Rudolf Braun

Rudolf Braun (21 October 1869 – 30 December 1925) was an Austrian pianist and composer who was born congenitally blind. He was born and died in Vienna. Very little is recorded of Braun's early life. He was educated at the School for the Blind. He earned his living nearly exclusively from music and at the age of 12, he gave a performance as a pianist at a concert of the Vienna Men's Choral Society. On 3 March 1896 he gave a concert of his own compositions. Gustav Mahler premiered Braun's Marionettentreuse at the Vienna Court Opera on 17 October 1906, to excellent reviews. In 1925 the title of Professor was bestowed on him. In 1923 Arnold Schoenberg used his influence to obtain financial assistance for some struggling composers, including Braun, Alban Berg, Anton Webern and Josef Matthias Hauer. Braun wrote seven works for the one-armed pianist Paul Wittgenstein, including a Piano Concerto in A minor for the Left Hand. This concerto was written in 1924 and was first performed on 12 December 1927, almost two years after his death, with Wittgenstein as soloist and Julius Lehnert conducting. The Concerto in A minor is the only concerto Braun wrote and is…Citește mai mult

References 12. Bidnick, Richard A., Left Handed – Piano Concertos for the Left hand alone – The Pianists who Inspired the Composers. April 2005

Known works Fünf Lieder, Op. 3, pub. 1897 Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 16: Valse caprice, Gedenkblatt, Maiglöckchen String Quintet in E minor, Op. 38, pub. 1912, Vienna Wind Quintet in C major, 1920 Cello Sonata in E minor, pub. 1926; inscribed "In freundschaftlicher Erinnerung an Frau Senta Jölly – Klagenfurt" Piano Concerto in A minor for the Left Hand; written for Paul Wittgenstein; first performed 31 October 1927 with the Vienna Women's Symphony Orchestra, Julius Lehnert conducting Three Piano Pieces for the Left Hand: Scherzo, Perpetuum Mobile, Serenata; dedicated to Wittgenstein; 1922, pub. 1928 Divertimento for Two Pianos Die Tänzerin under die Marionette, a pantomime with scenario by Max Mell.