The archives of Franz A. Ballaseyus, instructor, pianist, director, musician, were donated to the Music Collection of the University of Hawaii by musicologist and author Dale E. Hall. The donation was received in 2000.
Linear feet of shelf space: 1.33
Approximate number of items: 16
Access to the papers of Franz A. Ballaseyus is dictated by the guidelines of the Music Archives of the Sinclair Library. Click here to view the access policy. Patrons are welcome to access these materials by contacting the Music Librarian, Gregg Geary (geary@hawaii.edu), who will set up an appointment to access the archive.
Franz A. Ballaseyus was born in Ueckermunde, Prussia in 1852. He spent his youth in Stettin, Prussia (Szczecin, Poland today). One of his instructors was Karl Loewe, a famous lieder composer. Ballaseyus came from a seafaring family, and also became a sailor when he was seventeen. He served on several German ships and received a commission as Unter-Lieutenant in the German Naval Reserve in 1877. Between 1879 and 1882, Ballaseyus studied music at Musikakademie in Hamburg, Germany. He came to the United States and worked as a church organist in Chicago in 1883. He taught music at several locations, such as what is now the University of South Dakota and in Virginia. He was married in 1890. Near the end of the century, he and his wife and children lived in New York. In July 1900 Ballaseyus accepted the musical director position at Oahu College (now Punahou School) in Honolulu. On September 13, 1900, the Ballaseyus family arrived in Honolulu. From 1900 to 1903, Ballaseyus worked for the college and lived on the college grounds. He also directed the Philharmonic Society, which had been founded in 1901. In 1902, the Honolulu Symphony Society began as a men’s only club of amateur players. Ballaseyus was the Society’s first musical director. He only served in 1902, being replaced after dissatisfaction amongst the board of directors with Ballaseyus’s leadership. The Ballaseyus family moved to northern California and Ballaseyus worked as a high school music teacher in various locations. F.A. Ballaseyus died in 1922 in Alameda County California. He was survived by three children, one of which, Virginia, became involved in music as a composer.
The documents donated to the Music Collection of the University of Hawaii span the years of 1873 to 2003. The documents include military service documents, a marriage certificate, and personal journals and notes.
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