Hermann Zilcher

Hermann Zilcher (18 August 1881 in Frankfurt – 1 January 1948 in Würzburg) was a German composer and conductor.

Zilcher began learning piano from his father, Paul Zilcher, and moved to further musical studies with Iwan Knorr and James Kwast at Hoch Conservatory, where he later taught piano from 1905-1908. Later he taught at Munich's Akademie der Tonkunst.^[1]

In 1933 Zilcher joined the NSDAP and also the Militant League for German Culture.^[2] He also became a member of the National Socialist Motor Corps.^[3]

Selected works

Stage

• Fitzebutze, Traumspiel in 5 acts by Richard Dehmel, Op. 19
• Wie es euch gefällt (As You Like It), Incidental Music, Op. 33; for the play by William Shakespeare
• Das Wintermärchen (The Winter's Tale), Incidental Music for small orchestra, Op. 39; for the play by William Shakespeare
• Doktor Eisenbart, Comic Opera in 3 acts by Otto Falckenberg, Op. 45 (1920)
• Der Widerspenstigen Zähmung (The Taming of the Shrew), Incidental Music for 12 instruments or small orchestra, Op. 54 (1925); for the play by William Shakespeare
• Komödie der Irrungen (The Comedy of Errors) for 12 instruments (percussion) or small orchestra, Op. 73 (1935); for the play by William Shakespeare
• Palm, Incidental Music for small orchestra, Op. 79 (1935); for the play by Josef Wenter
• Ein Sommernachtstraum (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Incidental Music, Op. 93 (1940); for the play by William Shakespeare

Orchestral

• Variationen (Variations) in B minor (1898)
• Sinfonietta in E major for string orchestra, Op. 1 (1900)
• Suite in G major, Op. 4 (1903)
• Symphony No. 1 in A Major, op. 17 (1906)
• Symphony No. 2 in F minor, Op. 23 (1908–1909)
• An mein deutsches Land, Overture for orchestra and chorus ad libitum, Op. 48
• Tanz-Fantasie (Dance Fantasy), Op. 71 (1933)
• Musica buffa, 10 Intermezzi for 12 instruments (percussion) or small orchestra, Op. 73a (1935); extracted from the incidental music for Komödie der Irrungen
• Rameau-Suite for small orchestra, Op. 76 (1934); also for violin, cello and piano
• Heinkel-Marsch, Op. 83 (1936)
• Symphony No. 4 in F♯ minor, Op. 84
• Symphony No. 5 "...und dennoch!..." in C minor, Op. 112 (1947)

Concertante

• Concerto in D minor for 2 violins and orchestra, Op. 9
• Concerto No. 1 in B minor for violin and small orchestra, Op. 11
• Suite in vier Sätzen (Suite in Four Movements) in G major for 2 violins and small orchestra, Op. 15
• Skizzen aus dem Orient (Sketches from the Orient) for violin and chamber orchestra, Op. 18 (1906)
• Concerto No. 1 in B minor for piano and orchestra, Op. 20 (1906)
• Konzertstück in einem Satze (Concert Piece in One Movement) in A minor for cello and orchestra, Op. 21 (1904)
• Klage, Konzertstück in F♯ minor for violin and small orchestra, Op. 22 (1908)
• Nacht und Morgen for 2 pianos, timpani and string orchestra, Op. 24 (1909)
• Konzertstück über ein Thema von W. A. Mozart in D major for flute and small orchestra, Op. 81 (1936)
• Concerto No. 2 in A major for violin and orchestra, Op. 92 (1942)
• Variationen über ein Thema von W. A. Mozart for cello and small orchestra, Op. 95
• Bayerische Suite (Bavarian Suite) for accordion and orchestra, Op. 98
• Kammerkonzert, Concerto No. 2 in F major for piano and orchestra (13 instruments), Op. 102 (1945)

Chamber music

• 4 Weihnachtsstücke (4 Christmas Pieces) for violin and piano (1892)
• 3 Stücke (3 Pieces) for violin and piano (1894)
• Phantasie-Sonate for violin and piano (1895)
• Piano Trio (1896)
• Sonata in A major for violin and piano (1898)
• Quintet in F♯ minor for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano, Op. Juv. 30 (1899); also for stringed instruments
• String Quartet in C minor (1900)
• 2 Stücke (2 Pieces) for violin and piano, Op. 3
• 2 Stücke (2 Pieces) for 2 violins, Op. 7
• Sonata in D major for violin and piano, Op. 16
• Idyllen (Idylls) for violin, cello (or viola) and piano, Op. 17
• Ein Gedenkblatt for violin, cello (or viola) and piano, Op. 18
• Piano Quintet in C♯ minor, Op. 42 (1918)
• Winterlandschaft (Winter Landscape) for cello and piano, Op. 53
• Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 56 (1926)
• Schmerzliches adagio for clarinet and piano, Op. 49
• Rameau-Suite, Op. 76 (1934); also for small orchestra
• Suite in G major for string quartet, Op. 77
• Kleine Serenade (Little Serenade) for oboe, clarinet, horn and viola, Op. 80 (1935)
• Duet for violin and cello, Op. 89
• Trio in Form von Variationen in A minor for clarinet, cello and piano, Op. 90 (1938)
• Bläserquintett "Vier Jahreszeiten" (Woodwind Quintet "The Four Seasons") in A major for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon, Op. 91 (1941)
• Variationen über ein Thema von Mozart for violin and accordion, Op. 94; theme from Divertimento No. 2, K. 131 (1772)
• Variationen über ein fränkisches Volkslied for violin and accordion, Op. 97
• Variationen über ein Thema von Schubert for violin and accordion, Op. 99
• Variationen über ein Thema von Mozart for clarinet, cello (or viola) and piano, Op. 101
• String Quartet in C minor, Op. 104 (1945)
• Haus-Musik, 3 Pieces for violin or flute, accordion and piano, Op. 110 (1946)

Accordion

• 3 Stücke, Op. 82

1. Abendstimmung
2. Jahrmarktsbilder
3. Harmoniker-Marsch

• Ländliche Musiken (Music on the Green), 3 Pieces for accordion orchestra, Op. 88a
• Aus meiner Ferienmappe, 5 Pieces, Op. 88b

Tanz auf der Wiese

Wächterlied

• Amselmelodien, Op. 98a
• Kleine Übungs- und Vortragsstücke, Op. 103
• Schüler und Lehrer, 5 Duets for 2 accordions, Op. 106 (1946)

Piano

• 4 Humoresken, Op. 5 (1903)
• 4 Clavierstücke (4 Piano Pieces), Op. 6
• 6 kleine Stücke (4 Little Pieces) for piano 4-hands, Op. 8 (1902)
• 7 Skizzen (7 Sketches), Op. 26 (1911)
• Bilderbuch, 9 Klangstudien (9 Sound Studies), Op. 34 (1916)
• Symphony No. 3 in A major for 2 pianos, Op. 50 (1923)
• Winterbilder (Winter Scenes), 5 Short Pieces, Op. 57 (c.1926)
• Klänge der Nacht (Night-Sounds), 6 Pieces, Op. 58 (1927)
• Drei Weihnachtsstücke (3 Christmas Pieces), Op. 61
• Vier leichte Stücke (4 Easy Pieces) for piano 4-hands

Vocal

• 5 Lieder (5 Songs) for medium voice and piano, Op. 10
• 4 Lieder (4 Songs) for high voice and piano, Op. 12
• 4 Lieder (4 Songs) for medium voice and piano, Op. 13
• 4 Lieder (4 Songs) for low voice and piano, Op. 14
• Dehmel-Zyklus, 14 Poems from Erlösungen, Weib und Welt and Aber die Liebe, for soprano, tenor and piano, Op. 25 (1919); words by Richard Dehmel
• Hölderlin, Symphonic Cycle for tenor (or baritone) and orchestra, Op. 28 (1912–1913)
• 4 Kriegslieder for voice and piano, Op. 30 (1914)
• Deutsches Volksliederspiel, 16 Folk Songs for 4 voices and piano, Op. 32 (1915)
• Ein Tanz Lied for coloratura soprano, violin and piano, Op. 36
• 15 kleine Lieder nach den Hey-Speckter'schen Fabeln for voice and piano, Op. 37
• Aus dem Hohelied Salomonis, Variations for 2 voices (alto, baritone), string quartet and piano, Op. 38 (c.1918)
• 4 Lieder (4 Songs) for voice and piano, Op. 40
• 3 Gedichte von Richard Dehmel (3 Poems of Richard Dehmel) for voice and piano, Op. 41; words by Richard Dehmel
• Die Natur: Hymnus von Goethe for medium voice and piano, Op. 47 (1922); words by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Goethe-Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 51 (1923); words by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Marienlieder, Cycle of 11 songs for high voice and string quartet, Op. 52
• 3 Gedichte von Goethe for high voice and orchestra, Op. 59 (c.1926); words by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Eichendorff-Zyklus for voice and piano, Op. 60 (1927); words by Joseph von Eichendorff
• Rokoko-Suite for high voice, violin, cello and piano, Op. 65
• Fantasie for high voice, piano and orchestra, Op. 66 (1931); words from Trilogie der Leidenschaft by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• 2 Gedichte for high voice, flute, trombone and small orchestra, Op. 78

Choral

• Die Liebesmesse in 3 parts for soloists, chorus and orchestra, Op. 27 (1911–1913)

1. Mann und Weib
2. Gott
3. Die Welt

• Chiemsee-Terzette for 3 female voices (solo or chorus), Op. 46
• Lied des Schülers for school chorus, violin, harmonium and piano 4-hands, Op. 55 (1925)
• 2 Gedichte von Goethe for male chorus and orchestra, Op. 62 (1927–1928)
• Töne Lied, aus weiter Ferne..., 4 Poems for male chorus and string orchestra ad libitum, Op. 68 (1931); words by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Deutscher Glaube, Hymn for mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 69 (1931)
• Gebet der Jugend, Hymn for soprano, mixed chorus, children's chorus and orchestra, Op. 75 (1934); words by Karl Maria Kaufmann
• An die Künstler for soprano, male chorus and orchestra, Op. 86 (1938); words by Friedrich Schiller
• Vater unser for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, organ and orchestra, Op. 87 (1938); words by Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock

Literature

• Barbara Haas, Komponisten in Bayern (1999), ISBN 978-3-7952-0992-6

References

1. Slonimsky, Nicolas (1978). "Zilcher, Hermann". Baker's Biographical dictionary of musicians. (6th ed.). New York: Schirmer Books. p. 1946. ISBN 0-02-870240-9.
2. Ernst Klee: Das Kulturlexikon zum Dritten Reich. Frankfurt/Main 2007, p. 683.
3. Matthias Wagner, in: Mainfränkisches Jahrbuch, Band 50, Würzburg 1998, p. 127.

External links

• Works by or about Hermann Zilcher at Internet Archive
• Hermann Zilcher website