Carl Reinecke

Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke (June 23, 1824 – March 10, 1910) was a German composer, conductor, and pianist.

Biography

Reinecke was born in Altona, which was part of Denmark at his time. The son of a teacher of music with whom he studied, Johann Peter Rudolph Reinecke, Carl began to compose at the age of seven, and his first public appearance as a pianist was when he was twelve years old.

He undertook his first concert tour in 1843 which eventually led, in 1846, to his appointment as Court Pianist for Christian VIII in Copenhagen. There he remained until 1848. Overall he wrote four concertos for his instrument (and many cadenzas for others' works, including a large set published as his Opus 87), as well as concertos for violin, cello, harp and flute.

In 1851 he became a professor at the Cologne Conservatory. In ensuing years he was appointed musical director at Barmen, and became the academic, musical director and conductor of the Singakademie at Breslau.

In 1860, Reinecke was appointed director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra concerts in Leipzig, and professor of composition and piano at the Conservatorium. He led the orchestra until 1895. There he conducted such premieres as the full seven-movement version of Brahms's "German Requiem" (1869).

In 1865 the Gewandhaus-Quartett premiered his piano quintet, and in 1892 his D major string quartet. [http://www.gewandhaus-quartett.de/gesch.html]

Reinecke is best known for his flute sonata "Undine", but he is also remembered as one of the most influential and versatile musicians of his time. He served as a teacher for 35 years, until 1902. His students included Edvard Grieg, Basil Harwood, Christian Sinding, Leoš Janáček, Isaac Albéniz, Johan Svendsen, Richard Franck, Felix Weingartner, Max Bruch, and Felix Fox among many others.

At the age of 80, Reinecke recorded his playing on piano roll for the Welte company, making him the earliest-born pianist to have his playing preserved in any format.

After his retirement he devoted his time to composition and an output that contains almost three hundred published works. He wrote several operas (all unperformed today) including "König Manfred". Reinecke died, at 85, in Leipzig.

elected works

*"König Manfred", comic opera, 1867
*"Ein Abenteuer Händels", operetta, 1874
*"Auf hohen Befehl", comic opera, 1886
*"Der Gouverneur von Tours", comic opera, 1891
*Symphony no. 1 in A major, opus 79, 1858
*Symphony no. 2 in C minor, "Hakon Jarl", opus 134, 1874
*Symphony no. 3 in G minor, opus 227 (about 1895)
*Piano quartet in E-flat, opus 34, 1844
*A piano quartet in light style, opus 272, 1904
*Piano quintet in A, opus 83, 1866
*Violoncello concerto in D minor, opus 82, 1864
*Violin concerto in G minor, opus 141, 1876
*Concerto for harp and orchestra in E minor, opus 182, 1884
*Flute concerto in D major, opus 283 (1908)
*Piano concerto no. 1 in F-sharp minor, opus 72, 1860
*Piano concerto no. 2 in E minor, opus 120, 1872
*Piano concerto no. 3 in C major, opus 144, 1877
*Piano concerto no. 4 in B minor, opus 254, 1900
*Serenade for strings in G minor, opus 242, around 1898
*Trio for piano, oboe and horn in A minor, opus 188, 1886
*Trio for piano, clarinet and viola in A, opus 264
*Trio for piano, clarinet and horn in B-flat, opus 274, 1905
*Octet for winds in B-flat, opus 216, 1892
*Sextet for flute, oboe, clarinet, 2 horns and bassoon in B-flat, opus 271
*Five string quartets (opus 16 in E-flat, 1843, opus 30 in F, 1851, opus 132 in C, 1874, opus 211 in D major, 1890, and opus 287)
*an organ sonata opus 284
*a piano sonata for the left hand opus 179, 1884
*a string trio in C minor opus 249
*Sonatas for flute (Sonata Undine) opus 167, 1882
*violin, cello (three, in A minor opus 42 1847-8, D major opus 89 1866 and G major opus 238, recorded on cpo)
*Three light piano trios opus 159a
*Piano trio opus 230
*"Drei Fantasiestücke für Viola und Klavier", Op.43 (Three fantasy pieces for viola and piano)
*Harp Concerto in e minor, Op. 182 (1884)

References

* [http://www.carl-reinecke.de Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke Page] - includes a detailed worklist de icon

External links

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* [http://www.editionsilvertrust.com//music-books-n-to-r.htm Carl Reinecke String Trio Op.249, Piano Quartet Op.272 & Piano Quintet Op.83 - soundbites and discussion of works]