Franz Schmidt composed piano parts for Paul Wittgenstein's left hand that were idiomatically tailored, treating the left hand as a newly invented instrument capable of evoking lullabies, waltzes, and Hungarian folk tunes.
Composition History
Paul Wittgenstein, having almost limitless financial resources, commissioned works for left hand from leading composers of his time, including Maurice Ravel, Sergei Prokofiev, and Franz Schmidt.
Cultural Impact
Paul Wittgenstein meticulously collected scores and parts after each concert, preventing others from performing 'his compositions' and limiting access to these works for decades.
Historical Context
Paul Wittgenstein, brother of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, lost his right arm during World War I and was determined to continue his piano career with his left hand.
Critical Reception
Paul Wittgenstein considered Franz Schmidt "the greatest composer of the last 20 years," an opinion shared by Gustav Mahler, Alban Berg, and Arnold Schoenberg.
Composition History
Franz Schmidt composed pieces for piano requiring only the left hand for the Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right hand in World War I.
Composer Biography
Franz Schmidt, an Austrian post-Romantic composer, was a cellist, pianist, and conductor, yet he remains relatively unknown today.
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