Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller
Encyclopedia
Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller, generally known as Friedrich Burgmüller (4 December 180613 February 1874) was a German
pianist
and composer
.
, were musicians. His father was a musical theatre director in Weimar
and other Southern German centers. After years of studies with Ludwig Spohr
and Moritz Hauptmann
, Friedrich moved to Paris
in 1832, where he stayed until his death. There, he adopted Parisian music and developed his trademark, light style of playing. He wrote many pieces of salon music
for the piano and published several albums. Burgmüller also went on to compose piano études intended for children. They are popular to this day.
Selections from his Opp. 68, 76, 100, 105 and 109 etudes and his Ballade appear in a wide variety of educational collections. In addition to these piano pieces, he composed works without opus number
s including variations, waltz
es, nocturne
s and polonaise
s. He composed stage works and two ballet
s, La Péri and Lady Harriet.
His most performed piece is the so-called Peasant Pas de Deux added to Adolphe Adam
's ballet Giselle
for its 1841 premiere. This music was originally titled Souvenirs de Ratisbonne, and is still performed today in every production of Giselle.
In his Op. 100 set of 25 studies he has charmed many people with pieces like La Candeur, La Chevalresque, L'Arabesque, and Ballade. More demanding pieces are the 18 Characteristic Studies, Op. 109, but the 12 pieces of Op. 105 are even more demanding. Op. 109 contains popular pieces like Les perles (The Pearls) and L'Orage (The Storm).
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...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and 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...
.
Biography
He was born in Regensburg, Germany. Both his father, August, and his brother, NorbertNorbert Burgmüller
Norbert Burgmüller was a German composer.-Life:Burgmüller was born in Düsseldorf, the youngest son in a musical family. His father, August Burgmüller, was the director of a theatre. His mother, Therese von Zandt, was a singer and piano teacher. He had two brothers, Franz and Friedrich, who was...
, were musicians. His father was a musical theatre director in Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
and other Southern German centers. After years of studies with Ludwig Spohr
Louis Spohr
Louis Spohr was a German composer, violinist and conductor. Born Ludewig Spohr, he is usually known by the French form of his name. Described by Dorothy Mayer as "The Forgotten Master", Spohr was once as famous as Beethoven. As a violinist, his virtuoso playing was admired by Queen Victoria...
and 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,...
, Friedrich moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1832, where he stayed until his death. There, he adopted Parisian music and developed his trademark, light style of playing. He wrote many pieces of salon music
Salon music
Salon music was a popular music genre in Europe during the 19th century. It was usually written for solo piano in the romantic style, and often performed by the composer at events known as "Salons". Salon compositions are usually fairly short and often focus on virtuoso pianistic display or...
for the piano and published several albums. Burgmüller also went on to compose piano études intended for children. They are popular to this day.
Selections from his Opp. 68, 76, 100, 105 and 109 etudes and his Ballade appear in a wide variety of educational collections. In addition to these piano pieces, he composed works without opus number
Opus 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...
s including variations, waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
es, nocturne
Nocturne
A nocturne is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night...
s and polonaise
Polonaise
The polonaise is a slow dance of Polish origin, in 3/4 time. Its name is French for "Polish."The polonaise had a rhythm quite close to that of the Swedish semiquaver or sixteenth-note polska, and the two dances have a common origin....
s. He composed stage works and two ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
s, La Péri and Lady Harriet.
His most performed piece is the so-called Peasant Pas de Deux added to Adolphe Adam
Adolphe Adam
Adolphe Charles Adam was a French composer and music critic. A prolific composer of operas and ballets, he is best known today for his ballets Giselle and Le corsaire , his operas Le postillon de Lonjumeau , Le toréador and Si j'étais roi , and his Christmas...
's ballet Giselle
Giselle
Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
for its 1841 premiere. This music was originally titled Souvenirs de Ratisbonne, and is still performed today in every production of Giselle.
In his Op. 100 set of 25 studies he has charmed many people with pieces like La Candeur, La Chevalresque, L'Arabesque, and Ballade. More demanding pieces are the 18 Characteristic Studies, Op. 109, but the 12 pieces of Op. 105 are even more demanding. Op. 109 contains popular pieces like Les perles (The Pearls) and L'Orage (The Storm).
List of compositions
The musical works of Friedrich Burgmüller are listed below. The list is divided into works given an Opus number by the composer and those that were not.With opus number
- 6 Mélodies gracieuses de BelliniVincenzo BelliniVincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini was an Italian opera composer. His greatest works are I Capuleti ed i Montecchi , La sonnambula , Norma , Beatrice di Tenda , and I puritani...
, Op.26 - Souvenir de Bellini, Op.27
- Souvenir de SchönbrunnSchönbrunn PalaceSchönbrunn Palace is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence in Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna...
, Op.32 - Corbeille de roses, Op.68
- Fleurs Mélodiques, Op.82
- Fantaisie Brillante sur 'ErnaniErnaniErnani is an operatic dramma lirico in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the play Hernani by Victor Hugo. The first production took place at La Fenice Theatre, Venice on 9 March 1844...
' de VerdiGiuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
, Op.92 - Les Étincelles, Op.97
- 25 Études Faciles, Op.100 Progrès
- 12 Études, Op.105
- 18 Études, Op.109
Without opus number
- L'ange consolateur
- Ay Chiquita
- 3 Nocturnes for Cello and Guitar
- Le Pardon de Ploërmel
- La Péri
- Souvenirs de Londres
External links
- Free scores Mutopia ProjectMutopia projectThe Mutopia Project is a volunteer-run effort to create a library of free content sheet music, in a way similar to Project Gutenberg's library of public domain books.The music is reproduced from old scores that are out of copyright...
- Link to Recording of the Opus 100 Etudes at the Piano Society Website
- Description of the Opus 100 Etudes by Noriaki Nomoto