The Violoncello and Its HistoryWasielewski, Wilhelm Joseph von
History
The Violoncello and Its History
Wasielewski, Wilhelm Joseph von
Cellists; Cello -- History
Another pupil of Anton Schwarz whose name is well known was MAX BOHRER,
born at Munich in 1785. He made such progress, that already as a boy
of fourteen years of age he entered the Hofkapelle there. Soon after
he undertook a concert tour with his brother Anton, who was an able
violinist, and this led him to Vienna. There he heard Bernhard Romberg,
who henceforth became his model. Towards 1830, after he had for a time
been a member of the Royal band at Berlin, he went to Paris, where
his fine tone and his ease in surmounting the most difficult passages
excited admiration. Then he travelled through Germany, in 1832 was
appointed first cellist to the King of Wurtemburg with the title of
Concertmeister, went in 1838 (for the second time) to St. Petersburg,
and then proceeded to Italy. The years 1842-1843 he spent in America
giving concerts. He took his last journey, which led him to the
countries of Northern Europe, in 1847, but he was not able to obtain
the same amount of approbation, for he had lost a great deal of his
power of execution. He died in 1867. He edited three Concertos, several
“Airs variés,” a “Fantasia” on a Russian Volkslied, a Rondoletto with a
quartet accompaniment, and some Duets with violin.
Contemporary with the above-named Moralt in the Bavarian Court Kapelle,
“PETER THE GREAT,” so-called, according to Gerber, “on account of his
talent,” born at Zweibrücken, in 1778, was actively engaged, and in 1792
was promoted to be member of the Bavarian Hofkapelle.
For Stuttgard the violoncellists Zumpsteeg and Kaufmann deserve
consideration.
JOH. RUDOLPH ZUMPSTEEG was the more important. He was born on January
10, 1760, at Sachsenflur, in the Odenwald, and died on January 27,
1802, at Stuttgard. The royal Kapellmeister Poli (at Wurtemburg) was
his teacher. Under his direction Zumpsteeg became not only an excellent
performer, but also a creditable composer of music. He received a
learned education at the Karlschule, where he entered into friendly
relations with Schiller, and set to music many of his poems. He made
himself particularly known through ballad compositions, which were first
attempted by him.
After he had quitted the Karlschule, Zumpsteeg devoted himself entirely
and actively to art. Up to the year 1792 he was simply member of the
Stuttgard Court band, of which he became the head after the decease of
his master, Poli. Zumpsteeg played the violoncello with “deep feeling,
rare precision, and decisive power,” as Gerber remarks. He wrote for it
a Concerto, Sonatas, a Duet, and a Trio.
JOHANN KAUFMANN, born in 1760, was likewise a pupil at the Karlschule,
whence also came--
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