Henri Herz
Encyclopedia
Henri Herz was a pianist
and composer, Austria
n by birth, and French
by domicile.
Herz was born Heinrich Herz in Vienna. He was Jewish by birth, although he asked the musical journalist Fétis
not to mention this in the latter's musical encyclopaedia, perhaps a reflection of endemic anti-semitism
in nineteenth-century French cultural circles.
As a child Herz studied with his father and in Coblenz with the organist Daniel Hünten
. In 1816 he entered the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied under Victor Dourlen and Anton Reicha
. His brother Jacques Herz (1794-1880) was a fellow-pupil at the Conservatoire, and also became a noted pianist and teacher.
, Russia
, Mexico
, South America
, and in the United States of America
in 1846-50, where he concertised all the way to San Francisco, California, where his performances were compared to the more extravagant manner of Leopold de Meyer, concertising in the United States during the same period (1845-47).. He wrote a book about his experiences abroad, Mes voyages en Amérique (Paris: Achille Faure, 1866).
Herz taught at the Conservatoire (1842-74). (Of his pupils, only Marie-Aimée Roger-Miclos (1860-1950) recorded, in the early 1900s, for Dischi Fonotipia
.)
known as La Paiva
. It is generally believed that they married in London, but it is not clear that this actually occurred - in any case, such a marriage would have been bigamous. By him she had a daughter. Richard Wagner
, Hans von Bülow
, Théophile Gautier
, and Emile de Girardin
attended her salon
. Thérèse's spending nearly ruined Herz's finances, and he traveled to America in 1848 to pursue business opportunities. While he was away, her spending continued, and Herz's family turned Thérèse out of the house in frustration.
on the rue de la Victoire. This was used for performances by Berlioz
and Offenbach
. In 1851 he founded his own piano factory in Paris.
(the fourth variation on Bellini's theme is his). Many however found his piano style showy and shallow, and Robert Schumann
was amongst those who criticized it.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and composer, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n by birth, and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by domicile.
Herz was born Heinrich Herz in Vienna. He was Jewish by birth, although he asked the musical journalist Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis was a Belgian musicologist, composer, critic and teacher. He was one of the most influential music critics of the 19th century, and his enormous compilation of biographical data in the Biographie universelle des musiciens remains an important source of information today...
not to mention this in the latter's musical encyclopaedia, perhaps a reflection of endemic anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
in nineteenth-century French cultural circles.
As a child Herz studied with his father and in Coblenz with the organist Daniel Hünten
Daniel Hünten
Daniel Hünten was a German organist, guitarist and composer.He was baptised on 3 September 1760, probably one to three days after his birth. In 1784 Hünten was engaged as an organist at the court chapel of Prince Clemens Wenceslaus of Saxony in Koblenz...
. In 1816 he entered the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied under Victor Dourlen and Anton Reicha
Anton Reicha
Anton Reicha was a Czech-born, later naturalized French composer. A contemporary and lifelong friend of Beethoven, Reicha is now best remembered for his substantial early contribution to the wind quintet literature and his role as a teacher – his pupils included Franz Liszt and Hector Berlioz...
. His brother Jacques Herz (1794-1880) was a fellow-pupil at the Conservatoire, and also became a noted pianist and teacher.
Career as a pianist
A celebrated pianist, Herz traveled worldwide, including tours in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, and in the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1846-50, where he concertised all the way to San Francisco, California, where his performances were compared to the more extravagant manner of Leopold de Meyer, concertising in the United States during the same period (1845-47).. He wrote a book about his experiences abroad, Mes voyages en Amérique (Paris: Achille Faure, 1866).
Herz taught at the Conservatoire (1842-74). (Of his pupils, only Marie-Aimée Roger-Miclos (1860-1950) recorded, in the early 1900s, for Dischi Fonotipia
Fonotipia Records
Fonotipia Records, or Dischi Fonotipia, was an Italian gramophone record label established in 1904 with a charter to record the art of leading opera singers and some other celebrity musicians, chiefly violinists. Fonotipia continued to operate into the electrical recording era, which commenced in...
.)
Personal Life
Herz was married to Pauline Thérèse Lachmann, a French courtesanCourtesan
A courtesan was originally a female courtier, which means a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person.In feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
known as La Paiva
La Païva
Esther Lachmann, later Pauline Thérèse Lachmann, later Mme Villoing, later Mme la Marquise de Païva, later Countess Henckel von Donnersmarck, and generally known as la Païva was the most successful of 19th century French courtesans...
. It is generally believed that they married in London, but it is not clear that this actually occurred - in any case, such a marriage would have been bigamous. By him she had a daughter. Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
, Hans von Bülow
Hans von Bülow
Hans Guido Freiherr von Bülow was a German conductor, virtuoso pianist, and composer of the Romantic era. He was one of the most famous conductors of the 19th century, and his activity was critical for establishing the successes of several major composers of the time, including Richard...
, Théophile Gautier
Théophile Gautier
Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, art critic and literary critic....
, and Emile de Girardin
Émile de Girardin
Émile de Girardin , was a French journalist, publicist, and politician. He was born in Paris in 1802, the son of General Alexandre de Girardin and of Madame Dupuy , wife of a Parisian advocate....
attended her salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
. Thérèse's spending nearly ruined Herz's finances, and he traveled to America in 1848 to pursue business opportunities. While he was away, her spending continued, and Herz's family turned Thérèse out of the house in frustration.
Salle Herz and piano factory
In 1842 he built the Salle des Concerts HerzSalle des Concerts Herz
The Salle des Concerts Herz, usually referred to simply as the Salle Herz, was a former concert hall in Paris, located at 48, rue de la Victoire. It was built in 1842 by by the Austrian virtuoso pianist Henri Herz and his brother Jacques Herz....
on the rue de la Victoire. This was used for performances by Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
and Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
. In 1851 he founded his own piano factory in Paris.
Works
Herz composed many pieces including eight piano concertos. Among his many musical works, he was involved with the composition of HexaméronHexameron (musical composition)
Hexaméron, Morceau de concert, S.392, is a collaborative work for solo piano, consisting of six variations on a theme, along with an introduction, connecting interludes and a finale. The theme is the "March of the Puritans" from Vincenzo Bellini's opera I puritani...
(the fourth variation on Bellini's theme is his). Many however found his piano style showy and shallow, and Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
was amongst those who criticized it.
External links
Sources
- Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, 1994, Oxford University Press.