Biographical Sketches

From "The Worlds Best Music" © 1908

Ilynski, Alexandre Alexandrovich
Born in Tsarskoe_Selo, Russia, January 24, 1859.
He studied in Berlin, and in 1885 returned to Russia and became a professor at the Music School of the Philharmonic Society, Moscow. His works include compositions for orchestra and pianoforte, cantatas, and string quartets.

Jadassohn, Salomon
Born in Breslau, Prussia, August 13, 1831.
He spent a number of years at home under Hesse, Lustner, and Brosig, and later studied at the conservatory in Leipzig, and under Hauptmann and Liszt. From 1853 he resided at Leipzig, teaching harmony, counterpoint, composition, and the pianoforte. His compositions are numerous and varied, including symphonies, serenades for orchestra, pieces for chorus, and ballet music. As a teacher Jadassohn was highly esteemed, and he was the author of musical text books still in general use.
He died in Leipzig, February 1, 1901.

Jaell, Alfred
Born in Triest, Austria, March 5, 1832.
He was a son of Eduard Jaell, well known in his time as a violinist. Alfred Jaell made his debut as a pianist in Venice in 1843. Throughout his career he was very successful. He married Marie Trautmann, who, like himself, was a pianist of exceptional ability, and was also a composer and writer. His own compositions, which are numerous, are almost entirely for the piano.
He died in Paris, February 27, 1882.

Jensen, Adolf
Born in Konigsberg, Prussia, January 12, 1837.
His musical education was begun under Ehlert and Marpurg, but in the main he was his own instructor. While yet under twenty he composed many pieces. He spent some time teaching in Russia, and then studied with Schumann. In 1857 he was conductor at the Posen City Theater; then he paid a two years' visit to Copenhagen, where he became an intimate pupil of Gade. From 1860 to 1866 he resided in his native place, and wrote the greater part of his works. In spirit and style he was a follower of Schumann and Robert Franz. His compositions for the piano rank high, but his particular genius is displayed in song writing. Many of his songs - more than 150 have been published - are popular in the United States.
He died in Baden, January 23, 1879

Jungmann, Albert
Born in Langensalza, Germany, November 14, 1824.
He was associated for a number of years with Gotthilf W. Korner and G. A. Spina, music publishers in Vienna. His compositions, which are many, are mainly salon pieces for the piano.
He died in Pandorf, Austria, in 1892.

Karganoff, Genari
Born in Kashetin, Caucasus, April 30, 1858.
He studied under Reinecke and Brassin, and achieved a good reputation. His compositions include many piano pieces of considerable merit, and of individual interest.
He died in Rostroff-on-Don, February 23, 1890.

Keiser, Robert A.
Born in New York city in 1863.
Many of his songs and instrumental pieces have been very popular. Of his first song, "Uncertainty", the music was written before the words, which were afterward fitted to it. One of his best songs is "Love, When I Gaze", the words being translated from the German of Heine; and another, "The Gates of Paradise" (under his nom de plume, Robert A. King) has been very popular. His "American's Fair Women" waltzes, composed in 1893, and "Sorosis" waltzes, written more recently, have added to his reputation. "Fashions' Caprice" is, perhaps, the best known of his instrumental pieces.

Kelley, Edgar Stillman
Born in Sparta, Wis., April 14, 1857.
He began the study of music with his mother, and later became the pupil of F. W. Merriam, Clarence Eddy, and Ledochowski in Chicago. IN 1876 he went to Stuttgart, Germany, and for four years studied under Seifriz, Kruger, Speidel, and Finck. Returning to America, he settled in San Francisco, where later he became musical critic of the "Examiner". IN 1896 he removed to New York, where he taught in the College of Music and lectured for the university extension. In 1901-02 he was an instructor in music at Yale. His music to "Macbeth" (1885) gave him at once high rank among creative musicians. He wrote much music in the Chinese tone, some even in the limited Chinese scale, and his Chinese orchestral suite "Aladdin" was a popular number in the concerts of Anton Seidl, and of the Manuscript Society. His comic opera "Puritania" (1892) was performed more than 100 times. Music to "Prometheus Bound" and incidental music for "Ben Hur" brought him much credit, and he has also written many good songs.

Ketterer, Eugene
Born in Rouen, France, in 1831.
In early youth he was a student at the Paris conservatoire, where he received the second prize for solfege in 1847. From his graduation till his death he played continually at concerts, and always with success. He won wide repute for his fantasies and drawing room pieces, of which he wrote a large number, but only a few of which are now well known.
He died in Paris, December 18, 1870

Kirchner, Theodor
Born in Neukirchen, Saxony, December 10, 1824
His musical training was conducted at the conservatory in Leipzig, and upon his graduation he became organist at Winterhur, Switzerland. He held this post till 1862, when he went to Zurich as conductor and teacher. In 1873-75 he was director of the Wurzburg conservatory. He passed some years in Leipzig and Dresden, and in 1890 settled in Hamburg.

Kirchner was a disciple of Schumann. His pieces, many of which are extremely popular, are fanciful and brilliant. Occasionally their merit is diminished by too much sentimentality, but their workmanship is always accurate and finished. Among his earlier publications, "Albumblatter" is the most popular. Of his later works, "Nachstuck" is most deserving of attention.