Paul Baumgartner facts for kids

Paul Baumgartner (born July 21, 1903 – died October 19, 1976) was a talented Swiss pianist. He was known for his amazing piano playing and later became a very important teacher for many famous musicians.

Early Life and Education

Paul Baumgartner was born in Altstätten, Switzerland. From a young age, he showed a great love for music. When he was just 12 years old, he even wrote his own poems, including one called "The Seven Searchers."

He studied piano and how to compose music at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München in Germany. His teachers included Walter Braunfels. He also learned from Eduard Erdmann in Köln, where Paul later taught music himself.

Moving to Basel

During a difficult time in history, when the Nazis were rising to power, Paul Baumgartner moved back to Switzerland. He settled in Basel and continued to teach music at the local conservatory there.

A Gifted Pianist

Paul Baumgartner was a truly gifted pianist. He often played with other famous musicians. One of his most important collaborations was with the cellist Pablo Casals. Casals was a world-renowned musician, and Paul Baumgartner was one of the first musicians to join him at the famous Casals festival.

Together, Paul Baumgartner and Pablo Casals recorded beautiful music. They recorded the sonatas for viola da gamba by the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

A Beloved Teacher

Even though he was a wonderful performer, Paul Baumgartner is mostly remembered today for his teaching. He helped many young musicians become great artists. Some of his most famous students include:

• Alfred Brendel
• Karl Engel
• Arie Vardi
• Peter Efler
• The conductor Günter Wand

These students went on to have very successful careers in music, showing how much Paul Baumgartner influenced them.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1962, Paul Baumgartner received a special award called the Kunstpreis der Stadt St. Gallen. This award recognized his important contributions to art and music.

Paul Baumgartner passed away in 1976 in Locarno, Switzerland. His legacy lives on through his recordings and, especially, through the many talented musicians he taught.

His Portrait

A Swiss painter named Urban Zacharias Wick created a life-size portrait of Paul Baumgartner. This painting is now displayed at the Kunstmuseum Rheintal, where people can see it and remember this important musician.