Karl Kohn - Revision history

Spider of Destiny at 14:43, 18 February 2026

2026-02-18T14:43:42Z

Jason.Kreitzer at 15:11, 12 October 2021

2021-10-12T15:11:02Z

Jason.Kreitzer at 15:06, 2 August 2021

2021-08-02T15:06:09Z

Spider of Destiny: Added more categories

2020-09-27T17:40:27Z

Added more categories

Spider of Destiny at 11:24, 22 September 2020

2020-09-22T11:24:43Z

Spider of Destiny at 18:13, 28 August 2020

2020-08-28T18:13:44Z

Spider of Destiny: Clean-up, added more sources.

2017-08-19T09:02:00Z

Clean-up, added more sources.

KillUglyRadio at 10:30, 20 September 2005

2005-09-20T10:30:32Z

Emdebe: Category:ComposersCategory:TeachersCategory:Musicians

2005-06-08T16:23:33Z

Category:Composers Category:Teachers Category:Musicians

Emdebe at 21:37, 7 June 2005

2005-06-07T21:37:05Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Karl Kohn''' (August 1, 1926) is an Austrian-American music professor at [[Pomona College]] in the mid-20th century, when Frank Zappa studied composition under his guidance. He is mentioned as an influence on Zappa on the cover of ''[[Freak Out!]]''(1966) under the heading "These People Have Contributed Materially In Many Ways To Make Our Music What It Is. Please Do Not Hold It Against Them".
+'''Karl Kohn''' (1 August 1926 - 18 November 2024) was an Austrian-American music professor at [[Pomona College]] in the mid-20th century, when Frank Zappa studied composition under his guidance. He is mentioned as an influence on Zappa on the cover of ''[[Freak Out!]]''(1966) under the heading "These People Have Contributed Materially In Many Ways To Make Our Music What It Is. Please Do Not Hold It Against Them".
 ==Biography==
-Karl Kohn was born in 1926 in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. He moved to the United States when he was 13. His original training was at the College of Music between 1940 and 1944 followed by Harvard University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. His composition teachers were Irving Fine, Randall Thompson and [[Walter Piston]]. He taught music at [[Pomona College]] for several decades. Two of his pupils were Zappa and [[Sylvia Brigham]]. At the insistance of Zappa's then partner, [[Kay Sherman]], Zappa audited Kohn's music class in the fall of 1961, despite not having the grades, skills nor money to attend lessons. But Sherman managed to convince Kohn to give her partner a chance.<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> This was Zappa's first professional guidance in learning how to compose. Kohn was very impressed with his young pupil, particularly regarding how determined he was to his goals. Zappa never missed a lesson and was even the only one to hand in his homework in ink, rather than pencil.<ref>http://donlope.net/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref> According to Frank's account in ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]'' Zappa was thrown out of class after a disagreement about [[Anton Webern]].<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> However, Kohn had a different recollection and claimed that Zappa told him he would move away and therefore be unable to complete the semester.<ref>http://donlope.net/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref>
+Karl Kohn was born in 1926 in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. He moved to the United States when he was 13. His original training was at the College of Music between 1940 and 1944 followed by Harvard University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. His composition teachers were Irving Fine, Randall Thompson and [[Walter Piston]]. He taught music at [[Pomona College]] for several decades.
 Kohn and his wife, Margaret, performed as pianist duo for several decades. They travelled throughout the United States and Europe, performing works by [[Béla Bartók]], [[Luciano Berio]], [[Igor Stravinsky]], [[Olivier Messiaen]], [[György Ligeti]], and [[Pierre Boulez|Pierre Boulez]]. His works have been performed by the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]] and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Oakland Symphony, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, on the "San Francisco Symphony's Musica Viva series", at the "Monday Evening Concerts" in [[Los Angeles]], and in concerts and broadcasts throughout the United States and abroad.
-As of 2020, he is still alive and currently Emeritus Professor of Music at [[Pomona College]].
+Later in his career, he was Emeritus Professor of Music at [[Pomona College]]. Kohn passed away in 2024.
 == References ==

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==Biography==
-Karl Kohn was born in 1926 in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. He moved to the United States when he was 13, following a musical education at the College of Music between 1940 and 1944 and at Harvard University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. His composition teachers were Irving Fine, Randall Thompson and [[Walter Piston]]. He taught music at [[Pomona College]] for several decades. Two of his pupils were Zappa and [[Sylvia Brigham]]. At the insistance of Zappa's then partner, [[Kay Sherman]], Zappa audited Kohn's music class in the fall of 1961, despite not having the grades, skills nor money to attend lessons. But Sherman managed to convince Kohn to give her partner a chance.<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> This was Zappa's first professional guidance in learning how to compose. Kohn was very impressed with his young pupil, particularly regarding how determined he was to his goals. Zappa never missed a lesson and was even the only one to hand in his homework in ink, rather than pencil.<ref>http://donlope.net/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref> According to Frank's account in ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]'' Zappa was thrown out of class after a disagreement about [[Anton Webern]].<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> However, Kohn had a different recollection and claimed that Zappa told him he would move away and therefore be unable to complete the semester.<ref>http://donlope.net/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref>
+Karl Kohn was born in 1926 in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. He moved to the United States when he was 13. His original training was at the College of Music between 1940 and 1944 followed by Harvard University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. His composition teachers were Irving Fine, Randall Thompson and [[Walter Piston]]. He taught music at [[Pomona College]] for several decades. Two of his pupils were Zappa and [[Sylvia Brigham]]. At the insistance of Zappa's then partner, [[Kay Sherman]], Zappa audited Kohn's music class in the fall of 1961, despite not having the grades, skills nor money to attend lessons. But Sherman managed to convince Kohn to give her partner a chance.<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> This was Zappa's first professional guidance in learning how to compose. Kohn was very impressed with his young pupil, particularly regarding how determined he was to his goals. Zappa never missed a lesson and was even the only one to hand in his homework in ink, rather than pencil.<ref>http://donlope.net/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref> According to Frank's account in ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]'' Zappa was thrown out of class after a disagreement about [[Anton Webern]].<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> However, Kohn had a different recollection and claimed that Zappa told him he would move away and therefore be unable to complete the semester.<ref>http://donlope.net/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref>
 Kohn and his wife, Margaret, performed as pianist duo for several decades. They travelled throughout the United States and Europe, performing works by [[Béla Bartók]], [[Luciano Berio]], [[Igor Stravinsky]], [[Olivier Messiaen]], [[György Ligeti]], and [[Pierre Boulez|Pierre Boulez]]. His works have been performed by the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]] and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Oakland Symphony, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, on the "San Francisco Symphony's Musica Viva series", at the "Monday Evening Concerts" in [[Los Angeles]], and in concerts and broadcasts throughout the United States and abroad.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==Biography==
-Karl Kohn was born in 1926 in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. He moved to the United States when he was 13, following a musical education at the College of Music between 1940 and 1944 and at Harvard University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. His composition teachers were Irving Fine, Randall Thompson and [[Walter Piston]]. He taught music at [[Pomona College]] for several decades. Two of his pupils were Zappa and [[Sylvia Brigham]]. At the insistance of Zappa's then partner, [[Kay Sherman]], Zappa audited Kohn's music class in the fall of 1961, despite not having the grades, skills nor money to attend lessons. But Sherman managed to convince Kohn to give her partner a chance.<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> This was Zappa's first professional guidance in learning how to compose. Kohn was very impressed with his young pupil, particularly regarding how determined he was to his goals. Zappa never missed a lesson and was even the only one to hand in his homework in ink, rather than pencil.<ref>http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref> According to Frank's account in ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]'' Zappa was thrown out of class after a disagreement about [[Anton Webern]].<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> However, Kohn had a different recollection and claimed that Zappa told him he would move away and therefore be unable to complete the semester.<ref>http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref>
+Karl Kohn was born in 1926 in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. He moved to the United States when he was 13, following a musical education at the College of Music between 1940 and 1944 and at Harvard University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. His composition teachers were Irving Fine, Randall Thompson and [[Walter Piston]]. He taught music at [[Pomona College]] for several decades. Two of his pupils were Zappa and [[Sylvia Brigham]]. At the insistance of Zappa's then partner, [[Kay Sherman]], Zappa audited Kohn's music class in the fall of 1961, despite not having the grades, skills nor money to attend lessons. But Sherman managed to convince Kohn to give her partner a chance.<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> This was Zappa's first professional guidance in learning how to compose. Kohn was very impressed with his young pupil, particularly regarding how determined he was to his goals. Zappa never missed a lesson and was even the only one to hand in his homework in ink, rather than pencil.<ref>http://donlope.net/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref> According to Frank's account in ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]'' Zappa was thrown out of class after a disagreement about [[Anton Webern]].<ref>http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2015/11/brothers-keeper-bob-zappas-memoir.html</ref> However, Kohn had a different recollection and claimed that Zappa told him he would move away and therefore be unable to complete the semester.<ref>http://donlope.net/fz/notes/1959-1961.html</ref>
 Kohn and his wife, Margaret, performed as pianist duo for several decades. They travelled throughout the United States and Europe, performing works by [[Béla Bartók]], [[Luciano Berio]], [[Igor Stravinsky]], [[Olivier Messiaen]], [[György Ligeti]], and [[Pierre Boulez|Pierre Boulez]]. His works have been performed by the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]] and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Oakland Symphony, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, on the "San Francisco Symphony's Musica Viva series", at the "Monday Evening Concerts" in [[Los Angeles]], and in concerts and broadcasts throughout the United States and abroad.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 [[Category:Supporting Cast|Kohn, Karl]]
 [[Category:Composers|Kohn, Karl]]
-[[Category:Teachers|Kohn, Karl]]
+[[Category:Musical Educators|Kohn, Karl]]
 [[Category:Influences|Kohn, Karl]]
 [[Category:Pianists|Kohn, Karl]]
 [[Category:Freak Out! (The List)|Kohn, Karl]]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 Kohn and his wife, Margaret, performed as pianist duo for several decades. They travelled throughout the United States and Europe, performing works by [[Béla Bartók]], [[Luciano Berio]], [[Igor Stravinsky]], [[Olivier Messiaen]], [[György Ligeti]], and [[Pierre Boulez|Pierre Boulez]]. His works have been performed by the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]] and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Oakland Symphony, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, on the "San Francisco Symphony's Musica Viva series", at the "Monday Evening Concerts" in [[Los Angeles]], and in concerts and broadcasts throughout the United States and abroad.
-As of 2017, he is still alive and currently Emeritus Professor of Music at [[Pomona College]].
+As of 2020, he is still alive and currently Emeritus Professor of Music at [[Pomona College]].
 == References ==
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 [[Category:Teachers|Kohn, Karl]]
 [[Category:Influences|Kohn, Karl]]
-[[Category:Musicians|Kohn, Karl]]
+[[Category:Pianists|Kohn, Karl]]
 [[Category:Freak Out! (The List)|Kohn, Karl]]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 Currently Emeritus Professor of Music at [[Pomona College]].
-[[Category:Supporting Cast]]
+[[Category:Supporting Cast|Kohn, Karl]]
-[[Category:Composers]][[Category:Teachers]][[Category:Musicians]]
+[[Category:Composers|Kohn, Karl]]
-[[Category:Freak Out! (The List)]]
+[[Category:Teachers|Kohn, Karl]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 7 June 2005
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	[[Karl Kohn]] is name-checked on the cover of "[[Freak Out!]]" (1966) under the heading "These People Have Contributed Materially In Many Ways To Make Our Music What It Is. Please Do Not Hold It Against Them". [[Karl Kohn\|Kohn]] (born 1926), a 20th Century composer, was a music professor at [[Pomona College]], where FZ followed a composition course in 1959. He (FZ) was thrown out after a disagreement about [[Anton Friedrich Ernst von Webern\|Webern]].
		+
		+	With his wife, Margaret, he has given two-piano concerts throughout the US and Europe, including "definitive" (according to the folks at [[Pomona College]]) performances of works by [[Béla Bartók\| Bartók]], [[Luciano Berio\|Berio]], [[Igor Stravinsky\|Stravinsky]], [[Olivier Messiaen\|Messiaen]], [[György Ligeti\|Ligeti]], and [[Pierre Boulez\|Boulez]]. His works have been performed by the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]] and [[Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra]], the [[Oakland Symphony]], the [[Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra]], on the "San Francisco Symphony's Musica Viva series", at the "Monday Evening Concerts" in [[Los Angeles]], and in concerts and broadcasts throughout the United States and abroad.
		+
		+	Currently Emeritus Professor of Music at [[Pomona College]].
	[[Category:Supporting Cast]]		[[Category:Supporting Cast]]
	[[Category:Freak Out! (The List)]]		[[Category:Freak Out! (The List)]]