Joseph Merk

Joseph Merk ( born March 15, 1795 in Vienna, † June 16, 1852 in Dobling ) was an Austrian composer and cellist.

Life

The son of a wealthy family, he enjoyed early on a thorough musical training in singing, guitar and violin. A special fondness he developed for cello, where he was taught by Philip Schindlocker. At 18, he was already set in Court Opera Orchestra. Soon an appointment as a member of the court orchestra in 1834 and succeeded to the chamber virtuoso. Already in 1823 he was appointed professor of cello at the Conservatory of the Society of Friends of Music in Vienna. Successful concert tours took him to Italy and Germany.

However, the focus of his ministry was Vienna, where his dignified lessons brought forth some excellent cellist ( the most famous were Leopold Anton Böhm and inertia ).

Wish was a friend of Franz Schubert and Chopin. Chopin dedicated his 1828 Polonaise for piano and cello and Schubert wrote in 1822, the vocal quartet " Spirit of Love " specifically for a Wish Concert.

As a composer, he wrote mostly pieces for the cello, but were not very successful. Its importance lies in the classroom and the development of performance practice.