Ferdinand Thieriot

Ferdinand Thieriot (April 7, 1838, Hamburg – August 4, 1919, Hamburg) was a German composer of Romantic music and cellist.

He was a pupil of Eduard Marxsen in Altona and belonged to the circle of musicians around Johannes Brahms, who was also a pupil of Marxsen. Later, Thieriot was a pupil of J.G. Rheinberger in Munich. A close, friendly relationship connected him with his teachers all his life. Thieriot was married to a publisher’s daughter (Ernst Berens, Hamburg), Else Berens. The marriage remained childless. He worked as a music teacher and musical director in Hamburg, Ansbach, Leipzig (1867) and Glogau (1868-1870). Later Brahms recommended Thieriot for the position of “Artistic Director” of the Styrian Music Association in Graz (1870-1885). The composer always received high praise in concert reviews: “… and met with a warm and friendly reception by the audience and deservedly so. … Excellent work, clarity and good taste regarding the instrumentation; employment of dignified motives full of character … Enrichment of the concert repertoire.” From March 1902 onwards, Thieriot had his home again in Hamburg where he lived until his death. (Performances of his works in concerts at the Hamburg Philharmonic and Singing Academy as well as in Leipzig where he obtained a post in 1897 at the Directorium of the Bach Society in Leipzig). .

Thieriot's chamber music constitutes a great part of his total output and is judged to be among his finest compositions. He is known to have composed 4 piano trios: Opp.14, 45, 47 & 90, 13 string quartets, only two of which have been published, 2 Octets (Op.78 for 4 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos and Op.62 for 2 violins, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, horn and bassoon) a quartet for flute and string trio Op.84, a quintet for piano and winds Op.80, a quintet for piano and string quartet Op.20 and several instrumental sonatas. In addition to the above, several unpublished compositions remain in manuscript awaiting publication.

Wilhelm Altmann, one of the most influential and perceptive chamber music critics of all time, writing of Thieriot's chamber music, states:"Thieriot's chamber music is without exception noble and pure. He writes with perfect command of form and expression."

References

* Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music, Oxford Univ. Press, London 1963
* Altmann, Wilhelm: Handbuch fur Streichquartettspieler, Vol.4, Heinrichshofen Verlag, Wilhelmshafen 1972

External links

*Article in German Wikipedia
* [http://editionsilvertrust.com/thieriot-octet.htm Short biography & sound-bites from Op.62 Octet]
* [http://hdl.handle.net/1802/4964 Trio Op.28] Score from Sibley Music Library Digital Scores Collection
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