Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Laurent, Robert

(Encyclopedia)Laurent, Robert rōbârˈ lôrĕntˈ [key], 1890–1970, American sculptor, b. France. He emigrated to the United States in 1902 and later studied in Rome. Progressing from early decorative works, he ...

Scherchen, Hermann

(Encyclopedia)Scherchen, Hermann hĕrˈmän shĕrˈkhĕn [key], 1891–1966, German conductor. Scherchen was largely self-taught. He played viola in the Berlin Philharmonic (1907–10) and made his debut there as a...

Goldman, Edwin Franko

(Encyclopedia)Goldman, Edwin Franko, 1878–1956, American bandmaster and composer, b. Louisville, Ky.; pupil of Dvořák at the National Conservatory of Music, New York City. He played solo cornet in the Metropoli...

Paik, Nam June

(Encyclopedia)Paik, Nam June näm jo͞on pīk [key], 1932–2006, Korean-American artist, widely considered the founder of video art, b. Seoul, studied art and music at Tokyo Univ. and in Germany. A performance and...

Bach, Johann Christian

(Encyclopedia)Bach, Johann Christian bäkh [key], 1735–82, German musician and composer; son of J. S. Bach. He went to Italy in 1754, became a Roman Catholic, and composed church music and operas. In 1760 he bec...

Salzburg Festival

(Encyclopedia)Salzburg Festival, annual festival of music and drama held in Salzburg, Austria, for five weeks starting in late July. The festival may be considered a descendant of the Salzburg Music Festival Weeks ...

Xenakis, Yannis

(Encyclopedia)Xenakis, Yannis or Iannis yänˈĭs zānäˈkĭs [key], 1922–2001, Greek-French composer, b. Brăila, Romania. Xenakis studied civil engineering in Athens (1940–47) and was active in the anti-Nazi...

Meissonier, Juste Aurèle

(Encyclopedia)Meissonier, Juste Aurèle māsônyāˈ [key], 1695–1750, French designer, b. Turin. At first a goldsmith, in 1724 he was appointed designer to the king under Louis XV, a position he held until his ...

Napolitano, Giorgio

(Encyclopedia)Napolitano, Giorgio, 1925–, Italian political leader, b. Naples. He studied law at the Univ. of Naples, and was a member of the Communist party from 1945 until its dissolution in 1991, when he joine...

Villari, Pasquale

(Encyclopedia)Villari, Pasquale päskwäˈlā vēlˈlärē [key], 1826–1917, Italian historian and statesman. He took part in the Revolution of 1848, served in the legislative chamber (1867–82), and was ministe...

Browse by Subject