Alexander Winterberger
Encyclopedia
Alexander Winterberger (14 August 183423 September 1914) was a German organist and composer. He is mostly remembered for his association with Franz Liszt
, in particular his close involvement with the two great organ fantasies Liszt wrote for the Merseburg Cathedral
organ, the Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale "Ad nos ad salutarem undam"
and the Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H
.
with the Weimar Municipal Organist Johann Gottfried Töpfer (1791-1870).
Although he also studied under Franz Liszt
until 1853, he was in the 'outer circle' of students, that is, not among those with whom Liszt spent most time and was on most intimate personal terms. He displayed a mastery of novel registrations, which in some cases Liszt and he worked out together. Winterberger had been a classmate of Julius Reubke
in Berlin, and he was instrumental in Reubke deciding to come to Weimar to study with Liszt.
In 1855 Liszt inspected the construction of the new organ at Merseburg Cathedral
, and resolved to write (some sources say he was commissioned by Winterberger) a grand piece for the official opening: his Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H
. The date was set for 26 September 1855, but by 22 September the Fantasy was still not ready. Instead, he decided to have Winterberger premiere the revised version of the Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale "Ad nos ad salutarem undam"
(it had been published in 1852, but Liszt revised it more than once, most recently in 1855). They rehearsed the work together a few days before the official opening.
The B-A-C-H Fantasy and Fugue, dedicated to Winterberger, finally had its premiere on 13 May 1856, again at Merseburg Cathedral. On the same occasion Winterberger also played Liszt's arrangement of the Church Festive Overture on the Chorale "A Mighty Fortress (Ein feste Burg)" by Otto Nicolai.
Winterberger toured the Netherlands in 1856, receiving much praise for his performances of the two Liszt fantasies and fugues.
On 31 August 1856 he played the organ part in the premiere of Liszt's Missa solennis zur Einweihung der Basilika in Gran (Gran Mass), at the inauguration of Esztergom Basilica
, conducted by the composer, in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
and his Viennese court.
Winterberger arranged for the organ Liszt's 1859 Prelude on Bach's Cantata Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, originally written for piano.
In 1886-87 he compiled and published 12 volumes of technical exercises composed by Liszt. Winterberger edited with preface and annotations with every sonata the pianosonatas by Beethoven, Edition "Musikwoche",printed Leipzig, Bibligraphische Anstalt Adolph Schumann (no date)
He lived at various times in Vienna, St Petersburg and Leipzig; his pupils in Vienna included Samuel de Lange jr.
Alexander Winterberger's photographic portrait by Sergey Lvovich Levitsky is housed at the State P. I. Tchaikovsky Memorial Museum at Klin
, Russia. He died in 1914, aged 80.
Franz Liszt
Franz 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...
, in particular his close involvement with the two great organ fantasies Liszt wrote for the Merseburg Cathedral
Merseburg Cathedral
Merseburg Cathedral is a cathedral in Merseburg, Germany. Construction on the Gothic cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated in 1021 in the presence of Henry II. The cathedral was renovated in the Renaissance style from 1510-17. It is considered an artistic...
organ, the Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale "Ad nos ad salutarem undam"
Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale Ad nos ad salutarem undam
The Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale "Ad nos, ad salutarem undam", S.259, is a piece of organ music composed by Franz Liszt in the winter of 1850 when he was in Weimar...
and the Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H
Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H
Fantasie und Fuge über das Thema B-A-C-H Fantasie und Fuge über das Thema B-A-C-H (also in the first version known as Präludium und Fuge über das Motiv B-A-C-H, title in English: Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H) Fantasie und Fuge über das Thema B-A-C-H (also in the first version known as...
.
Biography
Alexander Winterberger was born in 1834. He studied at WeimarWeimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
with the Weimar Municipal Organist Johann Gottfried Töpfer (1791-1870).
Although he also studied under Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz 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...
until 1853, he was in the 'outer circle' of students, that is, not among those with whom Liszt spent most time and was on most intimate personal terms. He displayed a mastery of novel registrations, which in some cases Liszt and he worked out together. Winterberger had been a classmate of Julius Reubke
Julius Reubke
Julius Reubke was a German composer, pianist and organist. In his short life — he died at the age of 24 — he composed the Sonata on the 94th Psalm, in C minor, which was and still is considered one of the greatest organ works in the repertoire.-Biography:Born in Hausneindorf, a small...
in Berlin, and he was instrumental in Reubke deciding to come to Weimar to study with Liszt.
In 1855 Liszt inspected the construction of the new organ at Merseburg Cathedral
Merseburg Cathedral
Merseburg Cathedral is a cathedral in Merseburg, Germany. Construction on the Gothic cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated in 1021 in the presence of Henry II. The cathedral was renovated in the Renaissance style from 1510-17. It is considered an artistic...
, and resolved to write (some sources say he was commissioned by Winterberger) a grand piece for the official opening: his Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H
Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H
Fantasie und Fuge über das Thema B-A-C-H Fantasie und Fuge über das Thema B-A-C-H (also in the first version known as Präludium und Fuge über das Motiv B-A-C-H, title in English: Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H) Fantasie und Fuge über das Thema B-A-C-H (also in the first version known as...
. The date was set for 26 September 1855, but by 22 September the Fantasy was still not ready. Instead, he decided to have Winterberger premiere the revised version of the Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale "Ad nos ad salutarem undam"
Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale Ad nos ad salutarem undam
The Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale "Ad nos, ad salutarem undam", S.259, is a piece of organ music composed by Franz Liszt in the winter of 1850 when he was in Weimar...
(it had been published in 1852, but Liszt revised it more than once, most recently in 1855). They rehearsed the work together a few days before the official opening.
The B-A-C-H Fantasy and Fugue, dedicated to Winterberger, finally had its premiere on 13 May 1856, again at Merseburg Cathedral. On the same occasion Winterberger also played Liszt's arrangement of the Church Festive Overture on the Chorale "A Mighty Fortress (Ein feste Burg)" by Otto Nicolai.
Winterberger toured the Netherlands in 1856, receiving much praise for his performances of the two Liszt fantasies and fugues.
On 31 August 1856 he played the organ part in the premiere of Liszt's Missa solennis zur Einweihung der Basilika in Gran (Gran Mass), at the inauguration of Esztergom Basilica
Esztergom Basilica
The Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St Adalbert is an ecclesiastic basilica in Esztergom, Hungary, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, and the seat of the Catholic Church in Hungary...
, conducted by the composer, in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
and his Viennese court.
Winterberger arranged for the organ Liszt's 1859 Prelude on Bach's Cantata Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, originally written for piano.
In 1886-87 he compiled and published 12 volumes of technical exercises composed by Liszt. Winterberger edited with preface and annotations with every sonata the pianosonatas by Beethoven, Edition "Musikwoche",printed Leipzig, Bibligraphische Anstalt Adolph Schumann (no date)
He lived at various times in Vienna, St Petersburg and Leipzig; his pupils in Vienna included Samuel de Lange jr.
Alexander Winterberger's photographic portrait by Sergey Lvovich Levitsky is housed at the State P. I. Tchaikovsky Memorial Museum at Klin
Klin
Klin is a town and the administrative center of Klinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northwest of Moscow. The M10 highway connecting Moscow to St. Petersburg and the Moscow-Saint Petersburg Railway run through the town. It was home to Klin air base during the Cold War. ...
, Russia. He died in 1914, aged 80.
Works
Winterberger's own compositions include:- Lieder für Singstimme und Klavier (oder Orgel, oder Harmonium), Op. 58 (texts by Julius Sturm)
- Dreissig Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 91
- Neun leichte Sonatinen für Pianoforte, Op. 104
- Fünf Geistliche Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (oder Orgel, oder Harmonium), Op. 119 (texts by Johann Friedrich Räder)