Louis Cheslock (September 25, 1898 – July 19, 1981) was a British-born American violinist, composer and author. He taught at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland for six decades.

Louis Cheslock
BornSeptember 25, 1898
London, England
DiedJuly 19, 1981
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
EducationPeabody Institute
Occupation(s)Violinist, composer
EmployerPeabody Institute
SpouseElise Hanline
Children1 son

Early life

edit

Cheslock was born on September 25, 1898, in London.[1] His parents were Polish immigrants, and Cheslock immigrated to the United States with them in 1901.[2] He later became a U.S. citizen.[2] He attended the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, where he learned how to play the violin and took harmony and composition courses.[1]

Career

edit

Cheslock taught at his alma mater, the Peabody Institute, for six decades.[3] He composed "concertos, tone poems, symphonies, a ballet and an opera" and authored three books.[3] His compositions were performed domestically and internationally, including in Belgium, India, Israel, Portugal, and Singapore.[2]

Cheslock was a member of H. L. Mencken's Saturday Night Club from the 1920s to the 1950s.[2][3]

Personal life and death

edit

With his wife, née Elise Hanline, Cheslock had a son, Barry.[2]

Cheslock died of a heart attack on July 19, 1981, in Baltimore, Maryland.[1][2]

Selected works

edit
  • Cheslock, Louis (1931). Introductory Study on Violin Vibrato. Baltimore, Maryland: Peabody Conservatory. OCLC 1052922169.
  • Cheslock, Louis (1948). Graded List of Some Useful Works for Violin Study. Baltimore, Maryland: Peabody Conservatory. OCLC 83300236.
  • Cheslock, Louis (1961). H.L. Mencken on Music: A Selection of His Writings on Music. New York City: Schirmer Books. OCLC 500609790.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Di Bonaventura, Sam (January 2001). "Cheslock, Louis (1898 - 1981), composer, violinist, writer on music". Oxford Biography Index. Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05538. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Louis Cheslock, 81, composer". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. 20 July 1981. p. 32. Retrieved 18 February 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Louis Cheslock, a Composer; Member of Mencken's Circle". The New York Times. 21 July 1981. Retrieved 18 February 2019.