Anca Seidlova Edwards (April 19, 1895 – March 8, 1982) was a Czech-American pianist.

Early life and education

Anca Seidlová was born in Brno, the daughter of Jaroslav Seidl. Her father was a lawyer. She studied with

Leoš Janáček Leoš Janáček (, 3 July 1854 – 12 August 1928) was a Czech composer, Music theory, music theorist, Folkloristics, folklorist, publicist, and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian folk music, Moravian and other Slavs, Slavic music, includin ...

at a conservatory in Brno, with

Robert Teichmüller Robert Teichmüller (4 May 1863, in Braunschweig – 6 May 1939, in Leipzig) was a German concert pianist and music educator. He studied piano and music theory with Carl Reinecke at the Leipzig Conservatory where he later became a faculty member ...

in Leipzig, and with

Edwin Hughes Edwin Hughes may refer to: * Edwin Hughes (footballer) (1885-1949), Welsh footballer * Edwin Hughes (musician) (1884–1965), American pianist, teacher, music editor, and composer * Edwin Hughes (politician) (1832–1904), English solicitor and Con ...

and Alexander Lambert in New York.

Career

Seidlova was a concert pianist and accompanist. She made her New York debut in 1926, at Aeolian Hall. "Miss Seidlova is a pianist of considerable technical attainments," noted a ''

Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...

'' review in 1928. "She has a vigorous sense of rhythm, and a feeling for the tonal possibilities of the piano." Seidlova made several recordings with French violinist Renée Chemet between 1926 and 1931. She performed with Chemet and koto player and composer

Michio Miyagi was a Japanese musician, famous for his '' koto'' playing. He was born in Kobe. He lost his sight in 1902, when he was 8 years old, and started his study in koto under the guidance of Nakajima Kengyo II, dedicating the rest of his life to the ...

in Japan in 1932. She played with the Wilberscheid String Quartet in 1934, and the Czechoslovak Instrumental Ensemble in 1935, both with Bedrich Vaska. She co-authored a book for young readers on the history of music, and taught piano; one of her students was jazz bassist

Gene Perla Gene Perla (born March 1, 1940) is an American jazz bassist. Career At the Berklee School of Music and the Boston Conservatory Perla concentrated on piano before moving to double bass. In 1969 he spent one year as a member of the Woody Herman Or ...

. "I always tell my students to think before they play," she explained in a 1974 interview. "It has to be in you—it has to be thought first."

Publications

* "This Life is Mine" (1941, musical composition) * ''The Heritage of Music'' (1963, with

Katherine Binney Shippen Katherine Binney Shippen (April 1, 1892 – February 20, 1980) was an American history teacher, museum curator, and children's writer. Early life and education Shippen was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, on April 1, 1892, to Francis and Ellen Shipp ...

)

Personal life

Seidlova married American sea captain Charles G. Edwards in 1931. They lived in

Teaneck, New Jersey Teaneck () is a Township (New Jersey), township in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. The town is know for their pancake throwing contest held ...

in the 1930s, and later moved to Florida. Her husband died in 1973. In her last years, she wrote short stories, and attended weekly Russian language classes. She died in

Marion, Massachusetts Marion is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,347 at the 2020 census. For geographic and demographic information on the village of Marion Center, please see the article Mar ...

in 1982, at the age of 86.

References

External links

A 1927 recording by Renée Chemet and Anca Seidlova
playing Toselli's "Serenade", on YouTube * A 1927 recording by Renée Chemet and Anca Seidlova, playing "Oh Promise Me", on Internet Archive {{DEFAULTSORT:Seidlova, Anca 1895 births 1982 deaths Musicians from Brno Czech pianists Czech women pianists Czech music educators Czech women music educators Czechoslovak emigrants to the United States