The Violoncello and Its HistoryWasielewski, Wilhelm Joseph von
History
The Violoncello and Its History
Wasielewski, Wilhelm Joseph von
Cellists; Cello -- History
Servais educated also the elder of his two sons, whose Christian name
was JOSEPH, as a very good cellist. From 1869-1870 he belonged to the
Weimar orchestra. In the year 1872 he was nominated professor of his
instrument at the Brussels Conservatoire. He was born November 23, 1850,
at Hal, the home of his father, where he died August 28 or 29, of the
year 1885.
Returning to Platel’s pupils, we have, after the elder Servais,
FRANÇOIS DEMUNCK (De Munck) to mention, who was born on October 6,
1815, in Brussels, where his father was teacher of music. Instructed
by him in the first elements of the art, he entered the Conservatoire
of his birthplace as a boy of ten years of age, and soon had Platel
as his master. In 1834 he left the Institution with the first prize,
and in the following year he was nominated as his master’s assistant.
When the latter died a few months after, Demunck was appointed his
successor. His star was gradually in the ascendant. Fétis says of him
that, about 1840, the hope was cherished that he was destined to be
at the head of the Violoncellists of his time, for his playing was
distinguished not only by the opposite fine qualities of energetic and
delicate intonation, but also by an expression full of feeling, and ease
in surmounting all difficulties. This hope was not, however, to be
fulfilled. Demunck fell into relations which had a paralysing effect on
the work of his profession. He neglected more and more the study of the
Cello; consequently his performances were deprived of their precision
and brilliancy; and, further, he ruined his health. Notwithstanding this
he still excited some consideration in London. Soon after, in the year
1845, he resigned his official work, in order to perform at concerts, in
company with a singer, in Germany. His performances, however, no longer
came up to the cherished expectations. In the year 1848 Servais stepped
into Demunck’s place as teacher at the Brussels Conservatoire, which
induced him to go to London, and labour for a time in the orchestra of
“Her Majesty’s” Theatre. But only too soon the results of his dissolute
life became apparent. He fell into doubtful circumstances, and, broken
in body and mind, he returned, in the spring of 1853, to Brussels,
where, on February 28 of the following year, he died.
Demunck published only a “Fantasia” with variations on a Russian theme
(Op. 1).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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