Beck, Johann H(einrich)

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Beck, Johann H(einrich)

Beck, Johann H(einrich), American violinist, conductor, teacher, and composer; b. Cleveland, Sept. 12, 1865; d. there, May 26, 1924. He studied with Reinecke and Jadassohn at the Leipzig Cons. (1879–82). In 1877 he founded the Schubert String Quartet in Cleveland, and later the Beck String Quartet. He also was conductor of the Detroit Sym. Orch. (1895–96) and orchs. in Cleveland.

Works

ORCH.: 4 overtures (1875–85); 2 symphonic poems; 2 scherzos (1885–95; 1889); Aus meinem Leben, tone poem (1917). CHAMBER: 4 string quartets (1877–80); String Sextet (1885–86); piano pieces. VOCAL: 4 tone poems for Voice and Orch., including Elegiac Song (1877); partsongs; songs.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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