| Josephine Kryl | |
|---|---|
 Josephine Kryl, from a 1914 publication. | |
| Born | 1897 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 20, 1960 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Violinist |
Josephine Kryl (1897 – November 20, 1960) was an American violinist.
Early life
Josephine Kryl was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, the daughter of Bohumir Kryl and Mary Jerabek Kryl. Her father was a cornetist from Bohemia. Her mother was born in Vienna, Austria. Her younger sister Marie Kryl also became a professional musician, as a pianist.
Josephine Kryl studied with Leon Semetini, Leopold Auer, and Eugène Ysaÿe.
Career
The Kryls performed together through Josephine's adolescence, sometimes as a family, and sometimes just the sisters. At the start of World War I Josephine Kryl was a teenager, studying in Belgium with Ysäye. Before she could return to the United States, she heard bombardments nearby, saw spies arrested, and survived an attack on a train. After her marriage, she continued to appear with her father and sister in concert.
As a soloist, Josephine Kryl appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1915, in recitals with Emmy Destinn in 1917, and with the Rochester Symphony in the 1930s. "Josephine Kryl has many natural gifts of temperament and talent," noted one report in 1920. "To these she adds a firmly grounded knowledge of her instrument acquired in exhaustive study which was started at an early age."
Personal life
Bohumir Kryl was wealthy. In 1921, he openly offered each daughter $100,000 if they would postpone marriage until they were thirty years old, hoping the publicized offer would give them incentive to make their music careers a priority. Josephine Kryl married composer and conductor Paul Thomas White in 1922, forfeiting that reward."Paul and I are going to do a great deal in music this year," she explained to reporters. "It is silly to say one has to give up music for love." They had four daughters. Josephine Kryl White died in 1960, aged 63 years, in Rochester, New York.
Her grandson Paul Yancich is principal timpani with the Cleveland Orchestra. Another grandson, Mark Yancich, is principal timpani with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
References
- "Bohumir Kryl" Lyceum News (February 1913): 8.
- "Wizard Kryl to be Heard" Lyceumite and Talent (March 1913): 43.
- "Marie Kryl Narrowly Escapes Drowning in Lake George" Musical America (August 10, 1918): 12.
- "Describes Ysaye's Patriotism" Lyceum News (September 1914): 12.
- "Furnish Music for Municipal Benefit" Lyceum News (January 1915): 15.
- "Back from Belgium" Lyceum News (September 1914): 3.
- "Band Will Stay Over in City" Sarasota Herald-Tribune (March 3, 1928): 10.
- "Soloist with Thomas Orchestra" Lyceum News (December 1915): 11.
- "Mr. Bohumir Kryl" Musical Messenger (March 1917): 1.
- Jewel Curry, "Tarpon Girl Keeps Alive Art of Famous Violinist" Tampa Bay Times (May 17, 1931): 2. via Newspapers.com
- "Lyceum Course on the Way" Carry On (November 1920): 46.
- "Bohumir Kryl Has Amassed a Fortune" Lyceum Magazine (February 1920): 35.
- "Love and Twins — $100,000 and Fame – Which?" Philadelphia Inquirer (December 17, 1922): 83. via Newspapers.com
- "Cupid Robs World of Many Great Women Musicians" Lyceum News (June–July 1915): 6.
- Paige Lush, Music in the Chautauqua Movement: From 1874 to the 1930s (McFarland 2013): 55. ISBN 9780786473151
- "$100,000 Husband!" South Bend News-Times (November 12, 1922): 22. via Hoosier State Chronicles
- "Loses Father's $100,000 by Marrying Before 30" New York Times (October 18, 1922): 40. via ProQuest
- "Mrs. Paul White" New York Times (November 25, 1960): 27. via ProQuest
- Paul Yancich, The Cleveland Orchestra.
- Mark Yancich Archived 2018-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
External links
- A publicity photo of Josephine Kryl with her father and sister, from "Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century", Redpath Chautauqua Collection, University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections Department.