Joseph Serafin Alschausky in the US

[bcschipper]

Joseph Serafin Alschausky (1879 - 1948) is often mentioned as one of the greatest trombone soloists in the line of Friedrich August Belcke (1795 - 1874), Karl Traugott Queisser (1800 - 1846), and Paul Weschke (1867 - 1940). He was extremely entrepreneurial: He played principal trombone in various orchestras, most notably in the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (1918 - 1924). He composed various works for trombone including two concertos, Walz arias, songs, arrangements etc. He was an active soloist often playing the David Concertino and his own works. He was a teacher and author of a method book. Last but not least he was an innovator in trombone technology (e.g. patent of a double slide trombone), and dealer of trombones. His private life and professional life in Europe has been described in some detail by Handrow (2007, 2010, 2014), Jones (2012), Skrodzki (1979), and Weber (1998).

After moving to the US in 1924, we know much less about his life. Here is what we do know from the literature and what I found out through some archival work:

He played in the Wanamaker Auditorium, New York City, on September 27, 1923, broadcasted in the radio (The Record, Hackensack, N.J., September 27, 1923).

He became principal trombone of the Cincinnati Symphony in 1923 and performed with them David Concertino under Fritz Reiner on November 18, 1923 (Cincinnati Enquirer November 11, 17, 18, 19, 1923). By September 24, 1924, he had left the symphony and played every evening with Alvin Roehr's Music Makers at Bill Hill's Lookout House (Cincinnati Enquirer September 24, 1924).

But by October 3, 1924, he announced the foundation of a orchestral school in Woody, Kern County, near Bakersfield, California (Bakersfield Morning Echo, October 3, 1924).

Later in 1924 he joined Mystic Clayton on a coast-to-coast tour, appearing as a soloist in December 1924 at the Casino Theater, San Francisco (San Francisco Examiner, December 13, December 15). In San Francisco, he also appeared as soloist in the San Francisco Examiner's Christmas Cabaret (San Francisco Examiner, December 14, December 17, December 19).

By 1926, he was in Los Angeles. On August 8, he appeared as a soloist with the Cathay Circle Theater Concert Orchestra on radio KNX (Los Angeles Evening Express, August 7, 1926).

On May 30, 1937, he played as a soloist at a celebration of the German-American Colony at La Crescenta, Los Angeles (Los Angeles Times May 23, 1937).

I note that all references to Alschausky in US newspapers refer to him as "Serafin Alschausky" (although sometimes his name is spelled with typos).


Who knows more?

1. Why did he leave the Cincinnati Symphony?
2. Did he became a member of other orchestras after the Cincinnati Symphony? (According to the archives of the San Francisco Symphony he did not appear with them or became a member of the orchestra although he likely knew Alfred Hertz, its music director, from some previous time in Berlin.)
3. Did he audition for orchestras in the US especially in San Francisco and Los Angeles? (The archives of the San Francisco Symphony do not keep audition records.)
4. Where else did he appear as soloist in the US? It is unlikely that he stopped his solo career given how active it has been in Europe and in 1923-24 although I am less sure how much demand was there for his music.
5. How did he respond to jazz and popular music in the US? He was not afraid to appeal to popular demands back in Germany and seemed at ease with playing at variety shows, garden concerts, restaurants etc. but was he able to cater to the different style of popular music in the US? 
6. Are there recordings of him or with him (perhaps in film)?
7. Why did he move to Los Angeles? Was he attracted by the film industry? Especially his time from 1925 (when apparently he moved to LA) to his death in 1948 remains a mystery. 
8. Which students did he teach especially in Los Angeles? Skrodzki (1979) and later authors report that he founded music school in Los Angeles. What was the exact nature of this enterprise?
9. Did he cooperate with local brass instrument makers (as he did back in Europe with Bohland &Fuchs, Heber, Reisser etc)? Did he act as a seller of music instruments in the US?
10. Weber (1998) and Jones (2012) quote research by Normann Schweikert, former 2nd horn of the Chicago Symphony according to which Alschausky diedJanuary 15, 1948, in L.A. survived by his wife Ruth who died November 16, 1963, also in LA. Where is his grave? Are there surviving relatives in the US? Did he leave someone an estate with manuscripts, correspondence etc.?
11. His last address seemed to have been 2211 Brier Avenue, Los Angeles, which Jones (2012) claims to be an empty lot but which according to zillow.com is occupied by a house built in 1932. Are there long-time local senior residents living near by who would remember Alschausky or his wife or eventually other family members?

References:

Handrow, R. (2014). Berühmte Posaunen-Virtuosen. Crescendo-Brass. 

Handrow, R. (2010). Posaunenvirtuosen des Gewandhausorchesters zu Leipzig, in: Verein für Mitteldeutsche Posaunengeschichte e.V. (eds.), Die Deutsche Posaune - Ein Leipziger Welterfolg, Katalog zur Sonderausstellung im Grassi Museum für Musikinstrumente der Universität Leipzig, pp. 76-105. 

Handrow, R. (2007). Josef Franz Serafin Alschausky (1819 - 1948), Musikverlag Bruno Uetz. 

Jones, K.D. (2012). Alschausky Joseph Serafin, ITA Journal, July.

Skrodzki, H. (1979). Joseph Serafin Alschausky. Zu seinem 100. Geburtstag am 12. Maerz 1979, unpublished manuscript.

Weber, K. (1998). Joseph Serafin Alschausky, Das Schallstueck 9 (25, 1st quarter).

[harrisonreed]

Sounds like you need to take a road trip, gumshoe! Grab your magnifying glass and your deerstalker, and get those answers!

I have never heard of this musician, and it would be interesting to hear more!

[bcschipper]

Yeah, I am happy to take a road trip down to LA. But unless there are more leads, it won't yield much I am afraid.

Alschausky is probably nowadays most known for his compositions for trombone - although "most known" is an overstatement. For instance, I couldn't find any recording of his trombone Concerto No. 1 on Youtube even though it must have been quite popular in the first half of the 19th century. Here is a recording of his "Walz Aria" No. 2 "My Ideal" by Armin Rosin https://youtu.be/3htmgFeDkEk. By the way, Rosin's father, Otto Silvester Rosin, was also a trombonist and a student of Alschausky back in Germany (as reported by Skrodzki, 1979).

Armin Rosin is supposedly to posses a record with old original solo playing by Alschausky himself (Skrodzki, 1979). It would be nice he puts it on Youtube for everyone to listen to.

[harrisonreed]

You mean the first half of the 20th century, right? I doubt it, somehow. Arthur Pryor was a sort of household name in the early 20th century, but I don't think people were scrambling to go see him.

Were artists popular globally or even throughout a country then like they are today? Singers and violinists and keyboardists only, right?

[Doug Elliott]

I found a little bit more specific information that may help in a search.

full name: Franz Joseph Serafinè Alshausky, or maybe spelled Josef
Born 12 March 1879 Faulquemont, Lorraine, France
Died 15 January 1948 Los Angeles, CA, USA

Anybody here a member of Ancestry.com?

[bcschipper]

You mean the first half of the 20th century, right? I doubt it, somehow. Arthur Pryor was a sort of household name in the early 20th century, but I don't think people were scrambling to go see him.

Were artists popular globally or even throughout a country then like they are today? Singers and violinists and keyboardists only, right?

Sorry, yes, I mean the first half of the 20th century. With "quite popular" I mean that newspapers from the 1930/40 makes me believe that his concerto and "Walz-Arias" were performed frequently by various trombonists. In contrast, Youtube does not even know his concerto today anymore.

[harrisonreed]

Nor IMSLP

[bcschipper]

I found a little bit more specific information that may help in a search.

full name: Franz Joseph Serafinè Alshausky, or maybe spelled Josef
Born 12 March 1879 Faulquemont, Lorraine, France
Died 15 January 1948 Los Angeles, CA, USA

Anybody here a member of Ancestry.com?

Finding family members would be very useful.

Slight correction: "Alschausky" (with an "c").

Skrodzki (1979) found his birth certificate. Sometimes the German translation of his birthplace is used, "Falkenberg". (This area was sometimes occupied by Germany.)

The information about his death comes from Normann Schweikert, former 2nd horn of the Chicago Symphony (reported in Weber, 1998). He apparently got it from the American Federation of Musicians Local 47. Jones (2012) refers the journal published by the AFM Local 47, named "Overture" Vol. 27, #11, February 1948, in which apparently his passing was announced.

I plan to ask AFM Local 47 for more information once I have more leads on his life in L.A.. They entertain archival requests but its not cheap. So the more I know (like membership in orchestras, concerts etc.), the more pointed I can ask them.

Josef Alschausky appears in the 1940 US Census as follows:

Age 61
Birthplace Germany
Gender Male
Race White
Home in 1940
2211 1/2 Briar Avenue
Los Angeles, California
Owned home
Value of home $2000
Musician, Orchestra
Income 1939: $1000
Income from other sources than wages: Yes
0 weeks worked
52 weeks unemployed
Unable to work
Not seeking work
Filed paper for obtaining citizenship

A wife is mentioned as well in the 1940 census with age 59, born in Germany, naturalized citizen. This does not match with Jones (2012) who reports that his wife "Ruth" died in LA on November 16, 1963, at the age of 73.

Curiously the census does not mention children. Sources on Alschausky mention a son born in Germany. Alschausky himself mentions children in a letter (reported in Weber, 1998). May be his son left home already or even returned to Germany or never moved to the US. There is an Edward Alschausky in Seattle, age 24, mentioned in the 1940 US Census. This could be his son.

[HowardW]

Armin Rosin is supposedly to posses a record with old original solo playing by Alschausky himself (Skrodzki, 1979). It would be nice he puts it on Youtube for everyone to listen to.

The book by Rolf Handrow (Berühmte Posaunen-Virtuosen), which you cite above, includes a CD containing two short pieces that Alschausky recorded ca. 1912 with the Blüthner Orchestra: "Italianischer Walzer" and "Gute Nacht, du mein herziges Kind." These are probably from the same record that Armin Rosin has.

Howard

[bcschipper]

The book by Rolf Handrow (Berühmte Posaunen-Virtuosen), which you cite above, includes a CD containing two short pieces that Alschausky recorded ca. 1912 with the Blüthner Orchestra: "Italianischer Walzer" and "Gute Nacht, du mein herziges Kind." These are probably from the same record that Armin Rosin has.

Howard

Many thanks for letting me know. I just got a second-hand copy of Handrow without CD. I should get a new one.

Also, my photocopy of Skrodzki (1979) misses the appendix. I wonder whether there is a complete copy somewhere.

[bcschipper]

I found a website

http://composers-classical-music.com/a/ ... rafini.htm

with information on Alschausky in the US. Some of the information seem consistent with what is known so far. For other information, the source is unclear and cannot be corroborated yet.

" ... 5.sep.1923 emigrated to the USA New York and the next day 6.sep.1923 applied for American naturalization, 6.dec.1923-1924 he was trombonist in an orchestra in Cincinnati Ohio and residing at 117 Mason Street"

Consistent. Street address new but source unknown.

"1925 as musician residing at 728 Castro Street and 1926 at 80 Beaver Street in San Francisco"

Consistent. Street addresses new but source unknown.

"1930 working for a motion picture studio in Los Angeles"

Source unknown. Would be interesting to know more.

"1930-1942 residing at 2211 Brier Avenue Los Angeles"

Consistent with 1940 US Census.

"27.apr.1935 naturalized American"

Inconsistent with 1940 US Census.

"1940 trombonist in a Los Angeles orchestra"

1940 US Census shows unemployed, unable to work, and not seeking work. Would be interesting to know more.

"7.nov.1911 in Berlin Schoneberg he married Olga Gertrude Meta Kucklick (Strassburg 14.mar.1892-), divorced 1.jul.1918 ; 19.feb.1913 in Leipzig Gautsch he married Ruth Gromm (Germany, Bartenstein 11.apr.1891-) ; son engineer Joseph Edward Alschausky (Germany, Dortmund 7.mar.1916-)"

Age of second wife consistent with 1940 US Census. Information on son consistent with person of same name and age found in 1940 US Census in Seattle. Source unknown.

[Retrobone]

I have the CD of Alschausky. Which came with the Handrow book.
Maybe I can find a way to let you hear it.

[JohnL]

I found a website

http://composers-classical-music.com/a/ ... rafini.htm

with information on Alschausky in the US. Some of the information seem consistent with what is known so far. For other information, the source is unclear and cannot be corroborated yet.

Much of that looks like city directory information.

You might want to sift through some of these:
https://sfpl.org/locations/main-library ... ooks/san-0

[bcschipper]

I have the CD of Alschausky. Which came with the Handrow book.
Maybe I can find a way to let you hear it.

Thank you very much. I got it.

[bcschipper]

I found a website with information on Alschausky in the US. Some of the information seem consistent with what is known so far. For other information, the source is unclear and cannot be corroborated yet.

Much of that looks like city directory information.

You might want to sift through some of these:
https://sfpl.org/locations/main-library ... ooks/san-0

Thank you for the lead. I found some of the information in the city directory.

[bcschipper]

Here is an update with "non-information":

Some very senior members of the San Francisco Symphony did not come across Alschausky in connection of the San Francisco Symphony.

The archives of the L.A. Philharmonic have no record of Alschausky either.

How can someone who was so prolific before moving to L.A. basically vanish professionally after moving to L.A. even though he lived more than 30% of his life in L.A.? That's really a puzzle.

[sungfw]

How can someone who was so prolific before moving to L.A. basically vanish professionally after moving to L.A. even though he lived more than 30% of his life in L.A.? That's really a puzzle.

According to this review of Virtuoso Trombone Concertos on Amazon, Alschausky

left for America in 1924, settling first in Cleveland [sic] and the following year in Los Angeles, where he taught, and pursued a career as studio musician and soloist.

Assuming that the reviewer is correct, in light of the fact that studio musicians typically were not (and still aren't) listed in the credits of the films in which they played, it would not be surprising that Alschausky more-or-less "disappeared from view."

On the other hand, Steve M. Wolfinbarger asserts:

Even though he lived well into the twentieth century, Josef Serafin Alschausky (1877-1942) is another important figure in the nineteenth-century German solo trombone tradition. In addition to being a recognized soloist, Alschausky had no less than fifteen of his works published during the early part of the twentieth century, making him one of the most prolific composers of solo trombone music of his time.[43]
Alschausky was born four years after the death of Ferdinand David in Fouquemont-Lorraine (now part of France). His early studies were in Leisnig near Leipzig, and he probably also worked with the great trombonist and pedagogue, Robert Muller.[44] From about 1900 to the outbreak of World War I, Alschausky apparently made his living as a soloist.

Following the war, he became principal trombonist with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, a position he held from 1918-23. Alschausky then emigrated to the United States to play with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. While in Cincinnati, he made a solo appearance with the orchestra on November 18, 1923 under Fritz Reiner, performing the David Concertino.

After one season, Alschausky moved to Los Angeles, California, to accept a position with another orchestra. He soon resigned, however, to pursue teaching and composing full time.45 During the remainder of his career, he performed in Paris, London, New York and other major cities. Alschausky died in 1942[sic]."

43. Reifsnyder, Part II, 32.
44. Ibid.
45. Armin Rosin, "Virtuose Blasenmusik fur Posaune und Trompete," Bestell-Nr. Colas SM584.

The Nineteenth-Century German Tradition of Solo Trombone Playing: a Lecture-Recital, together with three recitals of selected woks of E. Bozza, W. Hartley, A. Frackenpohl, A. Pryor, G. Frescobaldi, L. Grondahl, P. Bonneau and Others., 1989. Univ. of North Texas, D.M.A. Dissertation, pp. 24-25.

And, speaking of puzzles, Edward Solomon's German trombone history timeline, contains the following entry:

1955 Franz Kuhn develops Modell Alschausky trombone in collaboration with virtuoso Serafin Alschausky (later known as Modell Kuhn). Franz Kuhn dies, succeeded by Fritz Arno Donstantin (son). Moritz workshop closes down in Berlin.

[Retrobone]

And, speaking of puzzles, Edward Solomon's German trombone history timeline, contains the following entry:

1955 Franz Kuhn develops Modell Alschausky trombone in collaboration with virtuoso Serafin Alschausky (later known as Modell Kuhn). Franz Kuhn dies, succeeded by Fritz Arno Donstantin (son). Moritz workshop closes down in Berlin.

Well Ed is a great expert and enthusiast indeed, but this is of course a small error. 1955 is actually the year that Franz Kuhn died.
The Alschausky model was developed much earlier by Leopold Mitsching, certainly before Alschausky emigrated.
Franz Kuhn was an apprentice at Mitsching and set up his own workshop later in Elberfeld (now Wuppertal). After retiring he helped Herbert Lätzsch develop his own trombone models from about 1950, which were copies of the Kuhns and known as "Modell Kuhn".
So the Lätzsch German style trombone which became very popular throughout Germany in the 60's is actually the Alschausky design in fact. I've seen a Mitsching Alschausky model and it looked very similar to my Lätzsch models Kuhn. I have two of them.

[bcschipper]

... Assuming that the reviewer is correct, in light of the fact that studio musicians typically were not (and still aren't) listed in the credits of the films in which they played, it would not be surprising that Alschausky more-or-less "disappeared from view."

Yes. I tried to figure out archives from the film industry. UCLA library and California State got some stuff but no record of Alschausky.

On the other hand, Steve M. Wolfinbarger asserts: ...

Unfortunately, it is not sure where some of his information comes from and whether these are just speculations or based on hard evidence. I still like to know which "another orchestra". I couldn't find it yet. No record of his performances in Paris and London. Got a record of a performance in New York but before he moved to Cincinnati.

He died in 1948 (not 1942). I got a death record.

And, speaking of puzzles, Edward Solomon's German trombone history timeline, contains the following entry:

1955 Franz Kuhn develops Modell Alschausky trombone in collaboration with virtuoso Serafin Alschausky (later known as Modell Kuhn). Franz Kuhn dies, succeeded by Fritz Arno Donstantin (son). Moritz workshop closes down in Berlin.

Before he worked with Mitsching (and what became later the model Kuhn), he worked with Bohland & Fuchs, Heber, and Reiser. It seems that he was rather difficult to work with. There are "Alschausky" models (tenor trombones) made by Heber and Reiser. I still try to figure out whether he tried to work with some instrument maker in the US after he moved to LA. Olds was in his area but I am not aware of any cooperation.

[harpo]

This is presumably his son, born 1916 Dortmund (you can make that out by peering at the preview). Of course this could be the source for the http://composers-classical-music.com/a/ ... rafini.htm reference, and as such, may be wrong!

https://www.fold3.com/document/7452156/ ... a-southern

[bcschipper]

Thanks. Yes, that's his son. He died in Alaska. His son had one son and one daughter (Alschausky's grandchildren). The daughter also died. I couldn't find yet the whereabouts of the son (Alschausky's grandson).

[JoeAumann]

While doing some research for Alschausky on Ancestry.com I found the following record of his marriage. This is seemingly the only record of him on Ancestry.com that is publicly available. There's an entire document in German that Ancestry won't allow me to share into a pdf, etc. All it contains is below. So Serafin was his paternal family name?

NAME: Franz Joseph Alschausky
GENDER: männlich (Male)
AGE: 32
REGISTER TYPE: Zurückgeführtes Erstregister
BIRTH DATE: 12. Mrz 1879 (12 Mar 1879)
MARRIAGE DATE: 7. Nov 1911 (7 Nov 1911)
CIVIL REGISTRATION OFFICE: Schöneberg I
MARRIAGE PLACE: Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland (Germany)
FATHER: Joseph Serafiné
MOTHER: Bertha Serafiné
SPOUSE: Olga Gertrude Meta Kucklick
CERTIFICATE NUMBER: 608

[bcschipper]

Thanks. Serafini was the surname of the husband of his mother. He real father was Franz Alschausky, whose name he was allowed to use from 1897 onward. His real father was probably stationed in Lothringen form his military service. Life is complicated.

Below record is from his first marriage.

Anyway, we know a lot about his life in Europe. His life in LA from 1926 to 1948 is the enigma.

While doing some research for Alschausky on Ancestry.com I found the following record of his marriage. This is seemingly the only record of him on Ancestry.com that is publicly available. There's an entire document in German that Ancestry won't allow me to share into a pdf, etc. All it contains is below. So Serafin was his paternal family name?

NAME: Franz Joseph Alschausky
GENDER: männlich (Male)
AGE: 32
REGISTER TYPE: Zurückgeführtes Erstregister
BIRTH DATE: 12. Mrz 1879 (12 Mar 1879)
MARRIAGE DATE: 7. Nov 1911 (7 Nov 1911)
CIVIL REGISTRATION OFFICE: Schöneberg I
MARRIAGE PLACE: Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland (Germany)
FATHER: Joseph Serafiné
MOTHER: Bertha Serafiné
SPOUSE: Olga Gertrude Meta Kucklick
CERTIFICATE NUMBER: 608