Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Schumann-Heink, Ernestine

(Encyclopedia)Schumann-Heink, Ernestine sho͞oˈmən-hīngk [key], 1861–1936, Austrian-American contralto, b. near Prague. Her voice was distinguished for its richness and wide range. She studied with Marietta Le...

Barbour, John

(Encyclopedia)Barbour, John bärˈbər [key], c.1316?–1395, Scottish poet. He was archdeacon of Aberdeen from 1355 until his death. His romance, The Bruce (1375), celebrating Scotland's emancipation from England,...

Gade, Niels Vilhelm

(Encyclopedia)Gade, Niels Vilhelm nēls vĭlˈhĕlm gäˈᵺə [key], 1817–90, Danish composer. He studied (1843–48) in Leipzig, where he met Mendelssohn and Schumann. His eight symphonies, his chamber music, a...

Bennett, Sir William Sterndale

(Encyclopedia)Bennett, Sir William Sterndale, 1816–75, English musician. Bennett was a friend of Mendelssohn and Schumann, both of whom influenced his work. Besides composing, he was active as a pianist and condu...

Henson, Matthew Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Henson, Matthew Alexander, 1866–1965, African-American arctic explorer, b. Charles County, Md. He accompanied Robert E. Peary as personal assistant, dog driver, and interpreter on numerous expeditio...

Foulis, Andrew

(Encyclopedia)Foulis, Andrew foulz [key], 1712–75, and Robert Foulis, 1707–76, Scottish printers, brothers. They worked in partnership as printers to the Univ. of Glasgow. Their publications were famous both fo...

Crerar, Thomas Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Crerar, Thomas Alexander, 1876–1975, Canadian political leader. Under his able direction the United Grain Growers, Ltd., of which he was president (1907–29), became one of the most successful farm...

Dusek, Jan Ladislav

(Encyclopedia)Dusek, Jan Ladislav yän läˈdēsläf do͞oˈshĕk [key], 1760–1812, Czech pianist and composer; pupil of C. P. E. Bach. One of the earliest piano virtuosi, he was famous for his lyrical touch in s...

Cortot, Alfred Denis

(Encyclopedia)Cortot, Alfred Denis älfrĕdˈ dənēˈ kôrtōˈ [key], 1877–1962, French pianist and conductor. Among his appearances as a conductor were those at Bayreuth (1898–1901). He joined the faculty of...

Taylor, Robert Love

(Encyclopedia)Taylor, Robert Love, 1850–1912, U.S. politician, governor of Tennessee (1887–91, 1897–99), b. Carter co., Tenn. A lawyer, he was a Democrat in Congress (1879–81) and in 1886 defeated his broth...
 

Browse by Subject