Rudolph Matz: A Life in Music

By University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

An exhibit based upon the archive of Rudolf Matz preserved by the Special Collections & Archives of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

This exhibit explores the life of Rudolph Matz (1901-1988), a renowned cellist, music teacher, composer, and conductor.  It is based on the Rudolph Matz Collection in the Cello Music Collections at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  

Rudolph Matz, running in a raceUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz's Youth

Rudolph Matz was born in Zagreb, Croatia on September 19, 1901. He spent his youth in this city, where he would live most of his life. Matz excelled in both music and athletics.  

Paula Turk (Matz), Rudolph's mother, ca. 1898University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Paula Turk Matz, Rudolph's mother, was born in Croatia in 1881. She probably did not come from a very wealthy family because she entered domestic service as a girl. This photograph was taken in Zagreb around 1898, before she was married.

Mavro Matz, Rudolph's father, ca. 1900, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Mavro Matz, Rudolph's father, received a law degree at a young age and then spent most of his career in government service. A widower, Mavro Matz chose to marry Paula Turk, a woman forty years younger, who was serving as his principle housekeeper.

Rudolph Matz as a boy, Zagreb, June 1908, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Rudolph Matz and his mother, 1913, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Born in 1901 in Zagreb, Rudolph was the only child of Mavro and Paula Matz. This is a photograph of Rudolph and his mother when he was about twelve years old.

Zagreb, a view from the cathedral's bell towerUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Zagreb, Croatia, was the city of Matz's birth, where he spent his youth, and where he lived for most of his adult years. This is a view of the city from the Zagreb Cathedral's bell tower.

The Zagreb Cathedral, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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This is another photograph of Zagreb from the Rudolph Matz collection. The cathedral, which today remains the tallest structure in Croatia, serves as an iconic landmark in this city.

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At age ten, Rudolph Matz was attending a music class at the Music Academy of the Croatian Music Institute. His first music teacher, Janko Slogar (1871-1946), encouraged him to begin playing the cello. The cello then became Matz's main instrument.

A concert program from December 4, 1924, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz continued his musical studies in Zagreb in his teen years. By his early 20s, Matz was performing in several orchestras there, conducting a choir, and composing choral works. This concert program from 1924 was for a solo cello concert.

A concert program from December 11, 1924, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Another concert program from December 1924 provides more evidence that Matz was an active solo performer on the cello at this time.

Rudolph Matz, running in a race, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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From a young age, Matz displayed a passion for athletics, in addition to his strong interest in music. A young Matz of nineteen or twenty here reaches the finish line to win a race. This was Matz's most treasured photograph of himself.

Rudolph Matz and three other young athletes, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz, at the back, stands with three other track and field athletes.

Matz and his cello, with Margita, 1955University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz as Performer

Rudolph Matz performed music on the cello throughout his long life. From his early performances with chamber music groups to later concerts with his wife Margita, Matz, he interspersed performing with other musical activities. 

The Zagrebački Trio, program from December 3, 1927, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz performed with several different chamber music groups in Zagreb. This concert program for the Zagrebački Trio is dated December 3, 1927.

Rudolph Matz with the GDI Quartet, ca. 1928, 1928, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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The GDI Quartet, another chamber music group, was formed in 1928. Matz performed as the cellist in this group.

Rudolph and Margita Matz, mid-1950s, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz met his future wife, Margita Neustadt, while studying music at the Academy of Music in Zagreb. An accomplished pianist, Margita accompanied Matz in performances over many years.

Matz performs, Gary, Indiana, 1955, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz performs on the cello in Gary, Indiana, in 1955. Rudolph and Margita Matz lived in the United States from 1955 to 1957, after he was invited to train choirs for a Croatian singing festival. This photograph shows that he himself performed during this time.

Matz performs in Detroit, 1956University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Rudolph and Margita Matz perform in a Detroit home during their American sojourn.

The Matzes, returning home on the RMS Queen Mary, 1957, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Rudolph and Margita Matz sit together on a ship while returning to Europe following their stay in the United States.

Matz performs on the cello, mid 1950s, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Another photograph from the 1950s shows Matz in a cello performance.

Matz plays the cello at home,1980, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz here plays the cello at home in 1980. This shows that he continued t0 play his beloved instrument into the final decade of his life.

Matz with students, ca. 1960University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz as Teacher

Matz taught music throughout his life.  His reputation as a cello teacher was so outstanding that the renowned American cellist and pedagogue Leonard Rose assessed that Matz was "perhaps the greatest cello theoretician in the world."

Matz lectures, 1953, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz, here, lectures in 1953. Especially from the 1930s onward, teaching music was a major aspect of Matz's career. He taught on the faculty of the Zagreb Academy of Music. He also opened a private music studio in his home.

A jury for a competition for Zagreb students, 1950, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz (second row, first on right) participates in a jury, apparently, for students at the Zagreb Academy of Music.

Matz, Antonio Janigro, and cello students, 1950University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz (back row, fourth from the right) stands with Antonio Janigro and a group of cello students in Zagreb. A young Italian cello virtuoso, Janigro (back row, sixth from the left) came to Zagreb to teach at the Music Academy. He and Matz then collaborated extensively.

Rudolph Matz with cello students, ca. 1960, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz speaks with a group of cello students around 1960.

Matz's cello class, ca. 1960, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Eight members of Matz's cello class stand with their cellos around 1960.

Matz, Janigro, and students at Bach seminar, 1962University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz (front row, second from left) sits with Antonio Janigro (front and center) and a group of students at a Bach seminar in 1962. Matz had many musical collaborations with Janigro, an Italian virtuoso cellist.

Matz with 3 female students, ca. 1963, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz teaches three young women who are apparently practicing chamber music. This took place around 1963.

Matz with students at the Zagreb Academy, 1965University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz stands with a group of students at the Zagreb Academy of Music. Matz himself had studied at this school and then taught on the faculty for many years.

Matz conducts in class at Bayreuth, ca. 1965, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz conducts in a class at the Bayreuth festival in Bayreuth, Germany. Matz participated in this renowned music festival in the 1960s.

Matz and students at the Bayreuth festival, 1963, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz sits with a group of young musicians with whom he worked at the Bayreuth festival.

Rudolph and Margita Matz, Bayreuth, 1960s, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Margita Matz usually accompanied her husband on his international trips. Here they are photographed in Bayreuth, Germany.

Matz demonstrates bowing technique, ca. 1960s, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz demonstrates hand positions for the cello in a photograph, probably from the 1960s. Some of these photographs are labeled "Violoncelist i njegov instrumenat," or "The Cellist and His Instrument," apparently the name for a method book that Matz wrote.

Matz demonstrates cello hand positions, ca. 1960s, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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In another photograph also probably from the 1960s, Matz demonstrates hand positions and bowing technique.

The Complete Cellist, signed by Lev Aronson, 1974, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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The Complete Cellist is a major work for those learning to play the cello. These two volumes are based on Matz's instructional materials. Lev Aronson, a German cellist who had a successful career in the United States, compiled and translated these books. Aronson has dedicated this book to his wife, Harriet.

Hand positions from The Complete Cellist, Book One, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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These photographs of hand positions for playing the cello are included in The Complete Cellist, Book One. Lev Aronson here demonstrates cello technique.

Violončelo i Ergonomija (Violoncello and Ergonomics) exercisesUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

From the 1960s onward, Matz was interested in ergonomics and teaching healthy forms of cello technique. The exercises depicted here are part of his paper "Violoncello and Ergonomics."

Matz and Slobodan Gospodnetić, 1978, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Slobodan Gospodnetić speaks with Matz in 1978. One of Matz's students in Zagreb, Gospodnetić emigrated to Canada in 1962. Matz and Gospodnetić remained in contact and visited each other in North America and Europe.

The Matzes and Slobodan Gospodnetić, 1986University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Rudolph and Margita Matz stand with Slobodan Gospodnetić in 1986. Through Dominis Music that he founded, Gospodnetić published works by and about Matz for an international audience.

Margery Enix's biography of Matz, 1996, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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The American cellist and music professor Margery Enix wrote an extensive biography of Matz. It is the major source of information for this exhibit. Dominis Publishing published the book in 1996.

Matz conducts cello orchestra, 1960University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz as Conductor

Matz conducted a number of different ensembles throughout his life, both in his native Croatia and in other locations in Europe and North America.

Caricature of Matz conducting, 1933, Marijan Šimunić, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz started conducting various ensembles early in his career. Matz was known as a conductor in Zagreb by the 1930s, where Marijan Šimunić drew this caricature of him in 1933.

Matz conducts the F Major Suite for Violoncello Ensemble, 1950University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz conducts the first performance of his own composition, the Suite in F Major for Violoncello Ensemble, in 1950. Antonio Janigro (on Matz's left) plays in the cello orchestra.

Matz rehearses with a cello orchestra for tv, 1950, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz here rehearses with a cello orchestra for television in 1950.

Matz conducts a cello ensemble, ca. 1960s, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz conducts a cello ensemble, probably in the 1960s. Matz was associated with a number of cello ensembles throughout his career.

Matz conducts cello orchestra, 1960, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Another photograph shows Matz conducting a cello orchestra that is performing in 1960.

Matz conducts a choir of doctors, 1972, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz writes music on chalkboard, ca. 1970sUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz as Composer

Matz composed a number of original pieces of music. Gifted and well-trained in musical composition, Matz wrote much music for the cello.  He also composed for piano, violin, flute, string quartet, orchestra, voice, and other instrumentation.  

Stjepan Hauser - Elegija (Rudolf Matz), From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz composed music that continues to be performed today. Cellist Stjepan Hauser here performs Elegija (Elegy), the first movement of Elegija i humoreska (Elegy and Humoresque), in Zagreb in 2012. The Zagreb Soloists are the string orchestra. This is one of Matz's most recognized compositions.

Rudolf Matz: Cello Quartet (1-3 mov.), From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Matz's Quartet in D Minor for Four Violoncellos is another well-known piece. Jadranka Gasparovic, Neva Begovic, Kresimir Lazar, and Valter Despalj perform this piece in a performance that was recorded at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival in August 2000.

A display of Matz's music, photograph 1University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

This is a display of Matz's published musical pieces. It conveys some of the extent of Matz's body of work. Many photographs of Matz are also included.

A display of Matz's music, photograph 2, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Another display features a number of Matz's published compositions.

Romanca za v-cello i klavir, 1936University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz wrote manuscripts for original music such as this in his own hand. This is a piece for violoncello and piano.

Baroque concerto for three violoncellos and harpsichord, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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This is a page from Matz's "Baroque concerto for three violoncellos and harpsichord." Matz wrote this particular page with his own hand.

Caix d'Hervelois, Suite in D Minor, Arranged by MatzUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries

Matz both composed and arranged music. This arrangement of a piece by Louis de Caix d'Hervelois includes impressive cover illustrations by an artist, K. Dogan.

Matz at home, 1960, From the collection of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - University Libraries
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Over the course of a long life, Rudolph Matz made major contributions as a performer on the cello, a conductor of various ensembles, a music teacher, a scholar, and a composer.

Credits: Story

Thanks to assistance from Stacey Krim and the Special Collections and University Archives department at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Ethan Lindsay created this exhibition in the Spring of 2017. Rudolf Matz's collection is one of sixteen collections in the UNCG Cello Music Collection, and the vast majority of items included here are part of this collection of materials connected to Matz. For more information about this collection, see http://libcdm1.uncg.edu/cdm/matzcollection/collection/Greenhouse. For the entire UNCG Cello Music Collection, please see the following hompage: http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/collections/cello/index.aspx or contact the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro at scua@uncg.edu

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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