Talk:Alide Topp

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The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. You can locate your hook here. No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was: promoted by AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 15:15, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

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Alide Topp (between 1865 and 1878)

... that the pianist Alide Topp (pictured) once responded to claims that women lacked the "biceps of a man" for great music by stating she broke her pianos as well as any man?

Source: * McClure, James Baird (1879). Entertaining Anecdotes from Every Available Source. Chicago, Illinois: Rhodes & McClure. p. 97. Retrieved 2026-03-08 – via Google Books. Ole Bull, Camille Urso, and Miss Alida Topp met once at a party. "You play beautifully, my child," said the Norwegian to Miss Topp, "but you can't do the great music. No woman can; it takes the biceps of a man." "My arm is strong enough," answered the brilliant young pianist, laughing; I break my pianos as well as a man could, and Steinway has to send me a new one every week.

ALT1: ... that Franz Liszt described the playing of Alide Topp (pictured) as a "marvel" after hearing her perform his Sonata and Mephisto Waltz?

Source: Walker, Alan (1997). Franz Liszt. 3: The final years, 1861 – 1886. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-8014-8453-7. Retrieved 2026-03-04 – via Google Books.

ALT2: ... that Alide Topp (pictured) performed for President Grant at the White House and used the proceeds from her American tour to meet the financial requirements for marrying a Prussian officer?

Source White House: "Washington facts and impressions". National Republican: 1. 17 February 1870. Retrieved 10 March 2026 – via Library of Congress. Yesterday afternoon, after business hours, Mrs. Benator Sprague, in company with Miss Allde Topp, the celebrated pianist, called at the Excite Mansion, and they were cordially received by the President and Mrs. Grant, in the red room, where the members of the President's family, Generals Peter and Babcock, were assembled. An hour was agreeably spent in conversation, interspersed with music by Miss Topp, who performed, among other places, 'Sweet Home'. Both the President and his lady complimented the execution and expressed themselves as highly appreciating the enjoyment afforded.
Source financial requirements for marrying a Prussian officer: "Musical and Fashionable Gossip". Chicago Tribune: 6. 15 May 1870. Retrieved 2026-03-08 – via Newspapers.com. Miss Alide Topp ... A touching little romance connected with her visit to the United States is not, I imagine, generally known. Among the laws that govern the Kingdom of Prussia is one ... that forbids a Prussian army officer to marry, unless he or his fiancée has a fortune, the income of which will furnish ample support for a family, independent of his pay. Miss Topp and her marital lover were in precisely the predicament that made marriage an impossibility; so, with all a woman's devotion and self-sacrifice, the tour through the United States was made, and the faithful inamorata goes back to endow, it is to be hoped, her equally faithful lover with the fruit of her toil and triumphs.

ALT3: ... that Alide Topp (pictured) was among the first pianists in the United States to present "historical concerts" consisting entirely of solo piano music?

Source historical concerts: "Miss Alide Topp's historical concerts". New York Tribune: 5. 27 January 1868. Retrieved 2026-03-09 – via Library of Congress. In these concerts it is her intention, without the aid of any other performer, to render some of the characteristic compositions of Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Handel, Chopin, Liszt, and other eminent masters, with a view to the illustration of their peculiar styles and the expression of the spirit of their works in a manner to interest a cultivated audience.
Source concert of piano music as an experiment: "Historical Soirée of Classical and Modern Piano Music, 6 February 1868". Brook Center (CUNY) Project Music in Gotham. Retrieved 2026-03-10. From The New York Times, 10 February 1868, p. 5: Miss Alide Topp ventured on the hazardous experiment of giving on Thursday evening last a concert of piano music alone. ... The lady opened with Beethoven's 'Sonate Appassionata,' which she played coldly and with no sort of feeling, but with considerable power and technical skill. The last movement was singularly tame and inanimate. The same remarks apply to the greater portion of the 'Faschingschwank' by Schumann, a very interesting and difficult composition. Handel's aria and variations in D minor, and Bach's Sorrabande [sic] and Passepied were beautifully played. In such pieces skill rather than feeling is required, and Topp's skill is unquestionable. The 'Berceuse' of Chopin, and 'La Campanella,' by Liszt, although taken slower than usual, were charmingly rendered. Miss Topp is a fine artist. Not the least remarkable characteristic about her is the grasp and retentiveness of her memory. She plays everything without notes, from a concerto to a waltz.
- Comment: Missing sources will be included immediately. Ok, done PaulasBunt (talk) 11:52, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

Created by PaulasBunt (talk). Number of QPQs required: 0. Nominator has fewer than 5 past nominations.

PaulasBunt (talk) 11:08, 12 March 2026 (UTC).

Detailed interesting biography, on plenty of excellent sources, offline sources accepted AGF. All hooks work, for me ALT1 is most interesting, - being praised by the composer is top ;) - The image is licensed and a great illustration of the period. - Nice to meet you! For me, you don't have to quote from the sources, - just give them. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:52, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

@Gerda Arendt Thank you so much, I'm delighted. Regarding the quotes… well, I was a little nervous, since there's nothing about Alide Topp beyond the Sophie Drinker Institut's biography. So I thought it would be better to supplement my sources through promptly accessible quotes. Ok, I'm German, or rather, Swabian – we can be a bit eccentric sometimes. :) Thanks again so much… I'm so glad that another "forgotten" pianist is being featured in DYK. PaulasBunt (talk) 13:19, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

Did you know nomination

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