Henry Edward Krehbiel
Encyclopedia
Henry Edward Krehbiel was an American music critic and musicologist.
. He received a general education from his father, a German clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church
, and began in 1872 the study of law in Cincinnati, Ohio
. In June, 1874, he was attached to the staff of the "Cincinnati Gazette" as musical critic, which post he held until November, 1880.
He then went to New York, where he became musical editor of the New York Tribune
. He became an influential music critic, writing many articles for the Tribune, Scribner's Monthly and other journals.
He authored many books about various aspects of music, including one of the earliest examinations of African American music
.
He also annotated concert programs (including many of Paderewski's
recitals).
Krehbiel translated some opera libretti
, including: Nicolai's Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor (1886), Paderewski's Manru
(1902), and Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor
(1916). (Dates given are the first performance of English translation.) He also translated the biography of Ludwig van Beethoven
written by Alexander Wheelock Thayer
, first published in English in 1921.
Krehbiel was a strong supporter of music by Richard Wagner
, Johannes Brahms
, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
when they were not yet well-known in America.
Biography
Krehbiel was born in Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. He received a general education from his father, a German clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
, and began in 1872 the study of law in 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 June, 1874, he was attached to the staff of the "Cincinnati Gazette" as musical critic, which post he held until November, 1880.
He then went to New York, where he became musical editor of the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
. He became an influential music critic, writing many articles for the Tribune, Scribner's Monthly and other journals.
He authored many books about various aspects of music, including one of the earliest examinations of African American music
African American music
African-American music is an umbrella term given to a range of musics and musical genres emerging from or influenced by the culture of African Americans, who have long constituted a large and significant ethnic minority of the population of the United States...
.
He also annotated concert programs (including many of Paderewski's
Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Ignacy Jan Paderewski GBE was a Polish pianist, composer, diplomat, politician, and the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland.-Biography:...
recitals).
Krehbiel translated some opera libretti
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
, including: Nicolai's Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor (1886), Paderewski's Manru
Manru
Manru is an opera in three acts, music by Ignacy Jan Paderewski composed to the libretto by Alfred Nossig Manru is an opera (lyrical drama) in three acts, music by Ignacy Jan Paderewski composed to the libretto by Alfred Nossig Manru is an opera (lyrical drama) in three acts, music by Ignacy Jan...
(1902), and Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor
Der Schauspieldirektor
Der Schauspieldirektor , K. 486, is a comic Singspiel written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie, an Austrian Schauspieldirektor....
(1916). (Dates given are the first performance of English translation.) He also translated the biography of Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
written by Alexander Wheelock Thayer
Alexander Wheelock Thayer
Alexander Wheelock Thayer , was a librarian and journalist who became the author of the first scholarly biography of Ludwig van Beethoven, still after many updatings regarded as a standard work of reference on the composer.-Life:Originally a librarian at Harvard law school, Thayer became aware of...
, first published in English in 1921.
Krehbiel was a strong supporter of music by 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...
, Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
when they were not yet well-known in America.
Books by Krehbiel
- The Technics of Violin Playing (1880)
- Notes on the cultivation of choral music and the Oratorio Society of New York (1884)
- Studies in the Wagnerian drama (1891)
- How to listen to music; hints and suggestions to untaught lovers of the art (1897)
- Music and manners from Pergolese to Beethoven (1898)--essays
- Chapters of opera (1908)--revised 1911
- A Book of operas (1909)
- Pianoforte and its music (1911)
- Afro-American folksongs : a study in racial and national music (1914)
- A second book of operas (1917)
- More chapters of opera (1919)
- The life of Ludwig van Beethoven, by Alexander Wheelock ThayerAlexander Wheelock ThayerAlexander Wheelock Thayer , was a librarian and journalist who became the author of the first scholarly biography of Ludwig van Beethoven, still after many updatings regarded as a standard work of reference on the composer.-Life:Originally a librarian at Harvard law school, Thayer became aware of...
(1921)--Edited by Krehbiel