Arthur Loesser was born in New York on August 26, 1894 and is of German
descent. He attended the New York public schools, College of the City of New
York, and Columbia University. His formal musical education was acquired, for
the most part, at the Institute of Musical Art, in New York, where he studied
with Sigismund Stojowski and Percy Goetschius, and from which he graduated in
1912 with highest
honors.
He was a concert pianist, a devotee of chamber music, a teacher, and a writer on musical and other subjects. He made numerous tours throughout the United States and Australia with Maud Powell (1914-1919), to Japan, China, and the Philippines with Mischa Elman (1920-1921), and again the United States with Ernestine Schumann-Heink (1921-1922).
Mr. Loesser moved to Cleveland in 1926, joining the Cleveland Institute of Music faculty. In 1953, he became Head of the Piano Department at that institution.
During World War II, Mr. Loesser served in the Army as a Japanese language officer, retiring with the rank of major. He was ordered to Tokyo during the early months of the occupation, in the fall and winter of 1945-46. During that time he was soloist with the Nippon Philharmonic at Hibiya Hall, playing the Chopin Concerto in E minor, thus becoming the first American after the war, and while still in uniform, to perform music before a large Japanese audience.
Arthur Loesser was an active writer. From 1936 to 1941, he was editor of the program books of the Cleveland Orchestra. His book Men Women and Pianos: A Social History was published by Simon and Schuster in 1954. It became a standard work among literature written about the piano. Another book, Humor in American Song, was published in 1943.
An active recitalist and lecturer until his death (January 4, 1969), Arthur Loesser also was Cofounder and First President of the International Piano Library [which later became IPAM]. His brother, Frank Loesser, is the well-known Broadway composer.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
SERIES I - PERFORMANCE FILES
- Publicity articles
- Fliers
- Programs
- Reviews of performances involving Loesser
SERIES II - LOESSER AS TEACHER
- Master Classes
- Lectures
- Articles
SERIES III - CORRESPONDENCE
- Dated correspondence
- Undated correspondence
SERIES IV - LOESSER'S WRITINGS
- Miscellaneous Articles and papers concerning musical subjects except the piano
- Writings concerning the piano
- Book, concert, music and record reviews by Loesser
- Program and record notes by Loesser
- Miscellaneous writings by Loesser, including subjects not related to music
SERIES V - PHOTOGRAPHS
- Candid, publicity and portrait photographs
- Photographs of Loesser while teaching and performing
- Photographs of colleagues, family and friends of Loesser
- Miscellaneous photographs and negatives
SERIES VI - MISCELLANEOUS CLIPPINGS
SERIES VII - TAPES
- Dated 7-inch Reels
- Undated 7-inch Reels
- Five-Inch Reels
SERIES VIII - SUBJECT FILES
- Loesser's Life in Retrospect
- Loesser's Personal Life
- Loesser's Career
- Loesser's Colleagues
- Awards, Honors and Medals
- Loesser's Academic Records and Schoolbooks
- Biography in Progress
SERIES IX - MISCELLANEOUS
- Miscellameous Untranslated Materials
- Miscellaneous Materials
- Oversize Materials
SERIES X - MUSIC
- Catalogued Printed Music
- Non-catalogued Printed Music
- Manuscript by Loesser - Titled
- Manuscripts by Others
- Miscellaneous Manuscript
- Loesser Music Library at CIM
SERIES XI - SCRAPBOOKS
