Hermann Ritter (musician)

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Hermann Ritter (around 1905)
Knight viola

Hermann Ritter (born September 16, 1849 in Wismar , † January 25, 1926 in Würzburg ) was a German violist , composer and music historian .

Life

Hermann Ritter was the eldest son of the railway official Georg Karl Ritter (1820–1909) and Maria Caroline Benditte (1821–1876). The Hamburg Higher Regional Court Vice-President Carl Rudolf Ritter (1870-1941) was his youngest brother.

From 1865 to 1870 he studied violin with Joseph Joachim in Berlin. Then he was a violinist in the Schwerin court orchestra . The appointment as music director of the city of Heidelberg followed . He continued his studies at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg , supplemented by art history and philosophy . During this time his musical interest turned more and more to the viola . His goal was to improve the viola's status by raising the standard of playing and performance as well as developing a string instrument that should have the same pitch as the violin and cello ( "knight viola" or "viola alta" ).

After successful concert tours through numerous European countries, Ritter received a professorship for viola at the royal music school in Würzburg. Ritter's particular merit is to have laid the foundation for modern viola playing as a teacher. His textbook, "The Study of the Viola-Alta" , is the first method that made it possible to learn to play the viola without having to go through the violin, from the beginning to a high playing level.

Viola alta

In the first half of the 19th century, mostly small- bore violas were common in orchestras. Dissatisfied with the sound result, he had a large viola model with a body length of 48 cm made by the Würzburg violin maker Karl Hörlein in 1875 according to his own plans . The specifications came from the “Regole par la construction di violini, viole violoncelli e violoni” written by Antonio Bagatella in 1786 . In a letter to Ritter, Richard Wagner was enthusiastic about the instrument, which is characterized by its body size and its volume of sound, and described it as a "significant and beneficial change", which, however, after initial enthusiasm, was not generally accepted.

Ritter had married Justine Anna Bibiana Barbara Ludovika Haecker from Würzburg in 1884 who gave him two sons: Karl Herrmann Joseph Ritter (1888–1977) and Rudolf Ritter (1889–1945)

Works (selection)

In addition to his many compositions and transcriptions , Ritter is best known for a large number of academic books and essays, including several volumes on the history of music in Europe.

Compositions

Stage works
  • A critical day , family scene in 1 act (1894)
  • Through night to the light! , Play in 4 acts (1895)
  • A stumbling block , adventure in 1 act (1895)
  • In the alpenglow , mountain piece with song and dance in 1 act (1903)
Songs
  • Old Scottish folk tunes with retention of the original melodies for voice and piano (published around 1890); Text by Robert Burns
  • Flew away, moved away for soprano or tenor and piano, Op. 20 (published around 1900)
  • Snowflake for voice and piano, Op. 30 (published circa 1893); Text by Fritz Holthey
  • Goodbye for voice and piano, Op. 59 (published around 1893)
  • I feel your breath for voice and piano, Op. 60 (published around 1900)
  • Songs greetings from nature and life , 10 easy and appealing chants for voice and piano, Op. 62 (published around 1893)
Works for piano
  • German Victory Hymn , Op. 23
  • Mourning song for the death of a warrior , Op. 24
Educational works
  • Viola school or the study of the viola-alta for school and self-teaching (1884)
  • Elementary technique of the viola alta (published around 1894)
  • Solo book for viola (viola alta, alto violin), booklet I-II: Contains the most important solos of the orchestral literature of this instrument (published around 1910)
Works for viola or viola alta
  • Two pieces for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 7 (published 1883)
  1. idyll
  2. Elven song
  • Slumber song for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 9
  • Memory of the Alps for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 11
  • Jagdstück for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 17 (published 1883)
  • On the waves for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 27 (published 1878)
  • Spinner song for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 28
  • Two pieces for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 32 (around 1885)
  1. Pastoral and Gavotte in A minor
  2. In the dream in G major
  • After Slavic impressions for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 33 (around 1884)
  1. Elegy in G minor
  2. Introduction and mazurka in A minor / C major
  • Memory of Scotland: Fantasy using old Scottish tunes for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 34
  • Concert Phantasy No.1 in C minor for viola (viola alta) and orchestra or piano, Op. 35 (1886)
  • Concert-Phantasie No.2 for viola (viola alta) and orchestra or piano, Op. 36 (1886)
  • Italian Suite for Viola (Viola alta) and Orchestra or Piano, Op. 37 (around 1886)
  1. Barcarole (Venezia)
  2. Elegy (Roma) in A minor
  3. Tarantella (Napoli)
  • Two pieces for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 48 (published around 1930)
  1. Valse caprice
  2. Moto perpetuo
  • Two pieces for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 65 (around 1898)
  1. Andante
  2. Allegretto Scherzando
  • Vocal piece in D major for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 66
  • Serenade for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 70 (published 1905)
  • Rococo: 2 performance pieces for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 73 (published 1907)
  1. Gavotte in C major
  2. Pastoral and minuet
  • Dithyrambe for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 74 (published 1907)
  • Melodia religiosa for viola (viola alta) and piano

Transcriptions

Transcriptions for viola (or viola alta), unless otherwise indicated.

  • Hermann Ritter's repertory for the viola alta (alto violin) with accompaniment of the pianoforte (published 1878 by W. Schmid, Nuremberg)
  1. Aria di chiesa by Alessandro Stradella
  2. Largo in E minor by Jean-Marie Leclair
  3. Larghetto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  4. Moment musical by Franz Schubert ; in the original for piano
  5. Song without words by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ; in the original for piano
  6. melody
  7. La Romanesca: dance from the XVI. Century
  8. Recitative and aria (from Rinaldo) by Georg Friedrich Händel
  9. Largo in F major by Johann Sebastian Bach
  10. Aria by Antonio Lotti
  11. Sonata in E minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  12. Ave verum by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  13. Larghetto from the violin concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven
  14. Ave Maria by Franz Schubert
  15. Russian song (The Doubt) by Michail Glinka ; originally for voice, choir and piano
  16. On the waves by Hermann Ritter
  17.  
  18. Romance (Tregiorni) by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
  19. Andante (F major) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  20. Andantino (E flat major) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  21. Nocturne by John Field
  22. Aria (from the D major suite) by Johann Sebastian Bach
  23. La séparation: Nocturne (1839) by Michail Glinka ; in the original for piano
  24. Chant sans paroles (Song Without Words), Op. 2 No. 3 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • Anthology for viola (alto violin) with accompaniment of the piano , Volume I: Works by Ludwig van Beethoven (published in the 1880s by Merseburger, Leipzig)
  1. Romance , Op. 40; originally for violin and orchestra
  2. Adelaide , Op. 46; originally for voice and piano
  3. Romance , Op. 50; originally for violin and orchestra
  • Anthology for viola (alto violin) with accompaniment of the pianoforte , Volume II (published in the 1880s by approx. Merseburger, Leipzig)
  1. Larghetto from the Sonata Concertante No. 4 in D major, Op. 115 (1809) by Louis Spohr ; in the original for violin and harp
  2. Recitative and Andante from Violin Concerto No. 6, Op. 28 (1808-1809) by Louis Spohr ; originally for violin and orchestra
  3. Barcarole from 6 Salon Pieces , Op. 135 No. 1 by Louis Spohr ; in the original for violin and piano
  4. Erlkönig , Op. 1 by Franz Schubert
  • Music for viola: transfers by Hermann Ritter ; published by Friedrich Kistner, Leipzig
  1. Air varié , Op. 10 by Pierre Rode
  2. Élégie , Op. 10 by Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (published 1884); originally for violin and orchestra
  3. Suite by Johann Sebastian Bach (published 1884)
    1. Sarabande (BWV 1012)
    2. Gavotte (BWV 811)
    3. Andante (BWV 1003)
    4. Allegro (BWV 1009)
  4. Notturno , Op. 9 No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin ; in the original for piano
  5. Song without words , Op. 53 No. 2 by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ; in the original for piano
  6. Russian melody (cossack dance)
  7. Moto perpetuo by Niccolò Paganini ; in the original for violin and piano
  8. Spring song (song without words) , Op. 62 No. 6 by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ; in the original for piano
  9. Song without words , Op. 85 No. 1 by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ; in the original for piano
  10. Adagio cantabile from the Sonate pathétique , Op. 13 by Ludwig van Beethoven ; in the original for piano
  11. Romance sans paroles in G major, Op. 23 (1875) by Karl Dawidow ; in the original for violoncello and piano
  12. Cavatine by Joachim Raff
  13. Lullaby , Op. 98 No. 2 by Franz Schubert
  14. Impromptu , Op. 90 No. 3 by Franz Schubert ; in the original for piano
  15. Serenade from Quartet No. 74 (Andante cantabile) by Joseph Haydn
  16. Notturno from the music “Midsummer Night's Dream” by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ; in the original for orchestra
  17. Waltz , Op. 34 No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin ; in the original for piano
  18. Adagio from the Clarinet Concerto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ; originally for clarinet and orchestra
  19. Aria in D minor by Francesco Durante
  20. Larghetto by Giuseppe Tartini (published ca.1891)
  21. Czárdás
  22. Lento , 1st movement of a sonata by Johann Sebastian Bach
  23. Siciliano by Johann Sebastian Bach
  24. Adagio by Johann Sebastian Bach
  25. 4 old Scottish folk songs
  • Album sheet (E flat major) for viola (viola alta) and piano by Richard Wagner (published in the 1890s); originally for piano (1875)
  • Bel canto: six pieces by masters of the XVII. and XVIII. Century for viola alta (or violin) and piano or organ (published ca.1900)
  1. Arietta in G major by Alessandro Stradella
  2. Siciliana in G minor by Alessandro Scarlatti
  3. Vergin tutt'amor in D minor by L. Durante
  4. Aria “Caro mio ben” in D major by Giuseppe Giordani
  5. Adagio in E major by Johann Sebastian Bach
  6. Andante in A minor by Georg Friedrich Handel
  • Causerie for viola and piano (1900) by Alphonse Mailly (1833–1918); in the original for piano

Literary works

  • The viola its history, its meaning and the principles of its construction (1876)
  • The history of the viola alta and the principles of its construction (1877)
  • Repetition of the history of music clearly laid out according to epochs, together with an index of the main scientific music literature (1880)
  • On the purpose of studying music history (1880)
  • Hermann Ritter and his viola alta (1881)
  • From the harmony theory of my life: Small sketches and aphorisms by Hermann Ritter (1883)
  • The viola alta or alto violin (1885)
  • Popular elementary theory of music for educated music lovers (1885)
  • The most important features of the aesthetics of music art (1886)
  • The tripod or normal violin bridge invented and established by Hermann Ritter: With 50 model illustrations (1889)
  • Music in the Alps (1889)
  • Catechism of Music Aesthetics: A Guide to Music Lessons in School and Home (1890)
  • Richard Wagner as an educator. A folk book and at the same time a companion to the Bayreuth Festival (1891)
  • On Musical Education: A Warning Call To Parents, Guardians, Educators (1891)
  • Studies and sketches from music and cultural history, as well as music aesthetics (1892)
  • A little less music! (1896)
  • Franz Schubert (born January 31, 1797) commemorative publication for the 100th birthday celebration. Dedicated to the "Schubert Bund" in Vienna (1896)
  • Folk song in old and new times (1896)
  • Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven. A triumvirate in the sky of German music art (1897)
  • The five-string alto violin (viola alta): and the subsequent further development of the string instruments (1898)
  • Some things to understand about Berlioz's Harold Symphony and Berlioz's artistic significance (1899)
  • On the Material and Social Situation of the Orchestra Musician: A Warning Call to Parents, Guardians, and Educators (1901)
  • General Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music History , 6 volumes (1901–1902)
  1. Ancient music history (1902)
  2. Music history of the Middle Ages (1902)
  3. Music history of Germany in the 16th - 18th centuries (1902)
  4. Music history of Germany in the 19th century (1902)
  5. Music history of France, Britain, Russia, etc. (1902)
  6. Musical history of Italy (1902)
  • The 19th Century in Its Main Musical Representatives in Germany (1902)
  • General information about string instruments and ideas for a new string quartet: soprano violin (violin), alto violin (viola alta), tenor violin (viola tenore), bass violin (viola bassa or violoncello): based on the intentions and the model of Hermann Ritter (1905)
  • Know yourself !: The golden book of wisdom , 2 volumes (1905)
  • Professor Hermann Ritter's New String Quartet <Knight Quartet> (1910)
  • My new or reform string quartet
  • The sources of Richard Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelung" (1911)
  • "Franz Liszt" by James Huneker 1911 - essay by Hermann Ritter (1911)

literature

  • Maurice W. Riley: 19th Century Violists. Hermann Ritter . In: ders .: The History of the Viola . Volume I. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Braun-Brumfield 1980

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Maurice W. Riley: 19th Century Violists. Hermann Ritter . In: ders .: The History of the Viola . Volume I. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Braun-Brumfield 1980, p. 210
  2. ↑ Erich Valentin : Handbuch der Musikinstrumentenkunde. Gustav Bosse, Regensburg 1954, p. 139.
  3. ↑ MGG , 2nd edition Personal Part, Vol. 14, Column 206
personal data
SURNAME Ritter, Hermann
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German violist, composer and music historian
DATE OF BIRTH September 16, 1849
PLACE OF BIRTH Wismar
DATE OF DEATH January 25, 1926
Place of death Wurzburg