As a husband and father of four kids, I am always interested in the marital/family interplay for famous people. This is especially true about composers, which also combines my interest in "classical" (is there a less genre-inspired term, not that I don't like that era of music...) music.
Does anyone know any composers (it may even be you) who were good husbands/wives and/or fathers/mothers? I read so much about the composers that were unfaithful to their spouses and those that were really absentee parents (due to the fame of their position or the time needed to devote to it?), that I thought it would be nice to hear some of the good stories.
I understand that our current concepts of marriage/family life may not necessarily exemplify those of the past, so one could still be considered as a good spouse/parent even if it doesn't match either our current ideals, or those of an era prior to us
After something of a rocky patch early on in his first marriage, I should say Shostakovich.
J. S. Bach
Wagner, in spite of being a bad character in many ways in his relations with adults, seems to have been a loving and devoted father to his children.
If I'm not mistaken, Spohr was an excellent husband and father.
Aino Sibelius was a good wife to her husband Jean. Although Jean was an alcoholic and put his wife through many difficult times, she stood by him.
Prokofiev wasn't really.
Beethoven was a great uncle! Best ever! ;D
Clara Schumann.
Antonin Dvorak had a great family life.
Hovhaness, as far as I know, had a long marriage that produced a daughter.
How 'good' each of these guys posted here were as spouses/parents is kinda hard to judge as outsiders.
Mahler adored his wife and daughters. Alma didn't always reciprocate.
Sarge
Mrs Haydn? I hear she was an endearing lady, kept his husband busy.
I guess Gesualdo da Venosa would not be a very good choice ...
Dvorak comes to mind and his son-in-law Joseph Suk was devoted to his wife Otilka (Dvorak's daughter) who sadly died young.
Charles ives and his wife, Harmony, were close for their entire lives. Most of the time, they were within an arm's reach of each other, according to Jan Swafford. They were unable to have children of their own (Harmony miscarried early in the marriage and underwent a hysterectomy), but they adopted a daughter named Edith, and she always spoke of him affectionately.
Quote from: matti on August 28, 2009, 09:39:01 PM
Mrs Haydn? I hear she was an endearing lady, kept his husband busy.
I don't unerstand where the above information comes from....to begin with, Haydn was not happily married. Secondly, he did not have a husband.
Quote from: Joe Barron on August 31, 2009, 02:44:44 PM
Charles ives and his wife, Harmony, were close for their entire lives. Most of the time, they were within an arm's reach of each other, according to Jan Swafford. They were unable to have children of their own (Harmony miscarried early in the marriage and underwent a hysterectomy), but they adopted a daughter named Edith, and she always spoke of him affectionately.
Ives's wife was named harmony? How...ironic.
Quote from: Tapkaara on August 31, 2009, 11:05:37 PM
Ives's wife was named harmony? How...ironic.
Yeah, I've been trying to come up with some kind of joke about that for years, but nothing really witty suggests itself.
She was a looker in her early years, too., with a very nice figure. She did social work when she was younger, as many women of her class did in those days, and there's a picture of her in a nurse's uniform. Some standard BDSM fantasies center on women in nurses' uniforms ...
Quote from: Chaszz on August 31, 2009, 06:05:25 PM
I don't unerstand where the above information comes from....to begin with, Haydn was not happily married. Secondly, he did not have a husband.
Sorry, my entry was an attempt on "funny", you know this so called "humour" thing that I've heard people talk of.
I thought everyone was aware about Haydn's miserable marriage.
I never said FJ Haydn had a husband.
Fanny Hensel was much loved as a wife, sister and mother. Her sudden death was a great blow to the whole family.
How about Barber and Menotti. They were together for 30 years.
Then there's Britten and Pears, a 34-year long partnership.
Quote from: Daverz on September 02, 2009, 03:27:16 PM
How about Barber and Menotti. They were together for 30 years.
Then there's Britten and Pears, a 34-year long partnership.
I read an article some time about about Samuel Barber's acute depression after his "split" from Menotti. I wish there were more bios on American composers. Barber was very successful and recognized as a significant composer during his lifetime. Was it indeed true that he had a severe breakdown during his later years? I don't know for certain about this. the one article I read years ago was very brief. Barber was at one time one of my very favorite composers. His two symphonies are wonderful in their depth, harmonies, and dynamic rhythms.
Quote from: matti on September 02, 2009, 07:37:57 AM
I thought everyone was aware about Haydn's miserable marriage.
Which was not his fault really. His wife was a freaking harpy, she even went so far as to use his musical sheets as table covers for god sake, come on!
Quote from: matti on September 02, 2009, 07:37:57 AM
Sorry, my entry was an attempt on "funny", you know this so called "humour" thing that I've heard people talk of.
I thought everyone was aware about Haydn's miserable marriage.
I wasn't, but somehow I'm not surprised. :-\
Quote from: matti on September 02, 2009, 07:37:57 AM
I never said FJ Haydn had a husband.
If I may:
Quote from: matti on August 28, 2009, 09:39:01 PM
Mrs Haydn? I hear she was an endearing lady, kept his husband busy.
Quod erat demonstrat. ;D (emphasis added)
Quote from: Chaszz on August 27, 2009, 06:54:55 AM
Wagner, in spite of being a bad character in many ways in his relations with adults, seems to have been a loving and devoted father to his children.
A little too devoted, perhaps, turning young Siegfried into quite the character--not an entirely happy one.
I think Carter might qualify. Certainly a loving relationship into old age.
Quote from: jochanaan on September 07, 2009, 11:53:11 AM
I wasn't, but somehow I'm not surprised. :-\If I may:Quod erat demonstrat. ;D (emphasis added)
My bad. I in fact
proofread the sentence, to make sure, after someone commented on it. :-[
But
do we have any proof Frau Haydn was not a she-male? ???
Quote from: matti on September 07, 2009, 01:01:45 PM
My bad. I in fact proofread the sentence, to make sure, after someone commented on it. :-[
But do we have any proof Frau Haydn was not a she-male? ???
I've always been suspicious, since she ran the 800m in just over 3 minutes. (Crazy fast, at the time!)
Quote from: schweitzeralan on September 03, 2009, 09:54:07 AM
I read an article some time about about Samuel Barber's acute depression after his "split" from Menotti. I wish there were more bios on American composers. Barber was very successful and recognized as a significant composer during his lifetime. Was it indeed true that he had a severe breakdown during his later years? I don't know for certain about this. the one article I read years ago was very brief. Barber was at one time one of my very favorite composers. His two symphonies are wonderful in their depth, harmonies, and dynamic rhythms.
The article on Barber in David Ewen's
American Composers (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1982) mentions a five-year hiatus in composing from 1972 through 1977, but it doesn't mention a breakdown. But then, it might not mention that... ::)
Quote from: jochanaan on September 07, 2009, 05:00:23 PM
The article on Barber in David Ewen's American Composers (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1982) mentions a five-year hiatus in composing from 1972 through 1977, but it doesn't mention a breakdown. But then, it might not mention that... ::)
Thanks. I'll check out the article. Right now I can't recall where I read the source which dealt with Barber's later years.
Schweitzeralan, are you aware there is a full-length biography (http://www.amazon.com/Samuel-Barber-Composer-His-Music/dp/0195090586/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252376043&sr=1-2) of Barber?
Lutosławski's marriage was, according to all accounts, perfect (though, especially at first, it was frowned upon). His stepson spoke most affectionately of him in an interview.
Quote from: Joe Barron on September 07, 2009, 06:18:38 PM
Schweitzeralan, are you aware there is a full-length biography (http://www.amazon.com/Samuel-Barber-Composer-His-Music/dp/0195090586/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252376043&sr=1-2) of Barber?
No. First I'll check it out on a local lenging library. If there is indeed a bio on B.;and, if I like it I'll go on Amazon. Perhaps I should have investigated online before posting. Thanks for the info.
Verdi's marriage to Giuseppina Strepponi seems as near to blissful as it gets, from what I have read.
Quote from: jlaurson on September 07, 2009, 01:12:45 PM
I've always been suspicious, since she ran the 800m in just over 3 minutes. (Crazy fast, at the time!)
But there were whispers in the Esterhazy archives that she used "shpritzoids," an early form of steroids.
In a headline an early BBC Music Mag claimed that....
'Fanny was absolutely central to the life of Mendelssohn'
One way or another he seemed to have been attentive.
Mike
And to think some say British music magazines are prudish...
On our old site I mentioned that headline and got replies to the effect that people were disappointed in me! I guess that either people now have lower expectations of me or the site has gone south somewhat....or both!
Mike