Biographical Sketches

From "The Worlds Best Music" © 1908

Schumann, Robert
Born in Zwickan, Saxony, June 8, 1810
At a very early age, and without instruction, he began to compose. In 1828 he became a law student at the University of Leipzig, but in 1830 finally devoted himself to music under the tuition of Friedrich Wieck and Heinrich Dorn. Clara, the daughter of Wieck, who was born in 1819 and became a celebrated pianist, was married to Schumann in 1840, and thenceforward, as also before, she shared largely in his work. In 1834, with others, Schumann established the "Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik", a journal which, for the ten years of his more intimate connection with it, exercised an influence on the development of the art not incomparable with that of Lessing's "Hamburg Dramaturgy" in drama.

Prior to 1840 Schumann's principal works were the "Fantasias", the "Kinderscenen", the "Etudes Symphoniques", the "Kreisleriana", the "Abegg" variations, the "Papillons", the "Carnaval" and two sonatas in F sharp minor and G minor. In the year following his marriage he published nearly one hundred and fifty songs, distinguished by the fidelity and subtilty with which they reproduced the most delicate shades of meaning in the poems selected for musical treatment. He then began his great series of orchestral works, his symphony in B flat being the first performed at the close of 1841. It was followed by his "Overture, Scherzo und Finale", his D minor symphony, three quartets, the piano quintet and quartet, the choral work "Das Paradies und die Peri" (1843), the C major symphone (1846); "Genoveva" (1847); "Manfred" (1848); the Faust music (1850); the E flat symphony (1851); and other works. For several years Schumann suffered from brain disease, and after an attempt to drown himself in 1854 he was confined in a private asylum, where he ended his days.
He died in Endenich, near Bonn, July 29, 1856

Schutt, Eduard
Born in St. Petersburg, October 22, 1856.
He was a pupil in composition and pianoforte of Petersen and Stein at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and continued his studies in Leipzig. Subsequently he was elected conductor of the Akademische Wagnerverein of Vienna. Schutt's published works include a comic opera, a pianofort concerto, a serenade for strings, variations for the piano, and songs.

Schytte, Ludwig
Born in Aarhus (Jutland), Denmark, April 28, 1850.
Originally a druggist, he studied with various instructors, among them Gade, Taubert, and Liszt. In 1887-88 he was connected with Horak's Institute in Vienna, and there continued active as a teacher and concert pianist. His compositions consist of two comic operas, a piano concert, a sonata, several orchestral works, songs, and a number of pianoforte pieces.

Scriabine, Alexandre
Born is Moscow, January 6, 1872.
At the Moscow conservatory he was a pupil of Safonoff (pianoforte) and Tanejev (composition). From 1895 he made various tours in Europe. He wrote much pianoforte music.

Sharpe, Herbert Francis
Born in Halifax (Yorkshire), England, March 1, 1861.
His studies were conducted at the National Training School, London. After a series of public appearances as a pianist, he became a professor in the Royal College of Music in 1884 and an examiner in 1890. He wrote (with Stanley Lucas) a "Pianoforte School", and composed much piano music.

Sinding, Christian
Born in Kongsberg, Norway, January 11, 1856.
He was a pupil of Reinecke in Leipzig, studied also in Dresden, Munich, and Berlin, and became an organist and teacher in Christiania. A symphony and a string quartet are among his works, but more important are his many brilliant compositions for the pianoforte.

Smith, Sydney
Born in Dorchester, England, July 14, 1839.
After study at the Leipzig Conservatory, he returned to England in 1858 and entered upon the profession of teaching in London. His compositions consist exclusively of pieces for the piano.
He died in London, March 3, 1889.

Sodermann, August Johann
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, July 17, 1832.
He received his musical training at the Leipzig Conservatory, and from 1862 until his death was conductor of the opera at Stockholm. Besides theatrical compositions and sacred songs, he wrote several brief vocal works of a national cast that became very popular.
He died in Stockholm, February 10, 1876.

Spindler, Fritz
Born in Wruzbach, near Lobenstein (Reuss_Schleiz), Germany, November 24, 1817.
He was a pupil of Schneider of Dessau. From 1841 he was a teacher in Dresden. His compositions are for the most part brilliant drawing room pieces, but he wrote teaching music, as well as trios, symphonies, and pianoforte concertos.

Spohr, Ludwig
Born in Brunswick, Germany, April 5, 1784.
He studied as a child with his mother and other teachers at Seesen, whither the family had removed, later at Brunswick under Kunisch and Maucourt, and in 1802, having already been received as a player in the ducal orchestra, he became a pupil of Franz Eck. He soon acquired a great reputation as a violinist. In 1805 he was appointed conductor of the court concerts at Gotha, and in 1812 he was made musical director at the Theater an der Wein, Vienna, where, remaining till 1815, he wrote some of his finest dramatic works. After filling a similar position at Frankfort (1817-19), he became court conductor at Cassel in 1821. There he remained till 1857.

Spohr is regarded as the greatest violin composer of his day. His works for that instrument include solos, concertos, chamber music, etc. Among his other compositions are the operas "Faust" (1818), "Zemire und Azor" (1819), and "Jessonda" *1823), and the oratorios "Die letzten Dinge" (The Last Judgment, 1826), "Des Heilands letzte Stunden" (1835: known in English as Calvary), and "The Fall of Babylon".

Much of Spohr's music is of too scientific a nature for full popular appreciation, but his rank among great composers is high. In all, his compositions number nearly two hundred. His "Violin School" (1831), still a standard book, is one of the best works on violin playing ever written.
He died in Cassel, October 22, 1859.

Strakosch, Moritz
Born in Lemberg, Galicia, in 1825 (1830?).
He received his musical education in Vienna, traveled extensively in Europe, and in 1845 he came to America, where he taught and appeared as a concert pianist. From 1856 he was active for some years as an impresario. His works include the opera "Giovanna de Napoli", first presented in New York, and a number of pianoforte pieces.
He died in Paris, October 8, 1887.