Jacobi, Erwin Reuben
JACOBI, ERWIN REUBEN
JACOBI, ERWIN REUBEN (1909–1978), musicologist and harpsichord player. Jacobi was born in Strasbourg and graduated as an engineer in 1933. In 1934 he immigrated to Ereẓ Israel where he worked in agriculture and land settlement, and later in industry. In the 1950s he turned his attention to music, studying cembalo under Frank *Pelleg (1951–52) and music theory under Paul *Ben-Haim (1952–53). In 1953 he proceeded to the United States, where he studied under Wanda *Landowska and Paul Hindemith, under whom he studied at Yale University (1952–53) and Zurich (1953–57), receiving his doctorate from him in 1957. In 1953 he moved to Zurich where he was appointed lecturer in musicology. He served as visiting professor at the School of Music of the Iowa University (1970–71) and Indiana University (1971–72). Jacobi's research centers on the theory and practice of music in the 17th and 18th centuries. He produced a complete edition of Rameau's theoretical works (Die Entwicklung der Musiktheorie in England nach der Zeit von Jean-Phillipe Rameau, 1971). A longtime friend of Albert Schweitzer, he has also published many articles on him. His works include "Introduction" to J.F. Agricola: Anleitung zur Singkunst (1757) zusammen mit dem italienischen Original von Pier Francesco Tosi (1966); Albert Schweitzer und die Musik (1975); Albert Schweitzer und Richard Wagner: eine Dokumentation, Schriften der Schweizerischen Richard-Wagner-Gesellschaft, iii (1977). His editions include J.B. de Boismortier: Quatres suites de pièces de clavecin. op. 59, Alte Musik für verschiedene Instrumente, (1960, 1971); Jean Philippe Rameau: Pièces de clavecin (1961, 1972) and Pièces de clavecin en concerts (1961, 1970).
bibliography:
Grove online; mgg.
[Israela Stein (2nd ed.)]