Emil Bohnke
Encyclopedia
Emil Bohnke was a German
violist
, composer
and conductor
in Berlin
.
with Hans Sitt
and composition with Stephan Krehl
at the Leipzig Conservatory, continuing his studies in Berlin from 1901.
Bohnke taught for two years at the Stern Conservatory
in Berlin. In 1919, he married violin
ist Lilli von Mendelssohn of the Mendelssohn family
and fathered three children, the youngest of which was pianist Robert-Alexander Bohnke (1927–2004). He was the violist of the Bandler Quartet, and the Busch Quartet (1919–1921) led by Adolf Busch
. Bohnke played a 1699 viola by luthier
Giovanni Grancino
given to him by his father-in-law. As conductor, he headed the Leipzig Symphony Orchestra (1923–1926), and succeeded Oscar Fried as principal conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra in 1926.
In May of 1928, Bohnke and his wife were in Pasewalk
in search of a summer home when they had an automobile accident and, tragically, both were killed. The children had been left with their maternal grandparents, Maria and Franz von Mendelssohn (1865–1935), who thereafter raised them in the Mendelssohn mansion in Berlin. Bohnke and his wife are buried at Friedhof Dahlem-Dorf in Berlin.
, comprising mainly chamber music and piano pieces, but also orchestral works and concertos. His initial compositions are in the late-romantic vein, and gradually encorporate more expressionistic elements. The later works are characterized by dense thematic material and bold harmonies that often go beyond his still-existing framework of tonality.
Bohnke's most important work, a Symphony composed in 1927, was premiered shortly after his death on 9 November 1928 by the orchestra of the Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden
conducted by Erich Kleiber
.
Soon after Bohnke's death, his music was largely forgotten. In 1933, during the Third Reich
, the authorities prohibited his music largely due to his wife being of Jewish origin. Some efforts have been made to revive Bohnke's music through performances and recordings.
Concertante
Chamber music
Piano
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Life
Emil Bohnke was the son of textile manufacturer Ferdinand Bohnke. He studied violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
with Hans Sitt
Hans Sitt
Jan Hanuš Sitt, known as Hans Sitt, , was a Bohemian-German violinist, violist, teacher, and composer. During his lifetime, he was regarded as one of the foremost teachers of violin...
and composition with Stephan Krehl
Stephan Krehl
Stephan Krehl was a German composer, teacher, and theoretician. His writings include Traité général de la musique and Théorie de la musique et de science de la composition.-Works:...
at the Leipzig Conservatory, continuing his studies in Berlin from 1901.
Bohnke taught for two years at the Stern Conservatory
Stern conservatory
The Stern Conservatory was a private music school in Berlin with many notable tutors and alumni.-History:It was originally founded in 1850 as the Berliner Musikschule by Julius Stern, Theodor Kullak and Adolf Bernhard Marx. Kullak withdrew from the conservatory in 1855 in order to create a new...
in Berlin. In 1919, he married violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Lilli von Mendelssohn of the Mendelssohn family
Mendelssohn family
The Mendelssohn family are the descendants of the German Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, and include his grandson, the composer Felix Mendelssohn....
and fathered three children, the youngest of which was pianist Robert-Alexander Bohnke (1927–2004). He was the violist of the Bandler Quartet, and the Busch Quartet (1919–1921) led by Adolf Busch
Adolf Busch
Adolf Georg Wilhelm Busch was a German-born violinist and composer.Busch was born in Siegen in Westphalia. He studied at the Cologne Conservatory with Willy Hess and Bram Eldering...
. Bohnke played a 1699 viola by luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
Giovanni Grancino
Giovanni Grancino
Giovanni Grancino , son of Andrea Grancino, was one of the early Milanese luthiers, and may have worked with his brother, Francesco.Grancino's workshops were all located on Contrada Larga, now Via Larga in Milan...
given to him by his father-in-law. As conductor, he headed the Leipzig Symphony Orchestra (1923–1926), and succeeded Oscar Fried as principal conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra in 1926.
In May of 1928, Bohnke and his wife were in Pasewalk
Pasewalk
Pasewalk is a town in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. Located on the Uecker river, it is the capital of the former Uecker-Randow district, and the seat of the Uecker-Randow-Tal Amt of which it is not part.Pasewalk became a town during the 12th...
in search of a summer home when they had an automobile accident and, tragically, both were killed. The children had been left with their maternal grandparents, Maria and Franz von Mendelssohn (1865–1935), who thereafter raised them in the Mendelssohn mansion in Berlin. Bohnke and his wife are buried at Friedhof Dahlem-Dorf in Berlin.
Music
Bohnke composed a body of sixteen opusesOpus number
An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...
, comprising mainly chamber music and piano pieces, but also orchestral works and concertos. His initial compositions are in the late-romantic vein, and gradually encorporate more expressionistic elements. The later works are characterized by dense thematic material and bold harmonies that often go beyond his still-existing framework of tonality.
Bohnke's most important work, a Symphony composed in 1927, was premiered shortly after his death on 9 November 1928 by the orchestra of the Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Berlin State Opera
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden is a German opera company. Its permanent home is the opera house on the Unter den Linden boulevard in the Mitte district of Berlin, which also hosts the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra.-Early years:...
conducted by Erich Kleiber
Erich Kleiber
Erich Kleiber was an Austrian conductor.- Biography :Born in Vienna, Kleiber studied in Prague...
.
Soon after Bohnke's death, his music was largely forgotten. In 1933, during the Third Reich
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, the authorities prohibited his music largely due to his wife being of Jewish origin. Some efforts have been made to revive Bohnke's music through performances and recordings.
Works
Orchestral- Symphonische Ouvertüre (Symphonic Overture), Op. 2
- Thema mit Variationen (Theme and Variations), Op. 9
- Symphony, Op. 16 (1927)
Concertante
- Concerto in D major for violin and orchestra, Op. 11 (1920)
- Concerto in D minor for piano and orchestra, Op. 14 (1925)
Chamber music
- String Quartet in C minor, Op. 1 (1913)
- Sonata for violin and piano, Op. 3
- Piano Trio in B minor, Op. 5
- Sonata in F minor for cello and piano, Op. 7 (1918)
- 3 Sonatas, Op. 13 (1924)
-
- Sonata for violin solo
- Sonata for viola solo
- Sonata for cello solo
- Sonata for violin solo, Op. 15 No. 1
- Ciacona for violin solo, Op. 15 No. 2
- Blätter für die Jugend for violin and piano or string quartet
- Satz (Movement) for string quartet
Piano
- Drei Stücke (3 Pieces), Op. 4
- Sechs Stücke (6 Pieces), Op. 6
- Acht Stücke (8 Pieces), Op. 8
- Sonata in B minor, Op. 10
- Sechs Skizzen (6 Sketches), Op. 12
- Blätter für die Jugend
- Nocturn
Discography
- Emil Bohnke: Piano Concerto, Op. 14; Symphony, Op. 16 – Robert-Alexander Bohnke (piano); Israel Yinon (conductor); Bamberg Symphony; Koch Schwann 3-6420-2 (2002)
- Emil Bohnke: Violin Concerto, Op. 11; Thema mit Variationen, Op. 9; Sinfonische Ouvertüre, Op. 2 – Kolja Lessing (violin), Israel Yinon (conductor); Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (SOČR)Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (SOCR)The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra is based in Prague in the Czech Republic.- History :Regular radio broadcasting began in the Czech Republic in May, 1923. Live classical musical broadcasts became very popular...
; Real Sound 0035 (2004) - Emil Bohnke: Piano Works – Robert-Alexander Bohnke (piano); Real Sound 0032 (2001)
-
- Sonata in B minor, Op. 10
- Nocturn
- Sechs Stücke (6 Pieces), Op. 6
- Acht Stücke (8 Pieces), Op. 8
- Sechs Skizzen (6 Sketches), Op. 12
Sources
- Friedhof Dahlem-Dorf: Bohnke, Emil Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- Robinson, Bradford (2005), Emil Bohnke Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- Fricke, Richard. History of the "Red Mendelssohn" Stradivarius Retrieved 25 January 2011.