Guy Maier
Encyclopedia
Guy Maier was a noted American pianist, composer, arranger, teacher, and writer. From about 1919 to 1931, he was a member of the popular two-piano team of Maier and Pattison.
. In Boston Maier met Lee Pattison
(1890–1966), a recent New England Conservatory graduate who was also a fine pianist. Following Maier’s graduation in 1913, Maier and Pattison left together for Europe, where they hoped to become pupils of Harold Bauer
(1873–1951), Josef Hofmann (1876–1957), or Arthur Schnabel
(1882–1951), all eminent pianists of the time. They found that Bauer was away and Hofmann took no pupils, but Schnabel agreed to teach them. So they went to Berlin, where Schnabel coached them for about a year. In Berlin, Schnabel and Maier formed a friendship that endured until Schnabel’s death. Maier and Pattison returned to Boston in 1914, where Maier made his solo debut as a concert pianist.
(1973-1951) and Ossip Gabrilowitsch
(1878–1936), they began to play together. When the United States entered World War I, Maier volunteered for the entertainment service of the YMCA, and Pattison joined the infantry. In France, they gave two-piano recitals for American troops. After the armistice, they gave a recital in Paris that was attended by President Woodrow Wilson
and French Premier Georges Clemenceau
.
Playing classic works from the two-piano repertory in addition to their own arrangements of the works of great composers, Maier and Pattison traveled widely through the 1920s, giving two-piano concerts in the United States and Europe. In 1922, they joined Leopold Godowsky
(1870–1938) in the final number of a concert in Carnegie Hall
, where they played Godowsky’s three-piano contrapuntal paraphrase of Carl Maria von Weber
’s Invitation to the Dance. Godowsky dedicated the work to Maier and Pattison. In 1928, they gave the Carnegie Hall premiere of Mozart’s Andante and Variations, K. 501, a work composed in 1786 but never before played in the New York hall. As their reputation grew, they became known as “The Piano Twins.” They also performed with orchestras in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and other cities. In 1931, they announced a “friendly split” and embarked on a farewell tour of the United States. Time magazine said they were “as difficult to disscociate as Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, liver & bacon or the Cherry Sisters.” Both were “excellent musicians,” Time said, but Maier was “the better showman. He is more given to swaying over the keyboard, to making his cresendoes look mighty as well as sounding so. He is not above making occasional impromptu speeches or working for a laugh. Pattison’s contribution is just as important but he makes it more quietly, focuses more on his piano.” In March, 1937, Maier and Pattison joined in a reunion concert on the stage of the WPA
Theatre of Music in New York.
labels. He and Pattison were also pioneers in acoustic recording, producing popular recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company
in the early 1920s.
from 1921 to 1931, at the Juilliard School
in New York from 1935 to 1942, and at the University of California at Los Angeles from 1946 to 1956. As a teacher, he traveled widely across the United States, giving master classes at colleges, universities, and private music schools. His notable piano students included Dalies Frantz (1908-1965) and Leonard Pennario
(1924-2008).
Early life
Guy (Silas) Maier was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of John Maier, a retail shoe dealer, and his wife, Eva D. Maier. As a boy, he aspired to be a Presbyterian minister, but his musical talent turned him in the direction of the piano and the organ. He enrolled at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied piano with Carl Baermann (1839–1913), a friend and pupil of Franz LisztFranz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
. In Boston Maier met Lee Pattison
Lee Pattison
Lee Pattison was a noted American pianist, composer, arranger, opera director, and teacher. From about 1919 until 1931 he was a member of the popular two-piano team of Guy Maier and Lee Pattison...
(1890–1966), a recent New England Conservatory graduate who was also a fine pianist. Following Maier’s graduation in 1913, Maier and Pattison left together for Europe, where they hoped to become pupils of Harold Bauer
Harold Bauer
Harold Bauer was a noted pianist who began his musical career as a violinist.Harold Bauer was born in London; his father was a German violinist and his mother was English. He took up the study of the violin under the direction of his father and Adolf Pollitzer. He made his debut as a violinist in...
(1873–1951), Josef Hofmann (1876–1957), or Arthur Schnabel
Arthur Schnabel
For the Austrian composer, see Artur Schnabel.Arthur Schnabel is a German judoka.He won a bronze medal in the Open division at the 1984 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...
(1882–1951), all eminent pianists of the time. They found that Bauer was away and Hofmann took no pupils, but Schnabel agreed to teach them. So they went to Berlin, where Schnabel coached them for about a year. In Berlin, Schnabel and Maier formed a friendship that endured until Schnabel’s death. Maier and Pattison returned to Boston in 1914, where Maier made his solo debut as a concert pianist.
Maier and Pattison
After Maier and Pattison heard a two-piano performance by Harold BauerHarold Bauer
Harold Bauer was a noted pianist who began his musical career as a violinist.Harold Bauer was born in London; his father was a German violinist and his mother was English. He took up the study of the violin under the direction of his father and Adolf Pollitzer. He made his debut as a violinist in...
(1973-1951) and Ossip Gabrilowitsch
Ossip Gabrilowitsch
Ossip Gabrilowitsch was a Russian-born American pianist, conductor and composer.- Biography :...
(1878–1936), they began to play together. When the United States entered World War I, Maier volunteered for the entertainment service of the YMCA, and Pattison joined the infantry. In France, they gave two-piano recitals for American troops. After the armistice, they gave a recital in Paris that was attended by President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
and French Premier Georges Clemenceau
Georges Clemenceau
Georges Benjamin Clemenceau was a French statesman, physician and journalist. He served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. For nearly the final year of World War I he led France, and was one of the major voices behind the Treaty of Versailles at the...
.
Playing classic works from the two-piano repertory in addition to their own arrangements of the works of great composers, Maier and Pattison traveled widely through the 1920s, giving two-piano concerts in the United States and Europe. In 1922, they joined Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky was a famed Polish American pianist, composer, and teacher. One of the most highly regarded performers of his time, he became known for his theories concerning the application of relaxed weight and economy of motion in piano playing, principles later propagated by Godowsky's...
(1870–1938) in the final number of a concert in Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, where they played Godowsky’s three-piano contrapuntal paraphrase of Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
’s Invitation to the Dance. Godowsky dedicated the work to Maier and Pattison. In 1928, they gave the Carnegie Hall premiere of Mozart’s Andante and Variations, K. 501, a work composed in 1786 but never before played in the New York hall. As their reputation grew, they became known as “The Piano Twins.” They also performed with orchestras in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and other cities. In 1931, they announced a “friendly split” and embarked on a farewell tour of the United States. Time magazine said they were “as difficult to disscociate as Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, liver & bacon or the Cherry Sisters.” Both were “excellent musicians,” Time said, but Maier was “the better showman. He is more given to swaying over the keyboard, to making his cresendoes look mighty as well as sounding so. He is not above making occasional impromptu speeches or working for a laugh. Pattison’s contribution is just as important but he makes it more quietly, focuses more on his piano.” In March, 1937, Maier and Pattison joined in a reunion concert on the stage of the WPA
WPA
- Agencies and organizations :*World Pool-Billiard Association*World Psychiatric Association- United States :*Washington Project for the Arts*Women's Prison Association...
Theatre of Music in New York.
Recordings
Both individually as a member of the duo-piano team of Maier and Pattison, Maier recorded piano rolls under the Welte Mignon and AmpicoAmpico
American Piano Company was an American piano manufacturer located in East Rochester, New York, which was known from the beginning for the production of high quality player pianos. The company was established in 1908 under the aegis of Wm. Knabe & Co...
labels. He and Pattison were also pioneers in acoustic recording, producing popular recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....
in the early 1920s.
Recitals for Young People
As a soloist (and sometimes joined by his wife Lois, also an accomplished pianist), Maier gave recitals for young people coupled with musical travelogues. “He is not only clever as a pianist,” the Los Angeles Times reported, “but the way he keeps the attention of a grammar-school audience of squirming, tired-at-the-end-of-the-day youngsters is nothing short of miraculous. It is all fun to him and he makes the children ‘see into’ the music he plays with brief and witty words.”Teaching
Maier taught at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1921 to 1931, at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York from 1935 to 1942, and at the University of California at Los Angeles from 1946 to 1956. As a teacher, he traveled widely across the United States, giving master classes at colleges, universities, and private music schools. His notable piano students included Dalies Frantz (1908-1965) and Leonard Pennario
Leonard Pennario
Leonard Pennario was an American classical pianist and composer.He was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in Los Angeles, attending Los Angeles High School remaining in L.A. for his entire career. He first came to notice when he performed Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto at age 12, with the...
(1924-2008).