As the season changes in October, we celebrate the birth of two legendary musicians and the premiere of a piano concerto once deemed too difficult to play!
October 13, 1909
An inspiration to many, jazz pianist Art Tatum was born on October 13, 1909 in Toledo, Ohio. Although he was born with a visual impairment, his musical abilities were strongly influenced by an excellent education and perfect pitch.1 His prodigious skill led him to present his own radio show before touring the United States with incredible success.2 His musical style is characterized by remarkable abilities in stride, harmonic exploration, and virtuosic runs throughout the keyboard.3 Interested in learning more about jazz music and teaching it at the piano? Check out our Microcourse: Teaching Jazz at the Piano featuring contributors Jeremy Siskind and Lee Evans.
October 24, 1931
Born on October 24, 1931, Sofia Gubaidulina was an important composer of the twentieth century. Gubaidulina was a Soviet-Russian composer; however, she described herself as being from the Tartar Republic. She lived in Germany from 1992 until her death on March 13, 2025.4 Her output includes works for orchestra, dozens of different concerti, a widely regarded piano sonata, and extensive chamber works. She composed for intermediate pianists with her set titled Musical Toys. Interested in learning more about this work? Watch this video by pianist Helena Hyesoo Kim, who discusses Gubaidulina’s “Mechanical Accordion.”
October 25, 1875
Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s popular Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 23 was premiered on October 25, 1875 in Boston by pianist Hans von Bülow. The piece was initially deemed too difficult for performance by Tchaikovsky’s friend and colleague, Nikolai Rubinstein, who rejected it. The concerto is composed in three movements, beginning with a beckoning horn call that announces the entrance of the pianist with thundering chords. The first movement, which lasts half of the length of the entire piece, is followed by a slower movement marked “Andante semplice” in an ABA form. The rousing third movement completes the work with great bravura and energy. Interested in learning more about learning or teaching piano concertos? Check out this article about elementary and intermediate level concertos by Nancy Bachus, Kim Bakkum, Gregory Butler, and Paul Wirth.
Endnotes
- Wolfram Knauer, “Tatum, Art(hur, Jr),” Grove Music Online, 2001; Accessed 30 Sep. 2025, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000027553.
- Wolfram Knauer, “Tatum, Art(hur, Jr),” Grove Music Online.
- Wolfram Knauer, “Tatum, Art(hur, Jr),” Grove Music Online.
- Valentina Kholopova, “Gubaydulina, Sofiya Asgatovna,” Grove Music Online. 2001, Accessed 30 Sep. 2025, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000011911.
Resources:
Kholopova, Valentina. “Gubaydulina, Sofiya Asgatovna.” Grove Music Online. 2001; Accessed 30 Sep. 2025. https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000011911.
Knauer, Wolfram. “Tatum, Art(hur, Jr.).” Grove Music Online. 2001; Accessed 30 Sep. 2025. https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000027553.
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
- COURSE: Unsung Heroes in Piano Pedagogy: 20 Pieces by Black Composers to Use in Your Studio Now
- MICROCOURSE: Teaching Jazz at the Piano
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: What is the effect of concerto playing on adult students? by Michelle Conda and Lily Friedman
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Concertos, Part II: What are the first Mozart concertos you teach and why? And what other early advanced concertos do you recommend? by Nancy Bachus, Silvia Roederer, Laurent Boukobza, and Virginia Marks
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Autumn 2022: Book Reviews by Ernest Kramer and Ann DuHamel
- REPERTOIRE VIDEO SERIES: Tchaikovsky: “Morning Prayer” from Album for the Young Op. 39, No. 1 by John Price
- Use our search feature to discover more!
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