Eichheim, Henry

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Henry Eichheim (b Chicago, 3 Jan 1870; d Santa Barbara, CA, 22 Aug 1942). American composer, violinist and conductor. A graduate of the Chicago Musical College, he went on to play with the Theodore Thomas Orchestra (1889) and the Boston SO (1890-1912). Thereafter, he devoted himself to composition, chamber music and conducting, making his reputation as an early champion of works by Debussy, Ravel and Fauré. Trips to Japan, Korea and China prompted intensive study of Asian music with Hisao Tanabe (Japan), Yang Yinliu (China) and Jaap Kunst (Java). During the first of four such trips (1915), Eichheim transcribed the sounds around him in notebooks that have, unfortunately, been lost. Photographs of musical performances throughout Asia do survive, however. Stokowski, a close friend, who performed the premières of many of his works, travelled with him to Bali (1928) and India (mid-1930s). After 1922 Eichheim settled in Santa Barbara.

Eichheim's greatest contribution rests upon his pioneering efforts to combine the timbres of Asian instruments with those of the Western orchestra. Convinced that the introduction of Asian instruments would greatly enrich the range of sonorities available to Western composers, Eichheim was an avid collector. He lectured widely on the rhythmic and melodic elements of Asian music and often incorporated indigenous melodies into his compositions. The early piano piece Gleanings from Buddha Fields (1906), inspired by the writings of Lafcadio Hearn, reflects Eichheim's growing interest in East Asia. Oriental Impressions (1919-22), a suite of seven sketches, is based on transcriptions of a Korean street labourer's song, a blind shakuhachi player's melody and the sound of tuned bells hanging under the roof of the Imperial Temple, Bangkok. Large orchestral works, such as Java (1929) and Bali (1933), achieve new orchestral effects through the use of gamelan instruments. Throughout his career, Eichheim also composed songs; Yeats was his favourite poet, but in later years he also set Shakespeare, Tennyson and translations of Chinese poetry.

-Dolores M. Hsu, from "New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians," 2nd ed.

From the guide to the Henry Eichheim Papers, 1900-1930s, (University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Dept. of Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Correspondence from the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation Collection, 1894-1953, (bulk 1920-1953) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Neighborhood Playhouse scenarios, 1914-1931 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Eichheim, Henry, 1870-1942. Java / Henry Eichheim. The Juilliard School, Lila Acheson Wallace Library
referencedIn Amy Lowell correspondence, 1883-1927 (inclusive), 1910-1925 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Henry Eichheim [ca. 1926-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
creatorOf Henry Eichheim Papers, 1900-1930s University of California, Santa Barbara. Davidson Library. Department of Special Collections.
referencedIn Madison, David, 1907-,. Interview conducted by Oliver Daniel, Nov. 27, 1979 [sound recording]. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Eichheim, Henry, 1870-1942. Malay mosaic / Henry Eichheim. Northwestern University
referencedIn Koussevitzky, Serge, 1874-1951. Serge Koussevitzky Archive, 1920-1976 (bulk: 1924-1951) Library of Congress. Music Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Chamber orchestra music
Composers
Music
Orchestral music
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1870-01-03

Death 1942-08-22

Americans

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