Hermann Ritter

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

Life

Hermann Ritter studied from 1865 to 1870 violin with Joseph Joachim in Berlin. After that, he was a violinist in the court orchestra Schwerin. There he was appointed Music Director of the City of Heidelberg. At the Ruprecht -Karls- University of Heidelberg, he continued his studies, complemented by art history and philosophy to continue. During this time, his musical interests turned more and more to the viola. His goal was to improve the violist status by raising the standard of play and performance standards, and the development of a stringed instrument, which tonlich the violin and the cello should be equal ( " Knight viola " or " viola alta ").

After successful concert tours through numerous countries in Europe, Knight became a professor of viola at the Royal School of Music in Würzburg. The particular merit knight is to have laid the foundation as a teacher for the modern viola game. His textbook, " The study of the viola alta ", is the first method that enabled learning the viola game without going through the violin, from the beginnings to a high musical level.

Viola alta

In the first half of the 19th century small mensurierte violas in the orchestra were fairly common use. Dissatisfied with the sound result, he left in 1875 after his own plans through customize the Würzburg luthier Karl Hörlein a large viola model with a body length of 48 cm. The targets were from the 1786 written by Antonio Bagatella " Regole di par la Construzione violini, viole e violoncelli violoni ". Richard Wagner appeared in a letter to Knight enthusiastic about the instrument and described it as a "significant and beneficial change ", which, however, after initial enthusiasm was not universally prevail.

Works (selection)

In addition to his many compositions and transcriptions Knight is mainly caused by a variety of scientific books and articles, including several volumes about the European music history is known.

Compositions

• A critical day, Family Scene in 1 act (1894 )
• Through night to light! , Play in four acts ( 1895)
• A stone of stumbling, Adventure in 1 act (1895 )
• In Alpenglow, Mountain piece with song and dance in one act (1903 )

• Old Scottish folk tunes with retaining the original melodies for voice and piano (published in 1890 ); Texts by Robert Burns
• Fort Flown, pulled away for soprano or tenor and piano, Op. 20 (published in 1900 )
• Snow Maiden for voice and piano, Op. 30 (published in 1893 ); Text by Fritz Holthey
• Farewell! for voice and piano, Op. 59 (published in 1893 )
• I feel your breath for voice and piano, Op. 60 (published in 1900 )
• Songs Greetings from nature and life, 10 light and appealing songs for voice and piano, Op. 62 (published in 1893 )

• German victory hymn, Op. 23
• Dirge on the death of a warrior, Op. 24

• Viola school or study of the viola alta for the education and self-study (1884 )
• Elementary technique of the viola alta (published around 1894 )
• Solo Book for Viola ( Viola alta, Altgeige ), Book I -II: Containing the most important solos of orchestral literature of this instrument (published in 1910 )

• Two Pieces for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 7 (published 1883)

• Lullaby for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 9
• Memory of the Alps for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 11
• Hunting for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 17 (published 1883)
• On the waves for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 27 (published 1878)
• Spinning Song for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 28
• Two Pieces for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 32 ( 1885 )

• After Slavic impressions for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 33 ( 1884 )

• Memory of Scotland: fantasy with use altschottischer ways for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 34
• Concert Fantasia No.1 in C Minor for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Orchestra or Piano, Op. 35 (1886 )
• Concert Fantasia 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 ( 1886 )

• Two Pieces for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 48 (published in 1930 )

• Two Pieces for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 65 ( 1898 )

• Aria in D Major for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 66
• Serenade for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 70 (published 1905)
• Rococo: 2 Pieces for Viola ( Viola alta ) and Piano, Op. 73 (published 1907)

• 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 viola alta ( Altgeige ) with piano accompaniment (published in 1878 by W. Schmid, Nuremberg)

• Anthology for Viola ( Altgeige ) with piano accompaniment, Volume I: Works by Ludwig van Beethoven (published in the 1880s of Merseburg, Leipzig)

• Anthology for Viola ( Altgeige ) with Pianoforte Accompaniment, Volume II (published in the 1880s of about Merseburg, Leipzig)

• Music for Viola: Transfers of Hermann Ritter; published by Friedrich Kistner, Leipzig

• Album Leaf ( E flat major ) for viola (viola alta ) and piano by Richard Wagner (published in the 1890s ); original 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 1900 )

• Causerie for viola and piano (1900) by Alphonse Mailly ( 1833-1918 ); original for piano

Literary works

• The viola its history, its importance and the principles of its construction (1876 )
• The history of the viola alta and the principles of its construction (1877 )
• Outlined Repetitorium of music history into eras clearly, together with a directory of the chief scientific Music Literature (1880 )
• About the purpose of studying the history of music (1880 )
• Hermann Ritter and his viola alta (1881 )
• From the harmony of my life: Small sketches and aphorisms by Hermann Ritter ( 1883)
• The viola alta or Altgeige (1885 )
• Popular elementary theory of music for educated music lovers (1885 )
• The aesthetics of music in its most important main features (1886 )
• The three-legged or normal violin bridge invented and founded by Hermann Ritter: With 50 model Pictures ( 1889)
• Music in the Alps ( 1889)
• Catechism of Music Aesthetics: A Hülfsbuch for music lessons in school and House ( 1890)
• Richard Wagner as an educator. A chapbook, while companion to the recent Bayreuth Festival (1891 )
• About music education: A warning call to parents, guardians, educators (1891 )
• Studies and sketches of musical and cultural history, and aesthetics of music (1892 )
• Slightly less music! (1896 )
• Franz Schubert ( Born January 31, 1797 ) commemorative publication for the 100th birthday celebration. The " Schubert -Bund " in Vienna dedicated (1896 )
• Folk singing in ancient and modern times (1896 )
• Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven. A triumvirate of German musical art in the sky (1897 )
• The five-string Altgeige (viola alta ) and which knüpfende it any further development of String Instruments (1898 )
• Some of the understanding of Berlioz's Harold Symphony and Berlioz's artistic importance (1899 )
• About the material and social position of the orchestra musicians: A warning call to parents, guardians, educators (1901 )
• General Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music History, 6 volumes ( 1901-1902 )

• The 19th century in his main musical representatives in Germany (1902 )
• General information about stringed instruments and ideas about a new string quartet: soprano fiddle (violin), Altgeige (viola alta ), tenor violin (viola tenore ), bass violin (viola bassa or cello): according to the intentions and the model of Hermann Ritter (1905 )
• Know thyself: The Golden Book of the Wisdom of Life, 2 volumes (1905 )
• Professor Hermann Ritter 's new string quartet (1910 )
• My new or reform String Quartet
• The sources for Richard Wagner 's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" (1911 )
• " Franz Liszt " by James Huneker 1911 - article by Hermann Ritter (1911 )