Hans Bronsart von Schellendorff
Encyclopedia
Hans Bronsart von Schellendorff (11 February 1830 – 3 November 1913) was a classical musician
and composer
who studied under Franz Liszt
.
(Some sources write Schellendorf with one F, but the correct German
surname of this family is written with double FF). (Source: Adelslexikon)
n military family, and educated at Berlin
University. He studied piano with Adolph Jullack. He went to Weimar
in 1853 where he met Liszt and became familiar with all the musicians in Liszt's circle at the time, including Hector Berlioz
and Johannes Brahms
. It is a measure of his close relationship with Liszt that it was he who played the solo part in the first Weimar performance of Liszt's second piano concerto, with the composer conducting. When the concerto was published, Liszt dedicated it to Bronsart. After having trained for several years with Liszt, he worked as a conductor in Leipzig
and Berlin, and then took the post of general manager of the royal theatre in Hanover
from 1867 to 1887. He held a similar post in Weimar from 1887 until his retirement in 1895.
He met his second wife Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf
(née Ingeborg Lena Starck) (1840–1913), also a composer, in Weimar. They married in 1861.
Bronsart von Schellendorff died in Munich
in 1913.
as well as solo piano pieces. His piano concerto which was much favoured by Hans von Bülow
, who rated the work as the "most significant one of the so-called Weimar school". It was recorded by Michael Ponti
.
Both Bronsart and his wife receive many mentions in Liszt's letters. Liszt clearly held their compositions in high regard. In a letter of May 12, 1879, to Walter Bache
, he writes "On the 5th June Bulow conducts the first concert there, at which Bronsart's beautiful and valuable "Fruhlings-Fantasie," Bülow's music to Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," and my "Faust Symphony
" will be performed."
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
who studied under Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
.
(Some sources write Schellendorf with one F, but the correct German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
surname of this family is written with double FF). (Source: Adelslexikon)
Biography
Bronsart von Schellendorff (also called Bronsart - see) was born into a PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n military family, and educated at Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
University. He studied piano with Adolph Jullack. He went to Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
in 1853 where he met Liszt and became familiar with all the musicians in Liszt's circle at the time, including Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
and Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
. It is a measure of his close relationship with Liszt that it was he who played the solo part in the first Weimar performance of Liszt's second piano concerto, with the composer conducting. When the concerto was published, Liszt dedicated it to Bronsart. After having trained for several years with Liszt, he worked as a conductor in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and Berlin, and then took the post of general manager of the royal theatre in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
from 1867 to 1887. He held a similar post in Weimar from 1887 until his retirement in 1895.
He met his second wife Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf
Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf
Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf, was a Swedish-German composer....
(née Ingeborg Lena Starck) (1840–1913), also a composer, in Weimar. They married in 1861.
Bronsart von Schellendorff died in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1913.
Compositions
Bronsart von Schellendorff's compositions include- piano trio in g minor, opus 1
- piano concerto in f-sharp minor, opus 10,
- symphony number 1 In die Alpen for choir and orchestra (lost)
- symphony number 2 Schicksalsgewalten (lost)
- Fruhlings-Fantasie for orchestra
- cantata Christnacht
- opera Der Corsar
- string sextet
as well as solo piano pieces. His piano concerto which was much favoured by Hans von Bülow
Hans von Bülow
Hans Guido Freiherr von Bülow was a German conductor, virtuoso pianist, and composer of the Romantic era. He was one of the most famous conductors of the 19th century, and his activity was critical for establishing the successes of several major composers of the time, including Richard...
, who rated the work as the "most significant one of the so-called Weimar school". It was recorded by Michael Ponti
Michael Ponti
Michael Ponti is a concert and recording pianist.-Life and career:Ponti was born in Germany, but has lived in the United States for most of his life...
.
Both Bronsart and his wife receive many mentions in Liszt's letters. Liszt clearly held their compositions in high regard. In a letter of May 12, 1879, to Walter Bache
Walter Bache
Walter Bache was an English pianist and conductor noted for his championing the music of Franz Liszt and other music of the New German School in England. He studied privately with Liszt in Italy from 1863 to 1865, one of the few students allowed to do so, and continued to attend Liszt's master...
, he writes "On the 5th June Bulow conducts the first concert there, at which Bronsart's beautiful and valuable "Fruhlings-Fantasie," Bülow's music to Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," and my "Faust Symphony
Faust Symphony
A Faust Symphony in three character pictures , S.108, or simply the "Faust Symphony", was written by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt and was inspired by Johann von Goethe's drama, Faust...
" will be performed."