Tag Archive for 'Frankfurt'
Friedrich Valentin Hermann, accomplished German violin virtuoso, composer and teacher, b. 1828 in Frankfurt am Main. He studied music first with Bernhardt Mohr and from 1843 at the Leipzig Conservatorium with Ferdinand David, Mendelssohn and Hauptmann. Immediately after finishing his education, he was hired as first violist of the Leipzig Gewandhaus and Theatre Orchestra. He still holds that position today, as well as that of a teacher at the Conservatorium, with great success. Hermann is known as an able and deft composer thanks to the successful performance in 1852 of a Symphony at the Gewandhaus. Among his published works are Cappriccios for three violins, Études for violin, a Duo for violin and violoncello, a String Quartet, piano arrangements of Viotti’s and Kreutzer’s Violin Concertos, as well as arrangements of the Symphonies of Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Schumann. Hermann is one of the finest violists and string quartet players alive; his contributions to the musical life of Leipzig are invaluable.
—Source: Musikalisches Conversations-Lexikon: An Encyclopedia of All Musical Sciences for the Educated of All Classes, edited and published by Hermann Mendel, Berlin 1875 (transl.)
Heinrich Anton Hoffmann, German violin virtuoso and conductor, b. 1770 in Mainz. Hoffmann read law and philosophy at the University there. Following his father’s death at the outbreak of the Revolutionary Wars, he fell on hard times. Hoffman chose a musical career and became chamber musician at the Court of the Prince-Elector, the Archbishop of Mainz. He stayed there until the siege of Mainz forced him to relocate, first to Aschaffenburg and later to Frankfurt, where he took up a post as violinist at the Stadttheater. From 1801 until 1819, he rose from the rank of Correpetitor and Concert Master to Vice Director of Music and finally Director of Music and Co-director of Theatre. When Guhr was made Kapellmeister in 1821, Hoffmann took the titles of Vice Music Director and First Violinist. He retired in 1835 and continued to compose until his death in 1842. Among Hoffmann’s published works are six String Quartets, two Violin Concertos, a Concertante for two Violins, 12 Lieder with piano accompaniment and Duos for Violin and Violoncello, all works of outstanding quality.
—Source: Musikalisches Conversations-Lexikon: An Encyclopedia of All Musical Sciences for the Educated of All Classes, edited and published by Hermann Mendel, Berlin 1875 (transl.)
Audio excerpt — Heinrich Hoffmann
Allegro con brio from Deux Duos pour Violon et Violoncelle
dédiés à Messieurs les Frères Romberg op. 6
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Toch, Ernst, österreichischer Komponist, geboren am 7. Dezember 1887 zu Wien, studierte Medizin und Philosophie und bildete sich in der Musik durchaus autodidaktisch, errang aber 1909 das Mozart-Stipendium; 1910 das Mendelssohn-Stipendium und viermal nacheinander den österreichischen Staatspreis für Komposition. Seit 1909 lebte Toch in Frankfurt am Main und bildete sich unter Willi Rehberg zum Pianisten. 1913 ging er nach Mannheim als Lehrer an die von Karl Zuschneid geleitete Hochschule für Musik, an die er nach dem Kriege zurückkehrte, aber sie bald wieder verließ. Er lebt seitdem als privater Lehrer der Komposition in Mannheim. 1921 promovierte er zum Dr. philosophicus mit Beiträgen zur Stilkunde der Melodie (mit dem Titel Melodielehre, Berlin 1923, Hesse). Als Komponist ist er einer der beweglichsten und erfindungsreichsten Begabungen der “Neuen Musik”, voll musikantischer Frische und Temperament, ohne negativ parodistische Ader und ist aus einer anfänglichen Stimmungs- und Geschmackskunst zu immer freierer und sicherer Ausdrucksmusik gelangt.
—Source: Das Neue Musiklexikon, from Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians, published by A. Eaglefield-Hull, translated and edited by Alfred Einstein, ed. Max Hesse, Berlin 1926 (transl.)
Audio excerpt — Ernst Toch
Divertimento for Violin & Violoncello Op. 37 No.1: Flott
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