Paul Essek
Paul Essek (born June 26, 1875 in Göttingen , † January 7, 1948 in Zurich ) was a German-Swiss violist and composer .
Essek studied as the son of a family of musicians and actors in Liège and Berlin and became a Swiss citizen in 1898. From 1903 until his death he was a member of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and was its principal violist. As a member of the Zurich String Quartet, whose work he devoted himself to for over thirty years, he occupied an important place in Zurich's musical life. Performances in many European countries earned him and the ensemble great recognition. From 1904 he was also a teacher at the local conservatory . Essek's descendants now live as musicians in South Africa and Germany.
Essek is known as a composer for his “Etudes for Violin” and “Lecture Pieces for Violin and Piano Accompaniment”. Less known today are his lullabies and slumber songs as well as the collection “From Childhood” and the “Little Christmas Fantasy”. The Concerto in G major for violin and piano from 1911 is still a popular learning piece for beginners today. He wrote various compositions for his children, colleagues and students. Othmar Schoeck , with whom he was on friendly terms, dedicated his String Quartet in C major (op. 37) to him and his colleagues from the Zurich String Quartet.
Individual evidence
Web links
- Works by and about Paul Essek in the catalog of the German National Library
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Essek, Paul |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German-Swiss violist and composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 26, 1875 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Goettingen |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 7, 1948 |
| Place of death | Zurich |