Josef Reiter (composer)
Encyclopedia
Josef Reiter was an Austrian
composer
.
in 1862. He studied music with his father in Braunau, and moved to Vienna
in 1886, where he worked as a music teacher and conductor
. He served as the director of the Mozarteum in Salzburg
from 1908 to 1911, and was the Kapellmeister
at the Hofburgtheater in Vienna from 1917 to 1918. Primarily a composer of lieder and choral music, Reiter also wrote sacred music and chamber music
, including at least five string quartets, of which the fifth, published in 1903, was named Aus der Heimat). Reiter composed a number of operas in a neo-Wagnerian style, though none achieved any lasting success. Der Bundschuh (1897) was conducted by Mahler at the Hofoper in Vienna in 1901 and withdrawn after five performances. In 1904 Reiter submitted his next opera, Der Totentanz, for performance in Vienna, but it was rejected by Mahler. Der Tell fared little better and was never revived.
Reiter became a staunch supporter of the Nazis during the 1920s, and in 1931 dedicated his Goethe Symphony to Hitler
. His loyalty was rewarded with revivals of both Der Bundschuh and Der Totentanz at the Deutsche Oper Berlin
in 1938. The same year Universal Edition reissued his Festgesang an einem Friedensfürsten under the new title of Festgesang an den Führer des deutschen Volkes in celebration of the Anschluss
. He died in Bad Reichenhall
in 1939.
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
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
Josef Reiter was born in Braunau am InnBraunau am Inn
Braunau am Inn is a town in the Innviertel region of Upper Austria , the north-western state of Austria. It lies about 90 km west of Linz and about 60 km north of Salzburg, on the border with the German state of Bavaria. The population in 2001 was 16,372...
in 1862. He studied music with his father in Braunau, and moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1886, where he worked as a music teacher and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He served as the director of the Mozarteum in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
from 1908 to 1911, and was the Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
at the Hofburgtheater in Vienna from 1917 to 1918. Primarily a composer of lieder and choral music, Reiter also wrote sacred music and 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...
, including at least five string quartets, of which the fifth, published in 1903, was named Aus der Heimat). Reiter composed a number of operas in a neo-Wagnerian style, though none achieved any lasting success. Der Bundschuh (1897) was conducted by Mahler at the Hofoper in Vienna in 1901 and withdrawn after five performances. In 1904 Reiter submitted his next opera, Der Totentanz, for performance in Vienna, but it was rejected by Mahler. Der Tell fared little better and was never revived.
Reiter became a staunch supporter of the Nazis during the 1920s, and in 1931 dedicated his Goethe Symphony to Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. His loyalty was rewarded with revivals of both Der Bundschuh and Der Totentanz at the Deutsche Oper Berlin
Deutsche Oper Berlin
The Deutsche Oper Berlin is an opera company located in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, Germany. The resident building is also home to the Berlin State Ballet.-History:...
in 1938. The same year Universal Edition reissued his Festgesang an einem Friedensfürsten under the new title of Festgesang an den Führer des deutschen Volkes in celebration of the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
. He died in Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall is a spa town, and administrative center of the Berchtesgadener Land district in Upper Bavaria, Germany. It is located near Salzburg in a basin encircled by the Chiemgauer Alps ....
in 1939.