Herbert Ruff
{{Short description|German-Canadian pianist and composer (1918–1985)}}
{{Orphan|date=January 2019}}
{{Expand French|topic=bio|Herbert Ruff|date=August 2018}}
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Herbert Ruff (September 16, 1918 – May 19, 1985) was a German-Canadian pianist and composer.{{cite book|author=Paul Helmer|title=Growing with Canada: The Émigré Tradition in Canadian Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FMy7gLCVSb8C&pg=PA208|date=June 22, 2014|publisher=McGill–Queen's University Press|isbn=978-0-7735-7624-7|page=208}} He composed many chansons in French as well as a number of concert works.[https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/musique/85263/fijm-remi-bolduc-le-p-tit-gars-vu-par-le-grand "FIJM – Rémi Bolduc, le p'tit gars vu par le grand"]. Le Devoir, Bernard Lamarche, June 30, 2005
Early life
Ruff was born at Idaweiche, near Breslau, Germany (now Ligota-Panewniki, Poland).{{cite encyclopedia|entry-url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/herbert-ruff-emc|entry=Herbert Ruff|author1=Denise Ménard|author2=Charles Girard|date=October 27, 2014|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia}}{{clarify|date=June 2024|reason=Idaweiche/Ligota is not near Breslau/Wrocław, but near, or part of, Kattowitz/Katowice. As both were German in 1918, CE correctly says he was born German.}} He began studying piano as a child in Vienna, and attended the Stern Conservatory in Berlin for two years.
Career
From 1947 to 1952 Ruff taught in China at the Nanjing Conservatory,{{cite book|title=Points East|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OqUwAQAAIAAJ|volume=8–17|year=1993|publisher=Sino-Judaic Institute|page=33}} as well as performing on the piano in China.{{cite book|author1=Constantine Tung|author2=Colin Mackerras|title=Drama in the People's Republic of China|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nCCKZijFLS0C&pg=PA292|year=1987|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-88706-389-3|page=292}} In 1952 Ruff moved to Canada and began work at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, composing and performing on the piano.{{cite book|title=Musical Courier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gi09AAAAMAAJ| volume=159|year=1959|page=17}}{{cite book|title=Musical Leader|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-gKAQAAIAAJ|volume=90–91|year=1958|page=124}}{{cite book|title=MusiCanada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RPdLAAAAYAAJ|issue=45–55|year=1981|publisher=Canadian Music Council}} In 1961 he performed with François D'Albert in New York and Chicago.{{cite book|title=Pan Pipes of Sigma Alpha Iota|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PdkLAQAAIAAJ|volume=51–52|year=1958|publisher=George Banta Company|page=85}} In the 1960s he recorded and performed with folk-singer Pauline Julien, and composed many French chansons. He released an album, C'est une habitude, with Ovila Légaré.C'est une habitude {{OCLC|49107083}}
References
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Category:German classical pianists
Category:Canadian classical pianists
Category:Male classical pianists
Category:20th-century classical pianists