1859 in music
Encyclopedia
Events
- March 4 - Charter of the French Opera House, New Orleans, which opens on December 1 of the same year with a gala performance of RossiniGioacchino RossiniGioachino Antonio Rossini was an Italian composer who wrote 39 operas as well as sacred music, chamber music, songs, and some instrumental and piano pieces...
's William TellWilliam Tell (opera)Guillaume Tell is an opera in four acts by Gioachino Rossini to a French libretto by Etienne de Jouy and Hippolyte Bis, based on Friedrich Schiller's play Wilhelm Tell. Based on the legend of William Tell, this opera was Rossini's last, even though the composer lived for nearly forty more years...
. - April 4 - Bryants Minstrels debut "DixieDixie (song)Countless lyrical variants of "Dixie" exist, but the version attributed to Dan Emmett and its variations are the most popular. Emmett's lyrics as they were originally intended reflect the mood of the United States in the late 1850s toward growing abolitionist sentiment. The song presented the point...
" at Mechanics' Hall, New York CityMechanics' Hall, New York CityFor other buildings called Mechanics Hall, see Mechanics Hall.Mechanics' Hall was a meeting hall and theatre seating 2,500 people located at 472 Broadway in New York City, United States. It had a brown façade...
. - Alexander BorodinAlexander BorodinAlexander Porfiryevich Borodin was a Russian Romantic composer and chemist of Georgian–Russian parentage. He was a member of the group of composers called The Five , who were dedicated to producing a specifically Russian kind of art music...
begins a period of research at Heidelberg, working on benzene derivatives. - Alberto MazzucatoAlberto MazzucatoAlberto Mazzucato was an Italian composer, music teacher, and writer.Mazzucato was born in Udine. Trained at the Padua Conservatory, he composed eight operas between 1834 and 1843, of which his most successful was Esmeralda...
becomes musical director of La ScalaLa ScalaLa Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
opera house.
Published popular music
- "Darling little blue eyed Nell" w. B. E. Woolf m. Frederick Buckley
- In 1859, John Freeman YoungJohn Freeman YoungJohn Freeman Young , translator of the Christmas hymn Silent Night, became the second bishop of Florida in 1867. He had earlier served as an ecumenical envoy to the Russian Orthodox Church.-References:...
published the English translation of Silent NightSilent Night"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
that is most frequently sung today.
Classical music
- Overture to King Lear by Mily BalakirevMily BalakirevMily Alexeyevich Balakirev ,Russia was still using old style dates in the 19th century, and information sources used in the article sometimes report dates as old style rather than new style. Dates in the article are taken verbatim from the source and therefore are in the same style as the source...
- Piano Concerto No. 1Piano Concerto No. 1 (Brahms)The Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15, is a work for piano and orchestra composed by Johannes Brahms in 1858. The composer gave the work's public debut in Hanover, Germany, the following year.-Form:...
by Johannes BrahmsJohannes BrahmsJohannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene... - Serenade No. 2 in ASerenades (Brahms)The two Serenades, Op. 11 and 16, represented two of the earliest efforts by Johannes Brahms to write orchestral music. They both date from the 1850s when Brahms was residing in Detmold.-Serenade No. 1 in D, Op. 11:...
by Johannes Brahms - Helges Treue by Felix DraesekeFelix DraesekeFelix August Bernhard Draeseke was a composer of the "New German School" admiring Liszt and Richard Wagner. He wrote compositions in most forms including eight operas and stage works, four symphonies, and much vocal and chamber music.-Life:Felix Draeseke was born in the Franconian ducal town of...
\ - Concerto for Solo PianoConcerto for solo piano (Alkan)Concerto for solo piano is a 3-movement solo piano piece written by Charles-Valentin Alkan. The pieces are part of a 12 piece cycle entitled Douze études dans tous les tons mineurs , published in 1857...
by Charles-Valentin AlkanCharles-Valentin AlkanCharles-Valentin Alkan was a French composer and one of the greatest virtuoso pianists of his day. His attachment to his Jewish origins is displayed both in his life and his work. He entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of six, earning many awards, and as an adult became a famous virtuoso... - TotentanzTotentanz (Liszt)Totentanz : Paraphrase on Dies irae , S.126, is the name of a symphonic piece for solo piano and orchestra by Franz Liszt, which is notable for being based on the Gregorian plainchant melody Dies Irae as well as for daring stylistic innovations...
(finished); first version of Psalm 23; Psalm 137 (begun, finished 1862); Prelude after a theme from Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen for piano; and orchestral version of Deux Épisodes d'apres le Faust de Lenau by Franz LisztFranz LisztFranz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
Opera
- César CuiCésar CuiCésar Antonovich Cui was a Russian of French and Lithuanian descent. His profession was as an army officer and a teacher of fortifications; his avocational life has particular significance in the history of music, in that he was a composer and music critic; in this sideline he is known as a...
- The Mandarin's SonThe Mandarin's SonThe Mandarin's Son is comic opera in one act by César Cui, composed in 1859. The libretto, which includes spoken dialogue, was written by V.A... - Léo DelibesLéo DelibesClément Philibert Léo Delibes was a French composer of ballets, operas, and other works for the stage...
- L'Omelette à la Follembuche - Charles GounodCharles GounodCharles-François Gounod was a French composer, known for his Ave Maria as well as his operas Faust and Roméo et Juliette.-Biography:...
- FaustFaust (opera)Faust is a drame lyrique in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré's play Faust et Marguerite, in turn loosely based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, Part 1...
first performed in Paris. Libretto by Jules BarbierJules BarbierPaul Jules Barbier was a French poet, writer and opera librettist who often wrote in collaboration with Michel Carré...
and Michel CarréMichel CarréMichel Carré was a prolific French librettist.He went to Paris in 1840 intending to become a painter but took up writing instead. He wrote verse and plays before turning to writing libretti. His libretto for Mirette was never performed in France but was later performed in English adaptation in...
, based on a work by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
. - Giuseppe VerdiGiuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
- Un ballo in mascheraUn ballo in mascheraUn ballo in maschera , is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi with text by Antonio Somma. The libretto is loosely based on an 1833 play, Gustave III, by French playwright Eugène Scribe who wrote about the historical assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden...
Births
- January 26 - W. O. ForsythW. O. ForsythWesley Octavius Forsyth was a Canadian pianist and composer.Forsyth was born in Markham Township and studied music in Leipzig under Salomon Jadassohn, Martin Krause, Gustav Schreck and others. His first success was the Suite in E minor . Having failed to achieve success as an instrumental...
, pianist and composer (d. 1937) - February 1 - Victor HerbertVictor HerbertVictor August Herbert was an Irish-born, German-raised American composer, cellist and conductor. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and conductor, he is best known for composing many successful operettas that premiered on Broadway from the 1890s to World War I...
, cellist, conductor and composer (d. 1924) - April 3 - Reginald de KovenReginald de KovenHenry Louis Reginald De Koven was an American music critic and prolific composer, particularly of comic operas.-Biography:...
, US composer (d. 1920) - April 5 - Wilhelm HarteveldWilhelm HarteveldWilhelm Harteveld was a Swedish composer and musicologist...
, composer - April 11 - Basil HarwoodBasil HarwoodBasil Harwood was an English organist and composer.-Life:Basil Harwood was born in Woodhouse, Gloucestershire on 11 April 1859. His mother died in 1867 when Basil was eight. His parents were Quakers but his elder sister Ada, on reaching 21 in 1867, converted to the Anglican Church...
, organist and composer (d. 1949) - May 13 - August EnnaAugust EnnaAugust Enna was a Danish composer, known mainly for his operas.Enna was born in Denmark, but his ethnic origins lay in the town of Enna in Sicily. His first major success as a composer was The Witch , which was followed by several popular operas, songs, two symphonies , and a violin concerto...
, composer (d. 1939) - June 22 - Frank Heino Damrosch, founder of Institute of Music (d. 1937)
- June 27 - Mildred J. HillMildred J. HillMildred J. Hill was an American songwriter and musicologist, who composed the melody for "Good Morning to All", later used as the melody for "Happy Birthday to You".-Biography:...
, composer of "Happy Birthday to You" (d. 1916) - July 21 - Charles H. TaylorCharles H. Taylor (lyricist)Charles Henry Taylor was a British lyricist, best known for his lyrics for early 20th century West End musical comedies and a comic opera, Tom Jones.-Life and career:...
, lyricist (d. 1907) - September 21 - Otto LohseOtto LohseOtto Lohse was a German conductor and composer.Born in Dresden, Lohse studied with Hans Richter and Felix Draeseke at the Dresden Conservatory. In 1882 he became conductor of two music societies in Riga, the Wagner Society and the Imperial Russian Music Society; seven year's later he became the...
, conductor and composer (d. 1925) - September 24 - Julius KlengelJulius KlengelJulius Klengel was a German cellist who is most famous for his etudes and solo pieces written for the instrument. He was the brother of Paul Klengel....
, cellist, composer (d. 1933) - October 14 - Camille ChevillardCamille ChevillardCamille Chevillard was a French composer and conductor.He was born in Paris, France. He led the Lamoureux Orchestra in the premieres of Debussy's Nocturnes and La mer . He was the son-in-law of conductor Charles Lamoureux...
, conductor and composer (d. 1923) - November 15 - Joseph VidalJoseph Vidal (composer)Joseph Bernard Vidal was a French composer, born in Toulouse. Among his works are two operas Le Mariage d'Yvette and Le Chevalier de Fontenoy. He died in Paris.-References:...
, composer (d. 1924) - November 19 - Mikhail Ippolitov-IvanovMikhail Ippolitov-IvanovMikhail Mikhailovich Ippolitov-Ivanov was a Russian composer, conductor and teacher.- Biography :...
, conductor and composer (d. 1935) - November 30 - Sergei LyapunovSergei LyapunovSergei Mikhailovich Lyapunov was a Russian composer and pianist.-Life:Lyapunov was born in Yaroslavl in 1859. After the death of his father, Mikhail Lyapunov, when he was about eight, Sergei, his mother, and his two brothers went to live in the larger town of Nizhny Novgorod...
, pianist and composer (d. 1924) - December 21 - Max FiedlerMax FiedlerMax Fiedler was a German conductor and composer, born August Max Fiedler in Zittau, Saxony, Germany...
, conductor and composer (d. 1939) - December 23 - Adrian RossAdrian RossFor the NFL player see Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes , better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
, English lyricist (d. 1933) - December 27 - William Henry HadowWilliam Henry HadowSir William Henry Hadow CBE was a leading educational reformer in Great Britain and a musicologist.Hadow was born at Ebrington, Gloucester, England. He studied at Malvern College, followed by Worcester College, Oxford where he taught and became Dean...
, musicologist (d. 1937) - December 30 - Josef Bohuslav FoersterJosef Bohuslav FoersterJosef Bohuslav Foerster was a Czech composer of classical music. He is often referred to as J. B. Foerster. The surname is sometimes spelled Förster.- Life :...
, composer (d. 1951)
Deaths
- January 13 - Francisco José DebaliFrancisco José DebaliFrancisco José Debali was a Hungarian-born composer who emigrated to Uruguay in 1838. He authored the national anthem of Uruguay and, possibly, the tune to Paraguayos, República o Muerte, which became the Paraguayan anthem.- Name :As ethnic Hungarian, his original Eastern order name was Debály...
, composer (b. 1791) - March 14 - Nicola TacchinardiNicola TacchinardiNicola Tacchinardi , was an Italian cellist and tenor, and later voice teacher.Tacchinardi was born at Livorno, began his career as a cellist at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence, and later turned to singing , making his debut as a tenor in Livorno in 1804.He quickly appeared throughout Italy...
, cellist and operatic tenor (b. 1772) - April 14 - Ignaz BösendorferIgnaz BösendorferIgnaz Bösendorfer was an Austrian musician who founded the Bösendorfer piano manufacturing company in 1828....
, piano manufacturer (b. 1796) - July - Lewis Henry LavenuLewis Henry LavenuLewis Henry Lavenu was an English composer, conductor, musician and impresario.-Life and career:Lavenu was born in London in 1818, the only son, by his second wife Eliza, of Lewis Lavenu, music publisher to the Prince Regent...
, conductor, composer and impresario (d. 1818) - July 23 - Marceline Desbordes-ValmoreMarceline Desbordes-ValmoreMarceline Desbordes-Valmore was a French poet.She was born in Douai. Following the French Revolution, her family emigrated to Guadeloupe. In 1817 she married her second husband, the actor Prosper Lanchantin-Valmore....
, actress, singer and poet (b. 1786) - July 29 - Auguste Mathieu PanseronAuguste Mathieu PanseronAuguste Mathieu Panseron was a French composer and voice teacher.-Biography:Panseron was born in Paris. He studied in Vienna with Antonio Salieri, having been accepted by the master thanks to a recommendation by Luigi Cherubini. In 1824, Panseron began teaching singing at the Conservatoire de Paris...
, composer and singing teacher (b. 1796) - October 22 - Louis SpohrLouis SpohrLouis Spohr was a German composer, violinist and conductor. Born Ludewig Spohr, he is usually known by the French form of his name. Described by Dorothy Mayer as "The Forgotten Master", Spohr was once as famous as Beethoven. As a violinist, his virtuoso playing was admired by Queen Victoria...
, violinist, conductor and composer (b. 1784) - November 7 - Carl Gottlieb Reißiger, Kapellmeister and composer (b. 1798)
- December 31 - Luigi Ricci, composer (b. 1805)