The Bulletin Irishman Writing, Though the Music Bore a Special Personal Individuality and Inspira- Tion
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created to provide music for occasions or for others. Thus came choral songs in the German Lutheran tradition while Manheim was a student in Leipzig, and four-part songs based on English and Irish poets while studying in London. In both cases one might have assumed it was a German or an The Bulletin Irishman writing, though the music bore a special personal individuality and inspira- tion. At the University of Kansas and OF THE S OCIETY FOR A MERICAN M USIC UMKC, where he long played violin in the FOUNDED IN HONOR OF O SCAR G. T. SONNECK orchestra, he contributed orchestral compo- sitions and incidental music to plays, as well as chamber works. In the 70s and 80s Vol. XXVIII, No. 3 Fall 2002 Manheim (my father) composed a series of simple but evocative string chamber pieces for children, many with Hungarian and other folk character. The Colorado String Ernest Manheim: Sociologist, Quartet, which frequently summered in Anthropologist, and Composer Falmouth, Massachusetts (where I lived until recently), used this collection as sight- Turns 102 reading material for its young master class students. In the early 50s a visit by the then con- [The Editor regrets that we were unable to correct one from behind a wall where he had ductor of the Kansas City Philharmonic, run this piece in the Summer issue of the been listening. Reiner convinced Ernest’s Hans Schwieger, catalyzed completion and Bulletin due to space constraints. It was espe- parents to give him music training. At the performance of Manheim’s Symphony in B cially sad since Ernest Manheim passed away age of about 15 or 16 a notable episode Minor by the Philharmonic. At Manheim’s rather soon thereafter. His obituary and some occurred while Ernest was taking an orches- home Schwieger picked up the manuscript comments about the commemorations follow.] tration class at the Budapest Conservatory. of a symphony movement on the piano. If we count conception as the starting The first substantial assignment in class was After study of the score Schwieger point, Professor Emeritus (University of to orchestrate a Beethoven sonata in a style exclaimed: “Ernest, this is great music. If you Missouri, Kansas City) Ernest Manheim has appropriate to Beethoven’s symphonies. finish it I’ll play it in the Philharmonic!” lived in three centuries (19th, 20th, and now After Manheim handed in his assignment he And indeed, this work by an amateur com- the 21st). Born in Budapest, Hungary in was called into the instructor’s office and poser was performed, though many waiting 1900, Manheim fought in two wars before told: “You need not continue this class—I works by professionals would have normally he was 21, earned Ph.D. degrees in sociology have nothing more that I can teach you!” received priority for the orchestra. (Leipzig) and anthropology (London), and Apparently, young Ernest, who frequent- During festivities accompanying the emigrated to the United States with wife and ly accompanied his mother to concerts and 100th birthday celebrations in Kansas City son in 1937. Manheim’s life is remarkable in operas, had been given the score of Wagner and Lawrence, Kansas (University of many ways other than his longevity, not least operas to study. From these he had learned Kansas), concerts of Manheim’s music were in music, a lifelong passion. Music played a the notation system for various orchestral held, and during the past year a quintet from role in his receipt of the University of instruments in orchestral score. Having per- University of Kansas toured in several Missouri Thomas Jefferson Award for excel- fect pitch and a keen ear for orchestral tim- European towns, featuring American music. lence in diverse fields in 1972, and in 1997, bres, he had been able to “hear” the sonata Of the works performed (Gershwin, when he was awarded Austria’s highest expanded to orchestral form in his mind, Copland, and Manheim), newspaper honor for achievement in the arts and sci- and “see” the proper notation. It then accounts indicated that Manheim’s work got ences. In 2000, honoring his 100th birth- remained only to write down the notes. This the highest public enthusiasm. day, the University of Missouri at Kansas episode helped explain to me how some As a final improbable note, I can report City (UMKC) named a new social sciences composers from the past could display mas- that a joint paper with my father on the role building Manheim Hall. Manheim has tery of orchestral writing in their first and future of rock music is scheduled for served 63 years as Professor, Chairman, and attempt (e.g. Georges Bizet, Symphony in C) completion in April. One would not expect Emeritus Professor at the Department of without the learning curve expected for such an extremely elderly man with Ernest’s Sociology at UMKC and its forerunner, the a complex undertaking. We know that European background and classical compo- University of Kansas City. Mozart composed compositions fully in his sition interests to have insight into rock. He Ernest Manheim’s musical abilities were mind, even while riding in a carriage from was already 63 when The Rolling Stones first noted by the late conductor, Fritz place to place, and then simply wrote them launched their career. However, he com- Reiner (then Reiner Frigyes). Reiner was giv- out without flaw. bined musical and sociological knowledge to ing piano lessons to Ernest’s sister Greti at A pattern in Manheim’s musical activi- discern a special role for “beat” music, which the Manheim home on Buda Hill in ties was his reticence in composing music he claims has a long history in mankind. Budapest. Greti played a false note and purely to express himself. Rather, the great Ernest, then 7 years of age, called out the majority of his avocational output has been continued on page 34 Ernest Manheim was named in his honor in 1999. The continued from page 33 University of Kansas held an international The Repassing symposium on the occasion of his 100th of a Long-Passed The duality of beat vs. melody can be linked, birthday in 2000. A forthcoming book con- according to Manheim, with the concept of taining articles by and about Manheim is in Parade society vs. community, enunciated by a pio- press (Frank Baron, David Smith, and neering 19th Century sociologist, Ferdinand Charles Reitz, KU, editors). Toennies. Ernest Manheim served Kansas City Happy Birthday, Ernest! throughout his life. He served on the board Joe Klock, Sr. of the Lyric Theater and was active in the Ineffectuals and other civic organizations. It was like a page suddenly torn from a He is survived by his wife, Sheelagh forgotten diary, brought to life by people I Manheim and her children; his son, Frank didn’t know, but who revived sights and Tibor Manheim; grandchildren; and a great sounds from my early boyhood with grandchild. astonishing accuracy. It was Old A memorial event was held on Saturday, Holderness Day in the small New August 3rd, at the University Center, Hampshire town that is our late-summer University of Missouri at Kansas City. The escape from the climatic caldron of South commemoration began with an invocation Florida and our annual adventure in leaf- and a performance of Corelli’s Trio Sonata, peeping. Holderness, at least to this big- No. 1, Op. 4. This was followed by several city-raised geezer, is an example of the pieces of Ernest Manheim’s performed by his vanishing slice of rural Americana where- grandchildren, Francesca Manheim, who is in I was born, from which I was borne at Ernest Manheim, Professor Emeritus at a professional violinist with the Kansas City an early age, and to which I’ve returned to the University of Missouri, Kansas City died Symphony, and Ose Manheim, also a vio- some extent by settling in laid-back Key at home 28 July 2002 at age 102. Ernest was linist, who lives in Malden, Massachusetts Largo, Florida. born in Budapest, Hungary, served in the with her husband and son. After his “chil- It partially surrounds Squam Lake, Hungarian army in World War I, obtained dren’s pieces for violin(s), viola and cello,” recently famed as the site of On Golden doctoral degrees in Leipzig and London, and there followed “Rita buza, Ritka árpa, Ritka Pond, and is, in turn, surrounded by the immigrated to the United States in 1937. rozs” (“Wheat, Oats, Rye”), an arrangement foothills of the White Mountains. It is He was founder and first Chairman of the of a Hungarian folk song. The program quiet, serene, homey, and peopled by peo- Department of Sociology at Kansas City notes describe Ernest Manheim as a true ple who can be pretty much described the University, later UMKC, in 1938. renaissance man based on the following def- same way. A renaissance man, Ernest composed a inition: “…one who has had a broad educa- It’s warm, friendly and nice—a place, symphony that was performed by the tion, acquired profound knowledge, has a for example, where motorists are courte- Kansas City Philharmonic in the early proficiency in a wide range of fields and ben- ous to a fault, pedestrians are always given 1950s, and received the University of efits his community.” Donations are being the right of way, and horns are never, but Missouri’s Thomas Jefferson Award in 1978. accepted by the Miller Nichols Library, E. never, used as a means of protest or an Among recent honors was Austria’s highest Manheim Fund, at the University of expression of impatience (Miami please distinction in the arts and sciences.