Description

LOUIS ZIMMERMANN (GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS, 19. 07. 1873 – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, 03. 05. 1954)

He was born into a musical family. His German-born father (Dannenbuttel), Heinrich Christian Ludwig Zimmermann († 1912), was a music teacher and trumpeter, as well as a violinist with the De Harmonie Orchestra in Groningen. Her mother was Catharina Maria Dassel (1843-1909), daughter of the music teacher. His sister Sophia Christina Zimmermann was a singer and pianist for a time. He married Ragnhild Fredrikke Sophie Andersen in 1899 in Nijkjöbig, Denmark, whom he divorced in 1903. He later married Maria Chits (1873-1942), sister of violinist Boris Lensky (real name John / Jonas Chits). . His son Louis Jacques became an economist. He received his musical education from his father. He later learned from Christiaan Poortman (still in Groningen, violin lessons) and Constantijn Muller (music theory). He received additional training from 1890 in Leipzig. Hans Sitt and Carl Reinecke were his teachers there. He received the “Robert Schumann” Scholarship. After taking classes with Eugène Ysa e, he went to Hamburg and Darmstadt to become a concertmaster. Shortly afterwards, in 1899, he was hired to perform as a second concertmaster in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra with André Spoor. During his debut on October 26, 1899, was soloist in Ein Heldenleben by Richard Strauss. During all this time he also performed as a soloist in European cities and thanks to various performances in London he was appointed professor at the Royal Academy of Music (1904-1910 and became an honorary member). In the last year he became the first concertmaster of the Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra to succeed Christiaan Timmner, who left with a fight and was also a tenured professor at the Amsterdam Conservatory. He was also part of the sextet and trio of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the latter with Jaap Spaanderman and Marix Loevensohn. He would perform more than 400 times as a soloist with this orchestra. After announcing his departure in March 1940, Ferdinand Helmann succeeded him in the new concert season. Shortly afterwards he was presented with a commemorative medal. After his retirement, Zimmermann often performed with the Residentie Orkest, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and other municipal orchestras (Haarlem, Groningen, Arnhem). In 1943 he returned to the Concertgebouw to perform Johannes Brahms ‘s Violin Concerto. Zimmermann played a Vuillaume violin, then called the “Zimmermann Vuillaume” violin. His students include Co van Beinum and Piet A. van Mever. Alphons Diepenbrock dedicated his Hymn to Louis Zimmermann. Together with Joseph Holbrooke, Zimmermann gave the world premiere of Holbrooke’s Violin Sonata / Violin Sonata Opus 6. Zimmermann’s violin sounds have also been preserved in the era of compact discs, with recordings of the Beethoven Violin Concerto and Bach Works (with Helmann). Zimmermann received several awards. He was awarded the Medal of Arts and Sciences attached to the Order of the House of Orange, was an officer of the Order of Oranjje Nassau (1933), an officer of the Order of Leopold, knight of the Legion of Honor and Officer of Public Instruction. He also had the gold-plated silver medal of honor of the city of Amsterdam.

TRACKLIST

1. Amsterdam Concertgebouw Trio Piano Trio #1, Bb, D. 898, mvt 2 (Schubert) with Jaap Spaanderman (piano) and Marix Loevensohn (cello) Odeon O-6783 b xxP 7114
2. Amsterdam Concertgebouw Trio Piano Trio #1, D minor, Op 49, mvt 2 (Mendelssohn) with Jaap Spaanderman (piano) and Marix Loevensohn (cello)
3. Amsterdam Concertgebouw Trio Piano Trio #1, D minor, Op 49, mvt 3 (Mendelssohn) with Jaap Spaanderman (piano) and Marix Loevensohn (cello)
4. Amsterdam Concertgebouw Trio Piano Trio, A minor, Op 50, mvt 2 (Tchaikovsky) with Jaap Spaanderman (piano) and Marix Loevensohn (cello) Odeon AA 178 023 a xxP 7117
5. Concerto a- moll Op.3-8 (Vivaldi) Allegro moderato… Adagio… Allegro Ferdinand Hellman (violin) and Henk van Wezel (cello) Willem Mengelberg, conductor Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam Telefunken 23660/1(022616/8) 12/21, 1937
6. Double Violin Concerto BWV 1043 (Bach) Vivace… Largo ma non tanto… Allegro with Ferdinand Hellmann (violin) Willem Mengelberg, conductor Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam Columbia J-7260 (AX-2837/8) June 10, 1927
7. Amsterdam Concertgebouw Trio Geister-Trio No.5 in D-Dur Op.70 (Nr. 1) (Beethoven) 1. Satz Allegro vivace con brio with Jaap Spaanderman (piano) and Marix Loevensohn (cello) Odeon O-6797 a xxP 7119
8. Amsterdam Concertgebouw Trio Geister-Trio No.5 in D-Dur Op.70 (Nr. 1) (Beethoven) 2. Satz Largo assai ed espressivo with Jaap Spaanderman (piano) and Marix Loevensohn (cello) Odeon O-6798 a xxP 7121
9. Amsterdam Concertgebouw Trio Geister-Trio No.5 in D-Dur Op.70 (Nr. 1) (Beethoven) 3. Satz Presto (Beethoven) with Jaap Spaanderman (piano) and Marix Loevensohn (cello) Odeon O-6799 a xxP 7123
10. Concerto pour violon et orchestre, in D Major, Op. 61 (Beethoven) I. Allegro ma non troppo Amsterdam, Grote Zaal, Concertgebouw Concertgebouworkest Willem Mengelberg, conductor 1940 april 18
11. Concerto pour violon et orchestre, in D Major, Op. 61 (Beethoven) II. Larghetto Amsterdam, Grote Zaal, Concertgebouw Concertgebouworkest Willem Mengelberg, conductor 1940 april 18
12. Concerto pour violon et orchestre, in D Major, Op. 61 (Beethoven) III. Rondo allegro Amsterdam, Grote Zaal, Concertgebouw Concertgebouworkest Willem Mengelberg, conductor 1940 april 18
13. Serenade no.7 in D “Haffner” KV 250: Menuet (Mozart) Columbia D15803 FX26
14. Larghetto & Allegro (Handel) Columbia D15801 FX21
15. Larghetto (Händel) Columbia D15805 FX32
16. Le déluge (Saint-Saëns) Columbia D15806 FX34
17. Reverie op 22 No. 3 (Henri Vieuxtemps) Columbia D15828 FX131
18. Romance (Wilhelmj) Columbia D15806 FX31
19. Romance in G Op. 40 (Beethoven) Columbia D15803 FX 30
20. Sonate Pathétique Adagio (Beethoven) Columbia D15805 FX25
21. Spaanse dans no.5 (Andaluza) (Granados) Columbia D15801 FX22
22. Trille du diable Larghetto affettuoso (Tartini) Columbia D15804 FX28
23. Violin concerto in e op.64: finale (Mendelssohn) Columbia D15804 FX27