JAVS Spring 2022

Feature Article

Johannes Palaschko: The Forgotten Professor by Danny Keasler

premiered in London; and in Frankfurt, Gustav Mahler conducted the premiere of Ein Heldenleben . Meanwhile, in Berlin, a young ambitious violinist and composer attempted to make a name for himself. Even though he

Introduction Each century produces its own composers, performers, historians,

pedagogues, and critics; some are never forgotten, while others fade behind the scrim fabric of the past. The forgotten life accomplishments of one artist, Johannes Palaschko— whose works are published, sold, and performed today—are worthy of further examination. His impact is evident through his violin and viola pieces, which are cited in academic papers, reviewed in music journals, and advertised in magazines. His viola etudes have even sprouted a Facebook group, Wikipedia page, and many promising viola performances on YouTube. But where can one unearth more layered details about his vocation? This desire to learn more about Palaschko began with an examination of early 20 th century Berlin government records and music journals. These music periodicals reveal new information about Palaschko’s career, which shows a life of success and admiration from publishers, critics, and concertgoers. With this new evidence on the composer, a biographical sketch emerges from the shadows, bringing the forgotten professor’s achievements into the light; furthermore, an image of the Berlin musician edges further into clarity. Palaschko’s story will commence at the turn of the 20 th century and around his graduation from Berlin’s Hochschule für Musik. Biography In 1899, there was much to celebrate: in Helsinki, a glowing reception met the premiere of Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 ; Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations

Figure 1: Joachim’s Jubilee Orchestra, 1899.

had several small works published, he couldn’t compete amongst compositional giants. Though primarily a violinist, his greatest pursuit was composition. Early on, it was unclear whether the young tonkünstler (“sound artist”) would live out his days performing violin on the concert stage or creating new compositions from his desk. Examining his earlier years and activities, however, exposes a broader picture. The historical record begins with his birth in Berlin, Germany on July 13, 1877, registered at the local Berlin’s birth registry, Namensverzeichnis Genurtenregister .1 Palaschko’s birth record confirms the year of birth as 1877, which is contrary to Enrich H. Muller’s Deutsches Musiker-Lexicon encyclopedia reference of 1879. 2 Little is known about Palaschko’s early music education, but his general education was received at Fuchs Lyceum. In 1891, at 14 years old he began studying the violin with Joseph Joachim. 3 In Berlin, Joachim had numerous students including Leopold Auer (who students included Jascha Heifetz and Nathan Milstein), Karl Klingler (who was the teacher of Schinichi Suzuki), Andreas Moser, the

Figure 2: Palaschko’s Birth Registry.

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Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 38, No. 1, Spring 2022

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