Concert Musicians who served in the War

[Lyle]

Dear forumites,

There is an interesting discussion over in the Aircraft forum about Franz Hemer and his Fokker Dr.I colors...but what is amazing is that he was a virtuoso cellist before the war! I was wondering what other famous musicians served in the War in some capacity. I think the most famous one is Fritz Kreisler, who was an officer in the Austrian army and served until he was wounded in 1914. His description of what happened is now available online, and makes for some fascinating reading.

Four Weeks in the Trenches

[FliegerJG1]

Lyle,

This is a very interesting topic; thank you for posting it. Both musicians are familiar to me...I'm a cellist so Franz Hemer has been a favorite ace and many years ago, the library had a copy of Kreisler's book that I read. The web link to it will be a handy reference! I hope that we'll learn of more musical soldiers.

Blue skies!
FliegerJG1

[Shredward]

Ralph Vaughan Williams volunteered for the Field Ambulance Service at age 42, and was later commissioned in the Royal Garrison Artillery. His "Lark Ascending", and his Third Symphony, both written just after his return, sum up his feelings of loss and grieving over the Great War.
cheers,
shredward

[ONEALM]

Albert Spalding, world class concert violinst qualifies. New Jersey resident, trained at Foggia as a pilot, but did not finish, later trained as an observer, but don't hink he saw the front lines.

His autobiography which covers his WW I Service and beyond is "Rise to Follow"

[Gregvan]

Hi,

If we're not limiting this discussion to aviation types - there was the famous story of Austrian concert pianist Paul Wittgenstein. In August 1914 he had the bad luck to have his right arm shattered by a Russian sniper. He was taken PoW by the Russians, who amputated his right arm. He was repatriated, and continued to serve as a general's aide on the Italian Front, I think.

After the war he commissioned a number of pieces from composers; concertos for the left hand and orchestra. The most famous was one by Ravel.

You can find out quite a bit about him by googling Paul Wittgenstein. I heard a reference to him in some movie, but I can't remember what the movie was - it was about some other musician who lost an arm.

Greg

[TomVrille]

Let's not forget Ivor Novello, a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant (Quirk) in flight training at the Royal Naval Air Station Chingford. Novello had already written the musical score for Theodore and Co, a popular show at the Gaiety Theatre in London. He is probably better known as the author of the wartime song Keep the Home Fires Burning. Novello was reputed to be a most popular Quirk as he often played the piano in the ward room while the other students sang the popular, and often bawdy, songs of the day. Sad to say, Novello was never really suited to flying, and ended up transferring to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

[Ed]

Let's not forget that Captain Ernst Lehman was a violinist. During trips on the Hindenburg he would entertain the passengers in the dining room playing classical music.