Marcel Sulzberger
Encyclopedia
Johann Heinrich Samuel "Marcel" Sulzberger (1876–1941) was a Swiss composer, pianist and music author.
Sulzberger was born in Frankfurt
of Swiss parents in 1876. In 1900 he studied at the university and conservatory
in Zürich
, where he was in contact with Othmar Schoeck
and Gabriel Fauré
. He was recommended to pursue further studies in Paris
with Charles Marie Widor and went there in 1906, He returned to Zürich in 1911. Sulzberger was a close friend and great admirer of Ferruccio Busoni
, who had emigrated to Switzerland during the World War I
. It also seems certain that in 1917 Sulzberger participated – apparently without result – in an event at the Dada gallery in Zürich, in which Hugo Ball
and Tristan Tzara
among others participated.
music. He was one of the first Swiss composers who experimented with bitonal and tritonal
music, rather than a single tonality
. Others also see an echo of Fauré
and the style of the Second Viennese School
in his music. Sulzberger's compositions were never well regarded by the Swiss critics of the time, since his style of composition was much before its time.
Life
There are few certain dates concerning his life, since Sulzberger himself contributed to keeping some facts unclear (for example, his birth year).Sulzberger was born in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
of Swiss parents in 1876. In 1900 he studied at the university and conservatory
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, where he was in contact with Othmar Schoeck
Othmar Schoeck
Othmar Schoeck was a Swiss composer and conductor.He was known mainly for his considerable output of art songs and song cycles, though he also wrote a number of operas and instrumental compositions including two string quartets and...
and Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
. He was recommended to pursue further studies in 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...
with Charles Marie Widor and went there in 1906, He returned to Zürich in 1911. Sulzberger was a close friend and great admirer of Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor.-Biography:...
, who had emigrated to Switzerland during the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. It also seems certain that in 1917 Sulzberger participated – apparently without result – in an event at the Dada gallery in Zürich, in which Hugo Ball
Hugo Ball
Hugo Ball was a German author, poet and one of the leading Dada artists.Hugo Ball was born in Pirmasens, Germany and was raised in a middle-class Catholic family. He studied sociology and philosophy at the universities of Munich and Heidelberg...
and Tristan Tzara
Tristan Tzara
Tristan Tzara was a Romanian and French avant-garde poet, essayist and performance artist. Also active as a journalist, playwright, literary and art critic, composer and film director, he was known best for being one of the founders and central figures of the anti-establishment Dada movement...
among others participated.
Works
During his studies, the young francophile Sulzberger was influenced by Claude Debussy'sClaude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
music. He was one of the first Swiss composers who experimented with bitonal and tritonal
Polytonality
The musical use of more than one key simultaneously is polytonality . Bitonality is the use of only two different keys at the same time...
music, rather than a single tonality
Tonality
Tonality is a system of music in which specific hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a key "center", or tonic. The term tonalité originated with Alexandre-Étienne Choron and was borrowed by François-Joseph Fétis in 1840...
. Others also see an echo of Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
and the style of the Second Viennese School
Second Viennese School
The Second Viennese School is the group of composers that comprised Arnold Schoenberg and his pupils and close associates in early 20th century Vienna, where he lived and taught, sporadically, between 1903 and 1925...
in his music. Sulzberger's compositions were never well regarded by the Swiss critics of the time, since his style of composition was much before its time.
- Lieder für Gesang und Klavier, from there "An die Entfernte"
- Chanson d'été
- Cortège et fête für Klavier (lost)
- Sonate für Violine und Klavier (1919), premiere in Paris (1924)
Leavings
- In the Central Library of Zürich, letters from e.g. Hugo BallHugo BallHugo Ball was a German author, poet and one of the leading Dada artists.Hugo Ball was born in Pirmasens, Germany and was raised in a middle-class Catholic family. He studied sociology and philosophy at the universities of Munich and Heidelberg...
, BusoniFerruccio BusoniFerruccio Busoni was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor.-Biography:...
, DebussyClaude DebussyClaude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
, Ernst von Dohnányi, Joseph SzigetiJoseph SzigetiJoseph Szigeti was a Hungarian violinist.Born into a musical family, he spent his early childhood in a small town in Transylvania. He quickly proved himself to be a child prodigy on the violin, and moved to Budapest with his father to study with the renowned pedagogue Jenő Hubay...
, Richard StraussRichard StraussRichard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
and Felix WeingartnerFelix WeingartnerPaul Felix von Weingartner, Edler von Münzberg was an Austrian conductor, composer and pianist.-Biography:...
that were left behind by Sulzberger are located.