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Johann Gottfried Seume

May 04, 2024

Johann Gottfried Seume (29 January 1763 – 13 June 1810) was a German author.

Portrait of Johann Gottfried Seume
Memorial in Teplice

Biography edit

Seume was born in Poserna (now part of Lützen, Saxony-Anhalt). He was educated first at Borna, then at the Nikolai school and University of Leipzig. The study of Shaftesbury and Bolingbroke wakened his interest in theology, and, breaking off his studies, he travelled to Hesse-Kassel to join the military.[1] Seume later wrote that he was traveling to study in Paris when he was seized by Hessian recruiting officers and sold to England, whereupon he was drafted to Canada. (Multiple historians dispute this account, suggesting Seume voluntarily enlisted.[2])

After his return in 1783 he deserted at Bremen, but was captured and brought to Emden; a second attempt at flight also failed. In 1787, however, a citizen of Emden became surety for him to the amount of 80 talers, and he was allowed to visit his home. He did not return, but paid off his debt in Emden with the remuneration he received for translating an English novel.

 
Spaziergang nach Syrakus im Jahre 1802, 1830-1841

He taught languages for a time in Leipzig, and became tutor to a Graf Igelstrom, whom, in 1792, he accompanied to Warsaw. Here he became secretary to General von Igelstrom, and, as a Russian officer, experienced the terrors of the Polish insurrection (Kościuszko Uprising). In 1796 he was again in Leipzig and, resigning his Russian commission, entered the employment of the publisher Göschen.

In December 1801, he set out on his famous nine months' walk to Sicily, described in his Spaziergang nach Syrakus (1803). Some years later he visited Russia, Finland, Sweden and Denmark, a journey which is described in Mein Sommer im Jahr 1805 (1807). His health now began to fail, and he died on 13 June 1810, in Teplitz (now also known as Teplice).

His reputation rests on the two books just mentioned, to which may be added his autobiography, Mein Leben (1813, continued by C.A.H. Clodius). These works reflect Seume's sterling character and sturdy patriotism; his style is clear and straightforward; his descriptions realistic and vivid. As a dramatist (Miltiades, 1808), and as a lyric poet (Gedichte, 1801), he had but little success.

Seume's Gesammelte Schriften were first edited by J. P. Zimmermann (1823–1826); his Sämtliche Werke (1826–1827) passed through seven editions. The most recent edition (as of 1911) is J. G. Seume's Prosaische und poetische Werke (10 vols, 1879). See Oskar Planer and Camillo Reißmann, J. G. Seume. Geschichte seines Lebens und seiner Schriften (1898).

Seume and Beethoven edit

Seume died in Teplitz in June 1810. Ludwig van Beethoven spent three weeks in August 1811 and another short period during the summer of 1812 at Teplitz. He is known to have visited Seume's grave, and wrote to a music teacher from Cassel, Georg Christoph Grosheim (1764–1841), telling him of the feelings of admiration for Seume that that occasion had produced in him. In his letter to Beethoven of 10 November 1819, Grosheim talks of a "marriage" of Seume's poem "Die Beterin" ("The Pleader")[3] with Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata. It is unclear whether this was a reference to an idea that had been previously discussed between the two men, or a new idea of Grosheim's.[4] Thayer also reports that Grosheim had tried to persuade Beethoven to arrange the slow opening movement of the "Moonlight" Sonata for voice and piano, to the words of Seume's poem Die Beterin. Beethoven is said to have agreed to the idea, but nothing ever came of it.[5]

Nevertheless, in the minds of some writers the association between "Die Beterin" and the sonata came to assume more solidity than it ever had in reality. "Die Beterin" was also sometimes said to be a painting. In the 1954 edition of Grove's Dictionary of Music, it is specifically denied that the "Moonlight" Sonata has any connection with "a picture, Die Beterin (The Pleader)".[6]

Beethoven had two volumes of Seume's works in his possession when he died.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Krebs, Daniel (2013). A Generous and Merciful Enemy. Life for German Prisoners of War during the American Revolution. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-8061-4356-9.
  2. ^ Krebs, Daniel (2013). A Generous and Merciful Enemy. Life for German Prisoners of War during the American Revolution. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-8061-4356-9.
  3. ^ Seume, Johann Gottfried (1825). "Die Beterin". In J. P. Zimmermann (ed.). Gesammelte Schriften (in German). Vol. 4–5. L. Schellenberg. p. 286.
  4. ^ a b Theodore Albrecht, Letters to Beethoven and other correspondence
  5. ^ Raptus Association
  6. ^ Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed, 1954, Vol. V, p. 863, "Moonlight" Sonata

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Seume, Johann Gottfried". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 707.

Further reading edit

  • J. G. Seume, A Stroll to Syracuse (Oswald Wolff, 1964), translated by Alexander & Elizabeth Henderson

External links edit

May 04, 2024
johann, gottfried, seume, january, 1763, june, 1810, german, author, portrait, memorial, teplice, contents, biography, seume, beethoven, references, further, reading, external, linksbiography, editseume, born, poserna, part, lützen, saxony, anhalt, educated, f. Johann Gottfried Seume 29 January 1763 13 June 1810 was a German author Portrait of Johann Gottfried Seume Memorial in Teplice Contents 1 Biography 2 Seume and Beethoven 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography editSeume was born in Poserna now part of Lutzen Saxony Anhalt He was educated first at Borna then at the Nikolai school and University of Leipzig The study of Shaftesbury and Bolingbroke wakened his interest in theology and breaking off his studies he travelled to Hesse Kassel to join the military 1 Seume later wrote that he was traveling to study in Paris when he was seized by Hessian recruiting officers and sold to England whereupon he was drafted to Canada Multiple historians dispute this account suggesting Seume voluntarily enlisted 2 After his return in 1783 he deserted at Bremen but was captured and brought to Emden a second attempt at flight also failed In 1787 however a citizen of Emden became surety for him to the amount of 80 talers and he was allowed to visit his home He did not return but paid off his debt in Emden with the remuneration he received for translating an English novel nbsp Spaziergang nach Syrakus im Jahre 1802 1830 1841 He taught languages for a time in Leipzig and became tutor to a Graf Igelstrom whom in 1792 he accompanied to Warsaw Here he became secretary to General von Igelstrom and as a Russian officer experienced the terrors of the Polish insurrection Kosciuszko Uprising In 1796 he was again in Leipzig and resigning his Russian commission entered the employment of the publisher Goschen In December 1801 he set out on his famous nine months walk to Sicily described in his Spaziergang nach Syrakus 1803 Some years later he visited Russia Finland Sweden and Denmark a journey which is described in Mein Sommer im Jahr 1805 1807 His health now began to fail and he died on 13 June 1810 in Teplitz now also known as Teplice His reputation rests on the two books just mentioned to which may be added his autobiography Mein Leben 1813 continued by C A H Clodius These works reflect Seume s sterling character and sturdy patriotism his style is clear and straightforward his descriptions realistic and vivid As a dramatist Miltiades 1808 and as a lyric poet Gedichte 1801 he had but little success Seume s Gesammelte Schriften were first edited by J P Zimmermann 1823 1826 his Samtliche Werke 1826 1827 passed through seven editions The most recent edition as of 1911 is J G Seume s Prosaische und poetische Werke 10 vols 1879 See Oskar Planer and Camillo Reissmann J G Seume Geschichte seines Lebens und seiner Schriften 1898 Seume and Beethoven editSeume died in Teplitz in June 1810 Ludwig van Beethoven spent three weeks in August 1811 and another short period during the summer of 1812 at Teplitz He is known to have visited Seume s grave and wrote to a music teacher from Cassel Georg Christoph Grosheim 1764 1841 telling him of the feelings of admiration for Seume that that occasion had produced in him In his letter to Beethoven of 10 November 1819 Grosheim talks of a marriage of Seume s poem Die Beterin The Pleader 3 with Beethoven s Moonlight Sonata It is unclear whether this was a reference to an idea that had been previously discussed between the two men or a new idea of Grosheim s 4 Thayer also reports that Grosheim had tried to persuade Beethoven to arrange the slow opening movement of the Moonlight Sonata for voice and piano to the words of Seume s poem Die Beterin Beethoven is said to have agreed to the idea but nothing ever came of it 5 Nevertheless in the minds of some writers the association between Die Beterin and the sonata came to assume more solidity than it ever had in reality Die Beterin was also sometimes said to be a painting In the 1954 edition of Grove s Dictionary of Music it is specifically denied that the Moonlight Sonata has any connection with a picture Die Beterin The Pleader 6 Beethoven had two volumes of Seume s works in his possession when he died 4 References edit Krebs Daniel 2013 A Generous and Merciful Enemy Life for German Prisoners of War during the American Revolution Norman University of Oklahoma Press p 27 ISBN 978 0 8061 4356 9 Krebs Daniel 2013 A Generous and Merciful Enemy Life for German Prisoners of War during the American Revolution Norman University of Oklahoma Press p 27 ISBN 978 0 8061 4356 9 Seume Johann Gottfried 1825 Die Beterin In J P Zimmermann ed Gesammelte Schriften in German Vol 4 5 L Schellenberg p 286 a b Theodore Albrecht Letters to Beethoven and other correspondence Raptus Association Grove s Dictionary of Music and Musicians 5th ed 1954 Vol V p 863 Moonlight Sonata nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Seume Johann Gottfried Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 24 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 707 Further reading editJ G Seume A Stroll to Syracuse Oswald Wolff 1964 translated by Alexander amp Elizabeth HendersonExternal links editWorks by Johann Gottfried Seume at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Johann Gottfried Seume at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johann Gottfried Seume amp oldid 1201379253, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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