in B Minor, Ballade in F Major, 4 Etudes op. 10, 25, Nocturne in.D flat, op. 27 #2, Polonaise in A flat, op. 53. 7. Feb. 26 all American music featuring MacDowell, Ives, Cowell, Crumb, Epstein^ Cage and Childs 8. Mar. 5 all American musicf featuring Rorem, Harrison, Finney, Grainger Hochberg, Lees, Riegger, Copland and Burge. 9. Mar. 12 Arnerican-Australian music: Chou Wen-chung, Aurelio de la Vega, David Ward Steinman, Ives, Harold Schramm, Richard Moffatt, Larry Sitsky, Dulcie Holland, Peter Sculthorpe, Anthony Brennan, Nigel Butterly, Barry Conyngham 10. Mar. 19 Passacalila on DSCH-Ronald Stevenson, Forty Changes - Douglas Allanbrook, Contraspuncta Fantastica-Busoni Following each program ( which will be in the form of a lecture recital )7 their will be a discussion period with active audience participation invited. This is the first time a series of this magnitude has been presented in the Baltimore area, and should prove to be an exciting cultural venture. Persons electing to take the course for credit will be given a formal examination at the close of the series. Extensive program notes will be included as part of the course. Biographical information about the performer: Selma Epstein was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and is a graduate of the Juilliard School where she held a fellowship with Rosina Lhevinne. She has also been the rec ipient of scholarships and numerous awards with such distinguished musicians as Eduard Steuermann, Isador Phillip, and Karin Dayas. She has performed contemporary music extensively during the past 15 years, and is considered one of the leading authorities in this field. Her overseas tours have been sponsored by the U.S State Department in Europe, South Arnericam New Zealand, Australia and Japan. She has bof'-’ the standard repertoire and all contemporary programs "ig ’• BC;- •"i -Z' odder lead! Ba i o 0. nd T7 ne tw o rks3 .* : '- ny. o f outstanding composers he dedicated ter new works to her. She 30 educational TV programs which : ■ o ■ <'• i u.■’ ■“ he ••• o1 z*v . 1 X r disertará.sobre "La música norteamericana: pagado, presente y futuro” •; :' - ■ - ' ’ ■ . A > y la ilustrará ahpiano/ el martes; 12-de noviembre, a las 20:00 horas, „■ ■' '• - en el Aula. Magna "George S. Messersmith", Hamburgo 115. “b7>' “-'"A- j «gHB !¿1 w ■ ' '. ' ' ' .. .. : ■- ' 1 ■■ ' . ’ A • 1 If-“- . j;: ■ ígjl • > ■ ■ s■* as ■•-<’--í ¡% W / Jueves, 14 de noviembre, 21:00 horas. Aula Magna “George S. Messersmith” -4* ’v_’;V-" ' ¡ ; Instituto Mexicano Norteamericano / ' -.A-'"'.' ';'H JA I ’ ' - <- de ^.elaciones Culturales, A.C. ' y. . . ; ■■;,:■■■-■ ' ' ’ ■-.< O" ' ' 'a"'' ‘ • ¡ ■ -Zg'A/. ‘ -■ . Ham burgo 115 » a g&Bfe México 6, D. F. • . -" ,. ~ ,. <■§ Se ruega su presencia a los doí actos- así como a la recepción en ' / ’ ' ■. —; ■' ■_ i ■.» < j*‘ S - '*•-'.-F: '”?X honor de la- distinguida pianista qúq tendrá lugar después del concierto. > -î 1 5 Selma Epstein - Biographical Data H -The American pianist Selma Epstein has recently returned to the U.S» following a three year residency in Australia, where she was the first g American to teach piano at the Newcastle and Maitland branches of the f New South Víales Conservatorium. ó ° In addition to teaching Ms. Epstein toured extensively.playingpremiere " •performances of both American and Australian piano music. Ms. Eostein ° has performed all contemporary programs in over forty countries‘Hana was p • also the first musician to teach group piano in Australia. Roger Covell, —■ the eminent•Australian music critic- invitee. Ms. Epstein l»o develop a g^oup 2? piano urogram at the University of lew oouth .vales in o^dne¿r, and <,ne ~ Voice of America has interviewed her in connection with her extensive ^."teaching and concert work overseas. c During.her Australian sojourn Ms. Epstein .was the only American on the £ ABC resident recording roster, and recorded both contemporary music and ° the standard repertoire. During her last European and Far Eastern tours g she played double programs in both areas. Her Hong Kong.appearances p- were"so successful that she was reengaged to play a special series of o four TV specials devoted to the standard repertoire. p •p In Sydney music critics hailed her performance-at the Sydney Opera. « House where she was the guest soloist with the chamber music ensemble p Chrommatica. During the forthcoming'season Ms. Epstein will be playing p double prorams ( consisting of a lecture-recital on.contemporary music, to followed by a standard repertoire formal concert), in South America, the U.S., p <4 Canada and Africa. p p o In Baltimore Ms. Epstein is scheduled to play the opening concert for the p new Huraainities Center at Catonsville Community College this February,, and has also been invited to be soloist with the Maryland Symphonette at.Shriver. r~l P Ball at the Johns Hopkins University. For this appearance she will premiere CÖ a work by her 23 year old son composer Leslie Epstein, and will also rP 3 perform ’ the Bach D Minor Concerto and the Mozart C Minor Concerto. At W) o present she is preparing a special series of 30 lecture-recitals devoted to p the entire piano repertoire for educational TV. s In the U.S. Ms. Epstein organized the class piano program at Morgan State ° University and established Group’ Piano Studios, the first music school