Aloys Fleischmann facts for kids

Aloys Fleischmann leading the Cork Symphony Orchestra (1958)

Aloys Fleischmann (born April 13, 1910 – died July 21, 1992) was an important Irish musician. He was a composer, a music expert (called a musicologist), a professor, and a conductor. He worked hard to make music a bigger part of life in Ireland.

Aloys Fleischmann's Early Life and Education

Aloys Fleischmann was born in Munich, Germany. His parents were German musicians who lived in Ireland. His father, Aloys Fleischmann senior, was an organ player and choir leader in Cork. His mother, Tilly Fleischmann, was a talented piano player and teacher.

Aloys went to schools in Cork, including Scoil Íte and Christian Brothers College, Cork. He studied at University College Cork, earning several degrees in music. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1930 and his music degrees in 1931 and 1963.

Studying Music in Germany

In 1932, Aloys went to Germany to study music even more. He learned about composing, conducting, and music history at the Academy of Music in Munich. He returned to University College Cork in 1934. There, he became a music professor and taught until 1980. He married Anne Madden in 1941, and they had five children.

How Aloys Fleischmann Changed Music in Ireland

When Fleischmann started his job in 1934, music in Ireland was not very strong. Schools rarely taught music, and there were few music students. There were almost no professional music groups in the country.

Fleischmann decided to change this. He worked throughout his career to make music a key part of people's lives. He wanted music to be important in both schools and communities.

Promoting Irish Music and Composers

Fleischmann spoke Irish very well. He also studied Irish folk music. He wanted to create a special Irish style of classical music. He was inspired by friends of his parents, like Carl Hardebeck and Arnold Bax.

As a conductor, he led the Cork Symphony and Radio Éireann Orchestras. He often performed music by Irish composers. He also helped start the idea of asking composers to write new music for the Cork International Choral Festival. This included both Irish and international composers. A choir, The Fleischmann Choir, was named after him to honor his work.

His Big Book on Irish Music

Fleischmann spent over 40 years researching for his most important book. It was called Sources of Irish Traditional Music. This huge book collected information about Irish traditional music from 1600 to 1855. It was published after he passed away in 1998. An e-book version came out in 2016.

Awards and Special Honors for Aloys Fleischmann

Aloys Fleischmann received many awards for his dedication to music.

• In 1964, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Trinity College Dublin.
• In 1966, the German government gave him the Order of Merit.
• In 1976, he received the Silver Medal from the Irish American Cultural Institute.
• In 1978, he was given the Freedom of the City of Cork.
• In 1991, he became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
• Also in 1991, he was given Honorary Life Membership of the Royal Dublin Society.

Celebrating Aloys Fleischmann's 100th Birthday

In 2010, people celebrated 100 years since Fleischmann's birth. These celebrations were organized by the Cork City Council. The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, opened the year of events.

Many groups took part, with 145 organizations putting on 225 events. These events happened all over Ireland and in five other countries. These countries included Britain, France, Germany, China, and the United States.

Aloys Fleischmann's Professional Work

Fleischmann was involved in many musical activities throughout his life.

• 1931: He helped start the University Art Society.
• 1934: He founded the Cork Symphony Orchestra and conducted it until 1992.
• 1935: He started the Music Teachers' Association Cork and was its chairman for many years.
• 1936–1977: He was a guest conductor for the Radio Éireann orchestra.
• 1938: He founded the Cork Orchestral Society and was its chairman.
• 1943: He founded and conducted the University Choral Society.
• 1947–1992: He was a member of the Cork Ballet Company's Board.
• 1953–1966: He was chairman of the Cork International Choral Festival.
• 1961–1989: He was a member of the Irish National Commission to UNESCO.
• 1967–1987: He directed the Cork International Choral Festival.
• 1981: He became a founding member of Aosdána, a group for creative artists in Ireland.

What Music Did Aloys Fleischmann Compose?

Aloys Fleischmann wrote 55 musical pieces. The Cork City Music Library has put all his music scores online. He composed many types of music, including:

• Ballets (music for dance shows)
• Chamber music (for small groups of instruments)
• Orchestral works (for a large orchestra)
• Works for choirs (groups of singers)

Some of his well-known compositions include:

• Sreath do Phiano (Suite for Piano) (1933)
• Prelude and Dance for orchestra (1940)
• Clare's Dragoons for a singer, choir, and orchestra (1944)
• The Golden Bell of Ko, a ballet (1948)
• An Cóitín Dearg (The Red Petticoat), another ballet (1951)
• Macha Ruadh (Red-haired Macha), a ballet (1955)
• Mass for Peace for choir and orchestra (1976)
• The Táin, a ballet (1981)

Books Written by Aloys Fleischmann

Fleischmann wrote about 100 articles and edited two important books:

• Music in Ireland: A Symposium (1952)
• Sources of Irish Traditional Music c. 1600–1855, which he spent many years researching.

Images for kids

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  Aloys Fleischmann conducting Cork Symphony Orchestra (1958)