Description

BORIS HAMBOURG (VORONEZ, SOUTH RUSSIA, 8 JANUARY, 1885 – CANADA, TORONTO, 24 NOVEMBER, 1954)

Hambourg was born in in Voronez, south Russia, the third son of Michael and Catherine Hambourg, and the younger brother of the pianist Mark Hambourg (1879–1960) and the violinist Jan Hambourg (1882–1947). The three sons came with their family to London in 1890; they were encouraged in music from an early age, and were taught instruments which enabled them to play together in chamber music ensemble, as the Hambourg Trio. Boris began his studies in 1892, and after devoting some time to piano, decided to specialize in the cello. He studied at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfort-am-Main from 1898 to 1903, taking lessons from Herbert Walenn and later from Hugo Becker. In 1903 Hambourg made a concert tour of Australia and New Zealand, and in 1904 he took part in the first Tchaikovsky Festival in Germany, held at Pyrmont. In 1904-1905 he went to Belgium at the invitation of Eugène Ysa e, who further developed his musical art in interpretation and style. Boris Hambourg made his London debut in 1905, and his American debut in 1910. He was a member of the Hambourg String Quartet (the other members being Jan Hambourg, John Robinson and Eric Coates. Hambourg moved with his family to Canada, becoming a naturalised Canadian in 1910. He performed with his family trio, and appeared as a soloist in many different places before settling in Toronto, where he took part in founding the Hambourg Conservatory of Music (a private school which closed in 1951), and became its Director. He toured frequently with Toronto’s Hart House String Quartet, and continued to appear in concert with many orchestras in the United States and Europe, and in England appeared as soloist with the Queen’s Hall Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. He remained a member of the Hambourg Trio until his death in 1954.

TRACKLIST

1. Be thou with me (Bach) (organ Fred Skitch) Victor No number
2. Butterflies (Hamilton-Harty) (p. G. Moore) Victor 120831 Bb 18006
3. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. Part 6, 4th mov. Finale Victor 24011-B
4. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. Part 5, 3rd mov. Menuetto 24011-A
5. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Angel Gabriel (Foster) Victor 24002-B
6. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Don Juan (Mozart) Reich mir die hand, mein leben pt I HMV 8534 E.W. 30
7. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Don Juan (Mozart) Reich mir die hand, mein leben pt IIHMV 8534 E.W. 30
8. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Drink to me only with thine eyes (Johnson) Victor 24001-B
9. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Menuet célèbre (Boccherini) Victor 24001-A
10. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Old black joe (Foster) Victor 24002-A
11. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor, op. 20, no. 5. 3rd movement, menuetto (Haydn) Victor 24011-A
12. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. 1st movement. Allegro (Haydn) Victor 24009-A
13. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. 2nd movement. Adagio (Haydn) Victor 24010-A
14. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. 4th movement. Finale (Haydn) Victor 24011-B
15. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. Part 1, 1st mov. Allegro (Haydn) Victor 24009-A
16. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. Part 3, 2nd mov. adagio (Haydn) Victor 24010-A
17. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. Part 4, 2nd mov. Adagio – concluded (Haydn) Victor 24010-B
18. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. Part 5, 3rd mov. Menuetto (Haydn) Victor 24011-A
19. Hart House Streich Quartett with Kresz, Adaskin, Blackstone Quartet in F minor. Part Part 2, 1st mov. Allegro (Haydn) Victor 24009-B
20. Nina (Pergolesi) (organ Fred Skitch) Victor No number
21. The holy boy (Ireland) (p. G. Moore) HMV 30-1486
22. Traumerei op. 15, no. 7 (Schumann) Victor 60065