Dr. Oscar Paul

professor of music author

Biography

Dr. Oscar Paul was a professor at the Conservatory of Music in Leipsic who wrote "Geschichte des Claviers" in 1868, published by A. H. Payne, Leipsic. Dolge is sharply critical, stating that Paul, "entirely unacquainted with the practical art of piano making," assumed an authority "amusing to the knowing reader." Like Welcker von Gontershausen, Dolge accuses Paul of German egotism, noting his effort throughout the book to ascribe all progress in piano construction to his countrymen, going so far as to claim that Christofori had copied Schröter's invention -- a claim Dolge says demonstrates Paul's ignorance of piano-action construction. Despite this, Dolge concedes the book "contains sufficient good matter to repay reading it."

Highlights

Professor at the Conservatory of Music in Leipsic who wrote "Geschichte des Claviers" (1868)
Criticized by Dolge for German bias and for wrongly claiming Christofori copied Schröter's invention

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911).

Public domain.

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