Jiří Herold
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Jiří Karel Herold (16 April 1875 – 13 November 1934) was a Czech violist, music teacher and
violinist The following lists of violinists are available: * List of classical violinists * List of contemporary classical violinists * List of jazz violinists * List of popular music violinists * List of Indian violinists * List of Persian violinists * Li ...
. He was
concertmaster The concertmaster (from the German language, German ''Konzertmeister''), first chair (U.S.) or leader (UK) is the principal first violin player in an orchestra (clarinet or oboe in a concert band). After the Conducting, conductor, the concertma ...
of the
Czech Philharmonic The Czech Philharmonic () is a symphony orchestra based in Prague. Its principal performing venue is the Rudolfinum concert hall. History The name "Czech Philharmonic Orchestra" appeared for the first time in 1894, as the title of the orche ...
, violist of the
Czech Quartet The Bohemian Quartet (; known as the Czech Quartet after 1918) was a Czech string quartet of international repute that was founded in 1891 and disbanded in 1933. Origins The Quartet was founded in Prague by three pupils of Antonín Bennewitz ( ...
and the Herold Quartet.


Family and studies

Jiří Karel Herold was born on 16 April 1875 in
Rakovník Rakovník (, ) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 16,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone. Administrative division Rakovník consists o ...
. He was the son of the accountant of the Rakovník brewery, pianist and organist Adolf Herold and Marie Knoblochová. The Herold family lived in house No. 81 on the corner of Palackého and Vysoké streets. He studied violin at the Conservatory in
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
with professor
Franz Lachner Franz Paul Lachner (2 April 180320 January 1890) was a German composer and conductor. Biography Lachner was born in Rain am Lech to a musical family (his brothers Ignaz, and Vinzenz also became musicians). He studied music with Simon Sec ...
, later with professor and director of the conservatory
Antonín Bennewitz Antonín Bennewitz (also Anton Bennewitz; 26 March 1833 – 29 May 1926) was a Bohemian violinist, conductor, and teacher. He was in a line of violinists that extended back to Giovanni Battista Viotti, and forward to Jan Kubelík and Wolfgang ...
. He graduated in 1895. He married Markéta Friedlová, with whom he had sons Jan, Aurel and Jiří, who worked as an opera singer and teacher in
Ostrava Ostrava (; ; ) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic and the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It has about 283,000 inhabitants. It lies from the border with Poland, at the confluences of four rivers: Oder, Opava (river), Opa ...
. Jiří Herold died on 13 November 1934 and was buried at the
Olšany Cemetery Olšany Cemeteries (, ) is the largest graveyard in Prague, Czech Republic, once laid out for as many as two million burials. The graveyard is particularly noted for its many remarkable Art Nouveau monuments. History The Olšany Cemeteries w ...
, just like his father Adolf.


Career

He began his concert career while still studying at the conservatory, playing a concerto for two violins at the
Rudolfinum The Rudolfinum is a building in Prague, Czech Republic. It is designed in the neo-Renaissance style and is situated on Jan Palach Square on the bank of the river Vltava. Since its opening in 1885, it has been associated with music and art. C ...
in his fourth year and performing with his classmates, under the name
Smetana Quartet The Smetana Quartet () was a Czech string quartet that was in existence from 1943 to 1989, although it was known as the Smetana Quartet only from 1945 onwards. Personnel 1st violin * Václav Neumann (1920-1995), from 1943 to 1945 * Jaroslav ...
, in his hometown of Rakovník, during his sixth year. He also gave concerts as a soloist in the army orchestra during his mandatory military service in
Jihlava Jihlava (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 55,000 inhabitants. Jihlava is the capital of the Vysočina Region, situated on the Jihlava (river), Jihlava River on the historical border between Moravia and Bohemia. Historically, Jihla ...
and
Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
. After a short teaching experience, he joined an orchestra in
Lviv Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...
as the concertmaster. In 1901, he became concertmaster of the newly established
Czech Philharmonic The Czech Philharmonic () is a symphony orchestra based in Prague. Its principal performing venue is the Rudolfinum concert hall. History The name "Czech Philharmonic Orchestra" appeared for the first time in 1894, as the title of the orche ...
under the direction of
Rafael Kubelík Rafael Jeroným Kubelík, KBE (29 June 1914 – 11 August 1996) was a Czech conductor and composer. The son of a distinguished violinist, Jan Kubelík, he was trained in Prague and made his debut with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at the a ...
. Together with fellow players from the Philharmonic, Jiří Herold founded Herold's Prague String Quartet, with which he performed concerts throughout Europe. He then became a member of the
Czech Quartet The Bohemian Quartet (; known as the Czech Quartet after 1918) was a Czech string quartet of international repute that was founded in 1891 and disbanded in 1933. Origins The Quartet was founded in Prague by three pupils of Antonín Bennewitz ( ...
, where he took a seat in 1906 at the viola desk after
Oskar Nedbal Oskar Nedbal (26 March 1874 – 24 December 1930) was a Czech violist, composer, and conductor of classical music. Early life Nedbal was born in Tábor, in southern Bohemia. He studied the violin at the Prague Conservatory under Antonín Ben ...
. Jiří Herold gained his first teaching experience after his military service as a violin tutor to Princess Fürstenberg, whose family lived at the Leontýn Castle near
Křivoklát Křivoklát () is a market town in Rakovník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 700 inhabitants. It is known for the medieval Křivoklát Castle, protected as national cultural monument. Administrative div ...
, in Vienna and in
Opatija Opatija (; ; ) is a List of cities and towns in Croatia, town and a municipality in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in northwestern Croatia. The traditional seaside resort on the Kvarner Gulf is known for its Mediterranean climate and its historic bu ...
. In 1922, he became a professor at the
Prague Conservatory The Prague Conservatory () is a public music school in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 1808. Currently, the school offers four- or six-year courses, which can be compared to the level of a high school diploma in other countries. Graduates c ...
, teaching chamber music.


Violin making activity

He became interested in violin making already during his student years. He was influenced in this direction by the Prague violinists Ferdinand Lantner and Karl Boromejský Dvořák. During his stay in Vienna he communicated with the violinist of the Opera Johann Stübiger, and after returning to Prague with František Lantner, František Špidlen and Josef Kříž. He started his own practice only in 1914, when he acquired the material and began to set up the workshop. He worked in his residence in Prague, and built over 50 instruments: 43 violins, 10 violas and two cellos. He used
Guarneri The Guarneri (, , ), often referred to in the Latinized form Guarnerius, is the family name of a group of distinguished luthiers from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to those of the Amati ...
and
Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinized form of his surname, ''Stradivarius'', as well as the colloqui ...
models. Although he was not a professional in this field, his tools are of a good standard. One cello is in the collection of the Prague Conservatory.


Works

* Jiří Herold: ''Etudes for viola'' (Edition No.:H04638, ISMN:9790006571895, Publisher:
Bärenreiter Bärenreiter (Bärenreiter-Verlag) is a German classical music publishing house based in Kassel. The firm was founded by Karl Vötterle (1903–1975) in Augsburg in 1923, and moved to Kassel in 1927, where it still has its headquarters; it ...
)


Discography

In 2025 the Italian violist
Marco Misciagna Marco Misciagna (; born 5 February 1984) is an Italian violinist and violist internationally renowned for his performances and contributions to classical music. Biography Musical education Marco Misciagna was born in Bari, Italy. He graduated ...
recorded the world premiere of Jiří Herold's Etudes for viola. *
Bohuslav Martinů Bohuslav Jan Martinů (; December 8, 1890 – August 28, 1959) was a Czech composer of modern classical music. He wrote 6 symphony, symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber music, chamber, vocal and ins ...
: Songs, Vol. 2 - The Months (Hrochová, Koukl); * Dvořák: Quartet "no 6" (now no.12, 'American') in F major op 96 (Polydor 78rpm, 95084-95086). (as 'Bohemian (Suk) Quartet'); * Dvořák: Quartet "no 3" (now no.10) in E flat major op 51, Dumka only (Polydor 78rpm, 95087).


Reference

{{DEFAULTSORT:Herold, Jiri 1875 births 1934 deaths People from Rakovník Czech classical violists Czech male classical violinists Violin educators Bowed string instrument makers Concertmasters of the Czech Philharmonic Burials at Olšany Cemetery