Volkmann, (Friedrich) Robert
Volkmann, (Friedrich) Robert
Volkmann, (Friedrich) Robert, significant German composer; b. Lommatzsch, April 6, 1815; d. Budapest, Oct. 29, 1883. He studied organ and piano with his father, a cantor, and at 17 entered the Freiberg Gymnasium and studied music with Anacker. In 1836 Volkmann went to Leipzig as a student of C. F. Becker, and he was greatly encouraged by Schumann. After teaching music in Prague (1839-41) he settled in Budapest, where he spent the rest of his life, except for four years (1854-58) in Vienna. In 1875 Volkmann was appointed a prof, at the National Academy of Music in Budapest. His music was regarded very highly in his lifetime, but after his death it faded into oblivion.
Works
ORCH: 2 syms.; 3 serenades for Strings; 4 overtures; Cello Concerto; Konzertstückfor Piano and Orch. CHAMBER: 6 string quartets; 2 piano trios; Chant du Troubadourfor Violin and Piano; Allegretto capricciosofor Violin and Piano; 2 violin sonatas; Romanzefor Cello and Piano; Capricciofor Cello and Piano; Schlummerliedfor Harp, Clarinet, and Horn (also arranged for Piano, Viola, and Cello; his last completed work). Piano: Many solo works, including Phantasiebilder, Dithyrambe und Toccate, Souvenir de Maróth, Nocturne,Sonata in C minor, Buch der Lieder, Deutsche Tanzweisen, Cavatine und Barcarole, Visegrád,4 marches, Wanderskizzen, Fantasie, Intermezzo, Variationson a theme of Handel, Lieder der Grossmutter, 3 Improvisations, Am Grab des Grafen Széchenyi, Ballade und Scherzetto,and transcriptions of songs by Mozart and Schubert; also works for Piano, 4-Hands, including Musikalisches Bilderbuch, Ungarische Skizzen, Die Tageszeiten,3 marches, Rondino und Marsch-Caprice,and transcriptions of his other works. VOCAL: Several works, including 2 masses for Men’s Chorus, 5 sacred songs for Mixed Chorus, offertories, Christmas carol of the 12thcentury, old German hymn for Double Men’s Chorus, 6 duets on old German poems, An die Nachtfor Alto Solo with Orch., Sappho,dramatic scene for Soprano and Orch., Kirchenariefor Bass, Flute, and Strings, Weihnachtfor Women’s Chorus, and Im Wiesengrunfor Mixed Chorus.
Bibliography
B. Vogel, R. V.(Leipzig, 1875); H. Volkmann, R. V. Sein Leben und seine Werke (Leipzig, 1903; abr. ed., 1915; 2nded., rev., 1922); C. Preiss, R. V. Kritische Beitrage zu seinem Schaffen (Graz, 1912); H. Volkmann, ed., Briefe von R. V (Leipzig, 1917); idem, Thematisches Verzeichnis der Werke von R. V.(Dresden, 1937); T. Brawley, The Instrumental Works of R. V.(diss., Northwestern Univ., 1975).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire