Zoellner Quartet
Joseph Zoellner established the quartet in Brooklyn, New York, most likely during 1903 or possibly 1904. He operated a music school there while his family lived in Stockton, California, from the group's founding until 1906. The ensemble then traveled to Belgium under sponsorship of Ethel Crocker, wife of San Francisco banking magnate William Henry Crocker. They studied with César Thomson, a celebrated Belgian pedagogue who also taught three members of the Flonzaley Quartet. Their first European appearances occurred at private soirees hosted by Thomson before expanding to public venues in Brussels, Paris, and Berlin. In 1911, King Albert I of Belgium presented the group with a gold medal struck by goldsmith C.H. Samuels after they performed as royal guests.
The quartet began an intense round of activity across Canada and the United States during the 1912, 1913 season. By 1919, they had delivered their 500th performance in six years of touring, starting in Victoria, British Columbia, and ending in Winnipeg. Total performances reached 1,100 by 1921 upon return from tours of the US East and Midwest. Within nine weeks ending late March 1923 alone, the group performed 46 concerts during its twelfth tour of the US East. Amandus Zoellner later participated in more than 2,500 performances throughout his career. The ensemble maintained non-stop schedules even when Joseph Jr. fell in Topeka, Kansas, in 1921 and used a crutch for several days.
During the 1916, 1917 season, the quartet crossed paths with Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan in Oklahoma City. Keller proposed playing music to determine if she could sense vibrations while holding her fingertips on a resonant tabletop. The group played Tchaikovsky's String Quartet no. 1 in D Major, op. 11, second movement, as she swayed in time, alternately crying and smiling. Keller described the piece as evoking the sea and ocean breeze despite no prior knowledge of its basis in an old fisherman's song. In January 1931, Albert Einstein visited the family conservatory at California Institute of Technology and played violin with members in Beethoven and Mozart works. He presented Joseph Zoellner with an autographed photograph before sailing for Germany the following year.
The family shifted operations from New York City to Los Angeles in 1922, settling at 909 St. Marks Ave. They opened the Zoellner Conservatory of Music, which added branches in Hollywood and Burbank by 1942. The quartet performed in unconventional venues including trains and an Illinois insane asylum to widen chamber music audiences. During their 1921 season, they committed to return engagements in Topeka and Wichita, Kansas; St. Joseph, Missouri; Dubuque, Iowa; Richmond, Indiana; and Peoria, Illinois. Amandus Zoellner helped found the conservatory and eventually served as its president while teaching violin at Pomona College and Occidental College.
Antoinette Zoellner served as first violinist, making the ensemble unique among string quartets of that era. She studied with her father and César Thomson from 1907 to 1912, then sang under Raimund von zur-Mühlen. Antoinette died on the 11th of March 1962, after sharing a residence in Los Angeles with her father and brother Joseph Jr. Amandus Carl Zoellner, born the 7th of November 1892, played second violin until his death the 14th of June 1955. He enjoyed photography and fishing outside performances. His daughter Ruth inherited the quartet's archives, placing scores at Scripps College and memorabilia at UCLA. Father Joseph Zoellner, violist and founder, was born the 2nd of February 1862, and died the 24th of January 1950. He previously served as first violinist of the Theodore Thomas Orchestra before founding this family group.
Arthur Farwell wrote String Quartet The Hako in 1922 at Joseph Zoellner's suggestion, dedicating it to the ensemble for performance at Ojai Music Festival in 1923. Charles Sanford Skilton dedicated Two Indian Dances to them, premiering them in January 1916 before publishing through Carl Fischer Music. Eugene Goossens composed a quartet programmed during their Eastern US tour in early 1919. Roy Harris premiered Impressions of a Rainy Day suite on the 15th of March 1926, at Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel. During 1923 eastern tours, they gave American premieres of Joseph Jongen Serenade Tendre and Frances Marion Ralston Fantasie for String Quartet. One Edison recording captured Skilton War Dance, which remains available via archival links.
The original quartet left six sides issued as Edison diamond discs plus three recorded for Columbia. All were acoustic recordings comprising isolated movements rather than complete works. Notable releases include Boccherini Minuet from Quintet in E, op. 13 no. 5 (Edison 80608-R, the 1st of November 1920) and Haydn Adagio Cantabile from Lark Quartet (Edison 80600-L, April 1921). Ippolitov-Ivanov Intermezzo appeared on Edison 80608-L in May 1921 while MacDowell To a Wild Rose was released the 1st of October 1920. Skilton War Dance was recorded the 22nd of March 1922, on Edison 80692-L. These documents preserve the ensemble's repertoire choices and performance style across their active years.
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Common questions
When and where was the Zoellner Quartet established?
Joseph Zoellner established the quartet in Brooklyn, New York during 1903 or possibly 1904. The group operated a music school there while his family lived in Stockton, California from the founding until 1906.
Who were the members of the Zoellner Quartet and when did they die?
Antoinette Zoellner died on the 11th of March 1962 after sharing a residence in Los Angeles with her father and brother Joseph Jr. Amandus Carl Zoellner played second violin until his death the 14th of June 1955, and founder Joseph Zoellner died the 24th of January 1950.
What notable performances did the Zoellner Quartet give for Helen Keller?
During the 1916, 1917 season the quartet crossed paths with Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan in Oklahoma City to determine if she could sense vibrations. They played Tchaikovsky's String Quartet no. 1 in D Major op. 11 second movement as she swayed in time alternately crying and smiling.
Which composers wrote works specifically for the Zoellner Quartet?
Arthur Farwell wrote String Quartet The Hako in 1922 at Joseph Zoellner's suggestion while Charles Sanford Skilton dedicated Two Indian Dances to them premiering them in January 1916. Eugene Goossens composed a quartet programmed during their Eastern US tour in early 1919 and Roy Harris premiered Impressions of a Rainy Day suite on the 15th of March 1926.
How many recordings did the original Zoellner Quartet make for Edison and Columbia?
The original quartet left six sides issued as Edison diamond discs plus three recorded for Columbia all comprising isolated movements rather than complete works. Notable releases include Boccherini Minuet from Quintet in E op. 13 no. 5 issued the 1st of November 1920 and Haydn Adagio Cantabile from Lark Quartet released April 1921.