Ernst Friedrich Eduard Richter
Encyclopedia
Ernst Friedrich Eduard Richter (October 24, 1808 – April 9, 1879), was a German
musical theorist, born at Großschönau, Saxony
.
He first studied music at Zittau
, and afterwards at Leipzig
, where be attained so high a reputation that in 1843 he was appointed professor of harmony and counterpoint at the conservatorium of music, then newly founded by Felix Mendelssohn
. On the death of Moritz Hauptmann
on the 3rd of January 1868, he was elected cantor of Thomasschule zu Leipzig
, conducting the Thomanerchor
, an office he retained until his death.
He is best known by three theoretical works: Lehrbuch der Harmonie, Lehre vom Contra punct and Lehre von der Fuge, valuable textbooks known to English students through the excellent translation by Franklin Taylor.
"Ernst Friedrich [Eduard] Richter [(1808-1879)]…His compositions include psalms for chorus and orchestra, motets, two masses, a Stabat Mater (voices only), part songs, string quartets and sonatas, and also pieces for organ and for piano. But it is his treatise on the theory of music that will keep Professor Richter's name from oblivion. As already mentioned, two English editions have appeared: one in London (printed without Richter's leave, by the way) by Mr. Franklin Taylor, which must by no means be accepted as a translation, but merely as a very moderate adaptation; the other, unfortunately little known in this country, printed with Richter's consent by John P. Morgan, in New York. The latter translation is most carefully done, and forms a strong contrast to the English edition. On last Good Friday, the 150th anniversary of the first production of Bach's Matthew Passion, the dear old cantor and beloved professor [Richter] was laid to his last rest, accompanied to his grave by the solemn sound of the beautiful choral, Jesu, meine Zuversicht. More hearty regret has rarely filled the hearts of those standing round a musician's grave. Once more the voices of his choir arose in Bach's beautiful melody to Wenn ich eimmal soil scheiden, and then with a last look at his coffin the crowd dispersed. But though gone to his last rest, the memory of many of us will long cherish, as one of the truest artists, most thorough musicians and excellent teachers, that we have ever met, the name of Ernst Friedrich Richter.—London Mn. [sic. Morning] Standard, April 26. [1879]" John Sullivan Dwight. Dwight's Journal of Music, Page 83, 1880. (Boston: Dwight's Journal of Music. 1880.) Rev. John Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893). John Paul Morgan (1841-1879).
Richter's method of instruction - and the academy approach to harmonic education overall - was criticized by Arnold Schoenberg
in his 1911 text, Harmonielehre, or Theory of Harmony. Schoenberg denounced the respective isolation of harmonic theory, counterpoint, and form in compositional education as productive only of an "artless and primitive" approach to composition.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
musical theorist, born at Großschönau, Saxony
Großschönau, Saxony
Großschönau is a municipality in the district Görlitz, in Saxony, Germany located in the Cross-border region with the Czech Republic. It used to be a famous Upper Lusatian center of Damask fabric production until the end of the 1980s...
.
He first studied music at Zittau
Zittau
Zittau is a city in the south east of the Free State of Saxony, Germany, close to the border tripoint of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. , there are 28,638 people in the city. It is part of the Görlitz district....
, and afterwards at Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, where be attained so high a reputation that in 1843 he was appointed professor of harmony and counterpoint at the conservatorium of music, then newly founded by Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
. On the death of Moritz Hauptmann
Moritz Hauptmann
Moritz Hauptmann , was a German music theorist, teacher and composer.Hauptmann was born in Dresden, and studied violin under Scholz, piano under Franz Lanska, composition under Grosse and Francesco Morlacchi,...
on the 3rd of January 1868, he was elected cantor of Thomasschule zu Leipzig
Thomasschule zu Leipzig
St. Thomas School, Leipzig is a co-educational and public boarding school in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. It was founded by the Augustinians in 1212 and is one of the oldest schools in the world.St. Thomas is known for its art, language and music education...
, conducting the Thomanerchor
Thomanerchor
The Thomanerchor is a boys' choir in Leipzig, Germany. The choir was founded in 1212. At present, the choir consists of 92 boys from 9 to 18 years of age...
, an office he retained until his death.
He is best known by three theoretical works: Lehrbuch der Harmonie, Lehre vom Contra punct and Lehre von der Fuge, valuable textbooks known to English students through the excellent translation by Franklin Taylor.
"Ernst Friedrich [Eduard] Richter [(1808-1879)]…His compositions include psalms for chorus and orchestra, motets, two masses, a Stabat Mater (voices only), part songs, string quartets and sonatas, and also pieces for organ and for piano. But it is his treatise on the theory of music that will keep Professor Richter's name from oblivion. As already mentioned, two English editions have appeared: one in London (printed without Richter's leave, by the way) by Mr. Franklin Taylor, which must by no means be accepted as a translation, but merely as a very moderate adaptation; the other, unfortunately little known in this country, printed with Richter's consent by John P. Morgan, in New York. The latter translation is most carefully done, and forms a strong contrast to the English edition. On last Good Friday, the 150th anniversary of the first production of Bach's Matthew Passion, the dear old cantor and beloved professor [Richter] was laid to his last rest, accompanied to his grave by the solemn sound of the beautiful choral, Jesu, meine Zuversicht. More hearty regret has rarely filled the hearts of those standing round a musician's grave. Once more the voices of his choir arose in Bach's beautiful melody to Wenn ich eimmal soil scheiden, and then with a last look at his coffin the crowd dispersed. But though gone to his last rest, the memory of many of us will long cherish, as one of the truest artists, most thorough musicians and excellent teachers, that we have ever met, the name of Ernst Friedrich Richter.—London Mn. [sic. Morning] Standard, April 26. [1879]" John Sullivan Dwight. Dwight's Journal of Music, Page 83, 1880. (Boston: Dwight's Journal of Music. 1880.) Rev. John Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893). John Paul Morgan (1841-1879).
Richter's method of instruction - and the academy approach to harmonic education overall - was criticized by Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
in his 1911 text, Harmonielehre, or Theory of Harmony. Schoenberg denounced the respective isolation of harmonic theory, counterpoint, and form in compositional education as productive only of an "artless and primitive" approach to composition.