Hans Huber (composer)
Encyclopedia
Hans Huber was a composer
from Switzerland
.
He was born in Eppenberg-Wöschnau
(Canton of Solothurn
). The son of an amateur musician
, Huber became a chorister and showed an early talent for the piano
. In 1870 he entered Leipzig Conservatory. In 1877 he returned to Basel
to teach, but did not obtain a post in the Conservatory there until 1889; seven years later he became director. Among his notable students were Hans Münch
and Hermann Suter
. He wrote eight symphonies and several concertos. His last years he lived in Minusio
in . He died at Locarno
.
Huber's first symphony
, in D minor
, subtitled "Tellsinfonie" has a slight programmatic element, derived from the story of the Swiss national hero William Tell
. The symphony is perhaps somewhat similar in style and formal restraint to Brahms, although there is perhaps a foreshadowing of Sibelius in some of the orchestral textures.
Between 1894 and 1918 Huber composed five opera
s.
Huber's piano concerto
s are slightly unusual for the form in that they have four movements (scherzos are included in addition to the usual fast, slow, and fast tempo movements).
His opus number
100 is a set of 24 Preludes and Fugues
for piano four-hands in all the keys.
label Sterling
has released all of Huber's symphonies
, some tone poems, and the two still-extant piano concerto
s (nos. 1 & 3).
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...
from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
He was born in Eppenberg-Wöschnau
Eppenberg-Wöschnau
Eppenberg-Wöschnau is a municipality in the district of Olten in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.-History:Eppenberg is first mentioned in 1294 as in Eppenberg. At the same time, Wöschnau was mentioned as in Weschnowe.-Geography:...
(Canton of Solothurn
Canton of Solothurn
Solothurn is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the northwest of Switzerland. The capital is Solothurn.-History:The territory of the canton comprises land acquired by the capital...
). The son of an amateur musician
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....
, Huber became a chorister and showed an early talent for the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. In 1870 he entered Leipzig Conservatory. In 1877 he returned to Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
to teach, but did not obtain a post in the Conservatory there until 1889; seven years later he became director. Among his notable students were Hans Münch
Hans Münch (conductor)
Hans Münch was a Swiss conductor, composer, cellist, pianist, organist, and music educator of Alsatian birth. His compositional output includes one symphony , a Sympbonische Improvisationen , and a number of cantatas.-Life and career:Born into a family of musicians in Mulhouse, France, Münch was...
and Hermann Suter
Hermann Suter
Hermann Suter , was a Swiss composer and conductor.Born in Kaiserstuhl, Aargau, Suter studied in the conservatories at Basel, Stuttgart and Leipzig, under Hans Huber and Carl Reinecke. He was an organist and conductor in Zurich from 1892 to 1902, after which he moved to Basel, where he lived to his...
. He wrote eight symphonies and several concertos. His last years he lived in Minusio
Minusio
Minusio is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:In the Ceresole section, a significant Iron Age necropolis was discovered. It held about 20 graves and rich grave goods. Nearby, several Roman graveyards from the 1st and 2nd Centuries AD, were...
in . He died at Locarno
Locarno
Locarno is the capital of the Locarno district, located on the northern tip of Lake Maggiore in the Swiss canton of Ticino, close to Ascona at the foot of the Alps. It has a population of about 15,000...
.
Huber's first symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, in D minor
D minor
D minor is a minor scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. In the harmonic minor, the C is raised to C. Its key signature has one flat ....
, subtitled "Tellsinfonie" has a slight programmatic element, derived from the story of the Swiss national hero William Tell
William Tell
William Tell is a folk hero of Switzerland. His legend is recorded in a late 15th century Swiss chronicle....
. The symphony is perhaps somewhat similar in style and formal restraint to Brahms, although there is perhaps a foreshadowing of Sibelius in some of the orchestral textures.
Between 1894 and 1918 Huber composed five opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s.
Huber's piano concerto
Piano concerto
A piano concerto is a concerto written for piano and orchestra.See also harpsichord concerto; some of these works are occasionally played on piano...
s are slightly unusual for the form in that they have four movements (scherzos are included in addition to the usual fast, slow, and fast tempo movements).
His opus number
Opus number
An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...
100 is a set of 24 Preludes and Fugues
24 Preludes and Fugues
In classical music, many composers have written a set of preludes and fugues in most or all of the 24 major and minor keys. The use of this format is generally inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach's two books of preludes and fugues—The Well-Tempered Clavier—completed in 1722 and 1744 respectively...
for piano four-hands in all the keys.
Recordings
The SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
label Sterling
Sterling Records (Sweden)
Sterling Records is a classical music record label, specializing in releasing world premiere recordings of the orchestral work of romantic composers....
has released all of Huber's symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, some tone poems, and the two still-extant piano concerto
Piano concerto
A piano concerto is a concerto written for piano and orchestra.See also harpsichord concerto; some of these works are occasionally played on piano...
s (nos. 1 & 3).