Gustav Dannreuther
Encyclopedia
Gustav Dannreuther was a violin
ist and conductor from Cincinnati, Ohio
. In 1871, at the age of 18, he was sent to the Berlin University of the Arts
, where he studied violin under Heinrich De Ahna, famed violinist Joseph Joachim
(recent reorganizer of the school), and Heitel (for theory).
He left the school in 1874, spent six months in Paris, and then publicly taught and played in London until 1877. Later, until 1880, he was a member of the Mendelssohn Quintette Club
of Boston, traveling through the United States, and Canada, including Newfoundland. Dannreuther and his ensemble's high musical standards contributed to the establishment of widespread Chamber music
playing in the United States.
Dannreuther became a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
in 1880, and played in its first concert in Boston's Symphony Hall
on October 22, 1881. He then returned to his preferred chamber music ensemble, and conducted the Buffalo Philharmonic Society from 1882 to 1884, marrying local resident Nellie M. Taylor in 1882.
In 1884, he formed the Dannreuther String Quartet
(formerly the Beethoven String Quartet), a predecessor to the Kneisel Quartet. For a time, the Dannreuther quartet was the longest-lived string quartet in the United States, lasting for thirty years.
For three years prior to 1899, Dannreuther lead the New York Symphony Society and Oratorio Society under Walter Damrosch, and became an instructor of music at Vassar College
in 1907.
Though an accomplished music instructor, Dannreuther may best be remembered by connoisseur
s of music, particularly those of Boston
and New York City
, for his numerous string quartet concerts (three per season in New York City, accompanied by distinguished artists) and an associated aroused interest in, and appreciation of, string quartet music. He introduced new harmonic
factors of color and atmosphere in string quartet literature, which set the standard for Franz Kneisel
.
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 and conductor from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. In 1871, at the age of 18, he was sent to the Berlin University of the Arts
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
, where he studied violin under Heinrich De Ahna, famed violinist Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
(recent reorganizer of the school), and Heitel (for theory).
He left the school in 1874, spent six months in Paris, and then publicly taught and played in London until 1877. Later, until 1880, he was a member of the Mendelssohn Quintette Club
Mendelssohn Quintette Club
The Mendelssohn Quintette Club based in Boston, Massachusetts, was one of "the most active and most widely known chamber ensemble[s] in America" in the latter half of the 19th-century...
of Boston, traveling through the United States, and Canada, including Newfoundland. Dannreuther and his ensemble's high musical standards contributed to the establishment of widespread Chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
playing in the United States.
Dannreuther became a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
in 1880, and played in its first concert in Boston's Symphony Hall
Symphony Hall, Boston
Symphony Hall is a concert hall located at 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by McKim, Mead and White, it was built in 1900 for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which continues to make the hall its home. The hall was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1999...
on October 22, 1881. He then returned to his preferred chamber music ensemble, and conducted the Buffalo Philharmonic Society from 1882 to 1884, marrying local resident Nellie M. Taylor in 1882.
In 1884, he formed the Dannreuther String Quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
(formerly the Beethoven String Quartet), a predecessor to the Kneisel Quartet. For a time, the Dannreuther quartet was the longest-lived string quartet in the United States, lasting for thirty years.
For three years prior to 1899, Dannreuther lead the New York Symphony Society and Oratorio Society under Walter Damrosch, and became an instructor of music at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1907.
Though an accomplished music instructor, Dannreuther may best be remembered by connoisseur
Connoisseur
A connoisseur is a person who has a great deal of knowledge about the fine arts, cuisines, or an expert judge in matters of taste.Modern connoisseurship must be seen along with museums, art galleries and "the cult of originality"...
s of music, particularly those of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, for his numerous string quartet concerts (three per season in New York City, accompanied by distinguished artists) and an associated aroused interest in, and appreciation of, string quartet music. He introduced new harmonic
Harmonic
A harmonic of a wave is a component frequency of the signal that is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency, i.e. if the fundamental frequency is f, the harmonics have frequencies 2f, 3f, 4f, . . . etc. The harmonics have the property that they are all periodic at the fundamental...
factors of color and atmosphere in string quartet literature, which set the standard for Franz Kneisel
Franz Kneisel
Franz Kneisel was an American violinist and teacher of Romanian birth.Born in Bucharest, the son of a German bandmaster, he learned to play the flute, clarinet and trumpet, as well as the violin...
.