Ronald Bertram Smith (3 January 1922 – 27 May 2004) was a Britishclassicalpianist and teacher.
Smith was born inLondon, and grew up inSussex. He was educated atLewes County Grammar School and the Brighton College of Music. He entered theRoyal Academy of Music at the age of 16 with the Sir Michael Costa Scholarship for composition. After leaving the academy he studied privately in Paris withMarguerite Long, while also taking an external BMus degree fromDurham University.[1]
He was influenced by the pianistEdwin Fischer, whom he impressed as a contestant in the 1949 Geneva international piano competition. When Fischer visited London he selected Smith andDenis Matthews to play the second and third piano parts in his recording of Bach's triple keyboard concerto. Smith said he learnt more in four days working with Fischer than he had in his years of previous study.[2]
As a performer, Smith championed piano works from theromantic period. In the 1940s he was first asked to record music by the then neglectedCharles-Valentin Alkan, hisConcerto for Solo Piano. He was sent the score byHumphrey Searle: when he first saw it he thought it "seemed unplayable".[3] He later recorded many of Alkan's works, and also wrote a biography. His efforts played a major role in rekindling interest in Alkan, including remaining president of the Alkan Society from 1977 when it was formed until his death.[1]
His recorded legacy encompasses pioneering performances of Alkan, including the complete studies in all the minor keys Op. 39, as well as music by Chopin, Schubert, Beethoven, Balakirev and Liszt.
He taught the piano for many years, first atHarrow School from 1943, and then atThe King's School, Canterbury from the 1950s to 1990.Freddy Kempf was one such pupil. He then took auditions at the Kent School of Music (Canterbury) to select private students to whom he could donate his spare time.[3]
Smith married the cellist Anne Norman in 1969, and they had one daughter, the artist Beka Smith. They established a family home atSaltwood in Kent, in a large house which afforded space for a music studio.
Smith died inHythe, Kent, aged 82, on 27 May 2004.
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