The Violoncello and Its HistoryWasielewski, Wilhelm Joseph von
History
The Violoncello and Its History
Wasielewski, Wilhelm Joseph von
Cellists; Cello -- History
In compositions Werner published a Quartet for four Violoncellos,
Studies, Etudes, Caprices, Solos, a book of Songs, as well as an
instruction book, with Piano accompaniment, under the title of
“Practical Violoncello School.” With regard to this the Munich
_Allgemeine Zeitung_, of September 12, 1886, remarks: “Concerning
this School, which is entirely devoid of theory--_i.e._, thoroughly
practical--there exist a whole list of witnesses from celebrated
authorities of that branch of Art, such as C. Davidoff, in St.
Petersburg, Jos. Rheinberger, Louis Abel, and so forth, as well as
many recommendations (from the Bavarian Ministry of Instruction) and
acknowledgments in the musical periodicals of the time on the subject.
All are unanimous that the above-named work must be considered in every
way the best instruction book amongst those of the highest rank.” The
Cello School of Werner has gone through five editions already since its
appearance.
Amongst Werner’s numberless pupils we can only here cite HEINRICH
SCHÜBEL, at Carlsruhe; H. SCHÖNCHEN, in Munich; EMIL HERBECK, at St.
Petersburg; FRL. MARIE GEIST and CARL EBNER, in Munich. The last-named
artist, born on November 6, 1857, in Deggendorf, near Munich, is Royal
Bavarian Chamber Musician, and takes part in the Trio Soirées, which are
held annually with the co-operation of Bussmayer and Walter, in Munich.
His Violoncello compositions, published as Op. 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 14,
belong to the Salon _genre_.
Meiningen possessed a very distinguished Violoncellist in GUSTAVE KNOOP,
who was born at Göttingen in 1805, and was member of the Meiningen Court
orchestra. He must have been, in regard to beauty of tone, a successful
rival of Romberg. It is related of him that he only married in order
to get into his possession a valuable Violoncello which belonged to
his wife; that soon after the wedding he set out on a journey with the
instrument, and did not return home again. It is a fact that Knoop went
to North America in 1843, and on December 25, 1849, he ended his life at
Philadelphia.
Of Knoop’s pupils two are worth mentioning: Grabau and Mollenhauer.
JOHAN ANDREAS GRABAU, born October 19, 1809, had, after benefiting by
Knoop’s instruction, Fr. Kummer as his master for a time. He chose
Leipsic as his settled residence, but only worked at his vocation until
his marriage, which made it possible for him to pursue music for his
pleasure only. He remained, however, until his death, which occurred
in August, 1886, a member of the Gewandhaus Orchestra. Grabau was less
occupied with solo than with quartet playing, in which he was a much
esteemed performer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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