By Elizabeth B. Scott
Title: Richard Stöhr Collection, 1890-1974
Predominant Dates:1940-1960
ID: MSS 4/MSS 4
Primary Creator: Richard Stöhr (1874-1967)
Extent: 15.0 Linear Feet
Arrangement: Arranged into four series: I. Instrumental Works. 2. Vocal works. 3. Textbooks and Lectures. 4. Biographical Material.
Date Acquired: 01/01/1974
Subjects: concertos, Orchestral music, Richard Stöhr, 1874-1967 -- Correspondence, Stöhr, Richard, 1874-1967, Symphonies
Forms of Material: Compositions (artistic arrangement), Correspondence, Scrapbooks, Writings
Richard Stöhr was born in Vienna June 11, 1874. He was educated in Vienna and received a degree in Medicine from the University of Vienna in 1898. Rather than practice medicine, he devoted himself to music and became a professor of music at the Vienna Academy of Music. In the wake of the Nazi takeover of Austria, Stöhr came to the United States. In 1939 he settled in Philadelphia, taking a position at the Curtis Institute of Music. He moved to Vermont in 1941, joining his former student Karl Schwenger, who had recently begun working at Saint Michael’s College. The College sought to hire Stöhr with financial assistance from both the Oberlander Trust and the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars, a committee of the Institute of International Education. The Oberlander Trust was not able to supply funding, but Dr. Stöhr did come to Saint Michael’s as the Director of Musical Activities and as an instructor in German. His academic responsibilities were quite light, and Stöhr was able to devote a significant amount of time to performing and composing. He also taught occasionally at the Vermont Conservatory of Music. He continued working at the college, teaching German and music until 1950, when he retired from teaching. Until 1960, he maintained an office at Saint Michael’s, where he spent time composing. Although it is unclear if the College formally granted him emeritus status, he was referred to as both Emeritus Professor and Composer in Residence until his death on Dec. 11, 1967.
In 1974, the 100th anniversary of his birth, Saint Michael’s College held a Memorial Mass and a memorial concert was held at Trinity College in Burlington. Among his students were Erich Leinsdorf, Walter Hendl, Artur Rodzinski, and Leonard Bernstein, who in 1964 saluted Stöhr during a New York Philharmonic Tribute to Teachers program. In 1964, Vienna Music Academy President Dr. Hans Sittner published a biography of Stöhr entitled Richard Stöhr; Mensch, Musiker, Lehrer. Interest in his work waned following this period, but saw a slight resurgence in the early part of the 21st century.
concertos
Orchestral music
Richard Stöhr, 1874-1967 -- Correspondence
Stöhr, Richard, 1874-1967
Symphonies
Repository: Saint Michael's College Archives & Special Collections
Access Restrictions: The entire collection is available to the public. A separate Licensing Agreement exists for Stöhrs compositions. More information is available from the Archives upon request.
Acquisition Source: Richard Stöhr family.
Acquisition Method: The Stöhr collection was donated to Saint Michael’s by Stöhr’s family in 1974.
Separated Materials: Some audio recordings are housed in the AV Collection.
Related Materials:
CDs Richard Stöhr Chamber Music Volume one: the works for cello and piano: Cello sonata in A minor Op. 49, Fantasiestücke, Opus 17. Stefan Koch, Robert Conway.
Richard Stöhr Chamber Music Volume Two Piano trio in e flat major op 16 three songs for low voice and piano with cello accompaniment Opus 21. Laura Roelofs, Stefan Koch, Mary Siciliano, Seth Keeton.
Richard Stöhr Chamber music vol. three violin sonatas volin sonata no. 1 in G Major Opus 27, violin sonata no. 2 in a major Opus 62. Ulrike-Anima Mathe, Scott Faigen.
Masterpieces rediscovered: music from Austria Germany and Russia. David Shostac, Antoinette Perry.
Richard Stöhr Christine Lavant Quartett (2 copies).
Preferred Citation: Richard Stöhr Papers, Saint Michael’s College Archives, Colchester, VT.
Processing Information: Mrs. Dorothy B. Hunt, music professor at nearby Trinity College, a friend of Stoehr and his wife, arranged the materials and created the inventory. Karl Raab, another family friend has further identified some compositions.
