Tilly Fleischmann facts for kids
Maria Theresa Mathilda Tilly Fleischmann (born April 2, 1882 – died October 17, 1967) was a talented Irish musician. She was a pianist, organist, teacher, and writer. Tilly had German family roots. She made a big impact on music in Ireland.
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Tilly Fleischmann's Early Life and Training
Tilly Fleischmann was born Maria Theresa Mathilda Swertz in Cork, Ireland. This was on April 2, 1882. She was the second of nine children. Her parents were from Germany. Her father, Hans Conrad Swertz, was a music teacher. Her mother was Walburga Rössler.
Tilly went to St Angela's College in Cork. She learned piano at the Cork Municipal School of Music. Her father taught her to play the organ. He was the organist and choir director at the Catholic Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne.
In 1901, Tilly's father sent her to Munich, Germany. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music. Women had been allowed there since 1890. Tilly studied organ with Josef Becht. She learned piano from Bernhard Stavenhagen. He was the last student of the famous composer Franz Liszt. When Stavenhagen left, she studied with Berthold Kellermann. He was also a student of Liszt. Tilly finished her studies in 1905 with top grades. She often played at public concerts there. In her last term, she played the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Academy Orchestra.
Starting a Family and Moving to Ireland
In September 1905, Tilly married Aloys Fleischmann. He was also from Dachau, Germany. Aloys had studied music in Munich too. He became an organist in his hometown church.
A year later, Tilly was called back to Cork. Her father had moved to America. Her eight brothers and sisters were still in school. Tilly was the only one who could earn money. She convinced Aloys to come to Cork with her. He took over her father's old job at the cathedral.
The Fleischmanns did not plan to stay in Ireland forever. In 1909, Tilly went back to Munich for a few months. She wanted to study more and give concerts. She hoped they could move back to Germany. Tilly became pregnant before she left. Their only son, Aloys, was born in Munich in April 1910. She returned to Cork with the baby in July.
They slowly got used to life in Cork. They made many friends who loved art. Tilly gave piano concerts and taught. Her husband gave choir concerts and wrote music.
Music and Wartime in Ireland
World War I started in 1914. Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom. People in Ireland wanted independence from Britain. They were also interested in old Irish culture. The Fleischmanns had friends among Irish musicians. They were also friends with people who wanted Ireland to be free. These included Terence MacSwiney and Tomás Mac Curtain.
In 1916, Aloys Fleischmann was held as a prisoner of war. He was first in Oldcastle, then on the Isle of Man. In 1919, he was sent to Germany. He could not return to Ireland until 1920. During this time, Tilly took over his job. She was the acting cathedral organist and choir director. She also led the choir at the opening of the Honan Chapel in University College Cork. Tilly kept teaching piano. However, fewer students came because some people felt angry towards Germans.
A Busy Musician and Teacher
From 1906 into the 1950s, Tilly Fleischmann gave many concerts. She played in Cork and sometimes in Dublin. In 1911, she held a Franz Liszt concert in Cork. This celebrated 100 years since Liszt's birth. She also played Chopin concerts in 1924. Her husband joined Scottish singer Rita Wallace at one of these. Tilly played with the Brodsky Quartet in Cork.
She was likely the first Irish musician to play music by Arnold Bax. She heard about him in 1917. In 1926, she and Rita Wallace played modern music, including a piece by Bax. Tilly suggested Bax judge the Feis Maitiú (a music festival) in Cork. From then on, Bax stayed with the Fleischmanns every year, except during the war.
In 1930, Tilly and singer Frances Allsom gave a concert in Dublin. They played music by Bax, Vaughan Williams, Delius, and others. Tilly also performed with the Kutcher String Quartet. She played with the famous German singer Elisabeth Schumann in 1934.
After Irish radio started in 1926, Tilly gave many broadcasts. She was the first Irish pianist to play on the BBC in 1929. Her last public concert was at her home in 1962. She played for friends and students. After her husband died in 1964, she stopped playing completely.
Tilly Fleischmann taught piano for over sixty years. Many of her students were advanced players. Some famous students included Seán Ó Riada. She was head of the piano section at the Cork Municipal School of Music from 1919 to 1937. She then started her own piano school. She taught her students the special Liszt way of playing piano. She had learned this in Munich.
Tilly Fleischmann's Book and Legacy
Tilly wrote a book called Tradition and Craft in Piano Playing. The composer Herbert Hughes suggested she write it. It was finished around 1952. But she could not find a publisher while she was alive.
Almost 20 years after her death, a shorter version was printed in 1986. It was finally published in full in 2014. It is also available online. Tilly was a member of the British Liszt Society. Her memories of Arnold Bax were published in a music newsletter.
Her husband worked as a cathedral organist until he was 82. He died in 1964. In her last years, Tilly organized her and her husband's papers. This helped save records of their family's musical life. She died on October 17, 1967, at age 85. She had taught piano right up until the day she passed away.
Tributes and Recognition
Many people honored Tilly Fleischmann:
- In 1963, Gerald Y. Goldberg held concerts in Cork. He dedicated them to Aloys and Tilly Fleischmann.
- In 1977, her former students created the "Tilly Fleischmann Recital Prize." This was for the Cork Feis Maitiú music festival. Students must play a piece by Franz Liszt.
- In 1978, the Cork Municipal School of Music held piano concerts in her memory.
- In 2010, Aloys and Tilly Fleischmann were remembered during celebrations for their son's 100th birthday. The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, opened the year-long events. There were exhibitions about the Fleischmanns in Cork and Dachau, Germany.
