Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

:

1886

Death

:

1956

Period

:

Contemporary

 

Thomas de Hartmann was a Russian composer and pianist who was born on September 21, 1885, in Khoruzhivka, Ukraine. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father was a professional pianist. Hartmann began his musical education at a young age, and he showed great promise as a pianist. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he was a student of Sergei Taneyev and Anton Arensky. Hartmann's early compositions were influenced by the Russian nationalist movement, and he was particularly interested in the music of Modest Mussorgsky. He also studied the music of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, and he was influenced by their impressionistic style. Hartmann's early works include piano pieces, songs, and chamber music. In 1914, Hartmann met the spiritual teacher George Gurdjieff, who had a profound influence on his life and music. Gurdjieff was a mystic and philosopher who taught a system of spiritual development that he called "The Work." Hartmann became a student of Gurdjieff and began to study his teachings and practice his methods. Hartmann and Gurdjieff began to collaborate on music, and they created a body of work that is known as the Gurdjieff/de Hartmann music. This music is based on the teachings of Gurdjieff and is intended to be used as a tool for spiritual development. The music is characterized by its simplicity and its use of repetitive patterns. Hartmann and Gurdjieff traveled together throughout Europe and Asia, and they performed their music for audiences in many different countries. They also worked on a book together, which was published in 1950 under the title "Meetings with Remarkable Men." The book is a memoir of Gurdjieff's life and teachings, and it includes many stories about their travels and their work together. Hartmann's most famous works are his collaborations with Gurdjieff, but he also composed many other pieces throughout his life. He wrote music for ballets, operas, and films, and he also composed chamber music and piano pieces. His music is characterized by its simplicity and its use of folk melodies and rhythms. Hartmann died on March 28, 1956, in New York City. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and studied by musicians and spiritual seekers around the world. His collaborations with Gurdjieff are particularly important, as they represent a unique fusion of music and spirituality that has had a profound impact on many people's lives.

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