Villoing, Alexander

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Villoing, Alexander

Villoing, Alexander, notable Russian pianist and teacher, uncle of Vasili Villoing; b. Moscow, March 12, 1804; d. there, Sept. 2, 1878. He was born of a French emigre family. He studied piano with John Field in Moscow, where he taught piano (1830-62), enjoying a reputation as one of the best pedagogues in Russia. Anton and Nikolai Rubinstein were among his pupils; he traveled with them in Europe. His École pratique du piano (St. Petersburg, 1863) was accepted by the St. Petersburg Cons, as a teaching guide. He publ. a book of piano exercises, which he called Exercises for the Rubinstein Brothers.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire