Emil Liebling (April 12, 1851 – January 20, 1914) was a German-American pianist and composer.
Biography
Liebling was born into a Jewish family in the Duchy of Pless, Kingdom of Prussia. Liebling was from a famous family of musicians.[1] His three brothers, George, Max, and Solly Liebling, were also successful pianists, and all four of them were trained on the piano by Franz Liszt in Weimar.[1] The four brothers also had success as composers in addition to being notable performers.[1] His older brother Max moved to New York City as a teenager having already had a career as a concert pianist in Europe.[1] Max was the father of several successful musicians, including the soprano and famous voice teacher Estelle Liebling; the cellist James Liebling; and the music critic, pianist, composer, and opera librettist Leonard Liebling.[1]
In addition to his studies with Liszt, Emil studied music and the piano with Ehrlich, Heinrich Dorn, and Theodor Kullak in Berlin, and with Dachs in Vienna.[2] In 1867 he came to the United States, where he settled as a music teacher at a seminary in Kentucky where he remained on the faculty until 1871.[2] After 1872 he was identified with the musical life of Chicago, making several appearances as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in addition to working as an accompanist, recitalist, and chamber musician.[3][4] His compositions include piano pieces and songs in the popular style of his day.[5]
Liebling served as visiting director of piano at the Frances Shimer Academy in Mount Carroll, Illinois, from 1904 to 1913.[6] The position involved visiting the school several times per year to perform a concert and inspect student progress. He also held a similar position at Milwaukee-Downer College in Wisconsin.[7]
^Ole T. Rong, Ole R. Tillerson, Marta H. Nyre, and Christie E. Sleen. Their Ancestors in Norway and Descendants in America, Part 2. R.H Crane. p. 11.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)