He was born in Schwanberg, Austria. Initially he trained in Graz to be a schoolmaster. This didn't work out, though he did get a position playing violin in a theatre orchestra.[1] In 1862 he entered the Vienna Conservatory, where he studied under Dessoff. Leaving the conservatory in 1865, he became kapellmeister of the theatre at Linz, directing opera there and in Vienna. In 1874, he became second kapellmeister and chorus master at the Vienna Court Opera, where his lifelong friend[1]Hans Richter was first kapellmeister. There he gave the Viennese premiere of Richard Wagner's Tannhäuser. He also made a name for himself producing French and Italian operas. On the retirement of Brahms from the conductorship of the Vienna Society (German: Wiener Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde) concerts (German: Gesellschaftskonzerte) in 1880, Gericke succeeded him, and also became the conductor of its choral society (German: Singverein).
His fame as a conductor, and particularly as a drillmaster, induced Henry Lee Higginson of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) to secure him as its leader after attending one of Gericke's concerts in Vienna. He spent two periods in the United States conducting the BSO, 1884–1889 and 1898–1906. During his first stay, he eliminated the lighter music that his predecessor had allowed in the programs, scheduled extra rehearsal time, and hired more foreign musicians. The orchestra improved noticeably in the quality of its playing.[1]
In 1884, he was made an honorary member of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien. In 1889, for health reasons,[1] he returned to Vienna, and to the leadership of the Gesellschaftsconcerte, but resigned again in 1895. He and the BSO parted company amicably in 1906 due to the BSO's failure to meet his expectations for a new contract.[1] He died in Vienna.
Muntrer Bach, was rauscht du so? (Merry brook, what stirs you so?)
Wach auf, du schöne Träumerin (Wake up, beautiful dreamer)
Notesedit
^ abcdeR. Nicholas Tobin (1999). "Gericke, Wilhelm". American National Biography (online ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1800444. (subscription required)
Referencesedit
This article contains translations from the corresponding article on German Wikipedia, visited 6 July 2011.
wilhelm, gericke, april, 1845, october, 1925, austrian, born, conductor, composer, worked, vienna, boston, born, 1845, april, 1845schwanberg, austrian, empirediedoctober, 1925, 1925, aged, viennanationalityaustrianoccupationconductor, born, schwanberg, austria. Wilhelm Gericke April 18 1845 October 27 1925 was an Austrian born conductor and composer who worked in Vienna and Boston Wilhelm GerickeBorn 1845 04 18 April 18 1845Schwanberg Austrian EmpireDiedOctober 27 1925 1925 10 27 aged 80 ViennaNationalityAustrianOccupationConductor He was born in Schwanberg Austria Initially he trained in Graz to be a schoolmaster This didn t work out though he did get a position playing violin in a theatre orchestra 1 In 1862 he entered the Vienna Conservatory where he studied under Dessoff Leaving the conservatory in 1865 he became kapellmeister of the theatre at Linz directing opera there and in Vienna In 1874 he became second kapellmeister and chorus master at the Vienna Court Opera where his lifelong friend 1 Hans Richter was first kapellmeister There he gave the Viennese premiere of Richard Wagner s Tannhauser He also made a name for himself producing French and Italian operas On the retirement of Brahms from the conductorship of the Vienna Society German Wiener Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde concerts German Gesellschaftskonzerte in 1880 Gericke succeeded him and also became the conductor of its choral society German Singverein His fame as a conductor and particularly as a drillmaster induced Henry Lee Higginson of the Boston Symphony Orchestra BSO to secure him as its leader after attending one of Gericke s concerts in Vienna He spent two periods in the United States conducting the BSO 1884 1889 and 1898 1906 During his first stay he eliminated the lighter music that his predecessor had allowed in the programs scheduled extra rehearsal time and hired more foreign musicians The orchestra improved noticeably in the quality of its playing 1 In 1884 he was made an honorary member of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien In 1889 for health reasons 1 he returned to Vienna and to the leadership of the Gesellschaftsconcerte but resigned again in 1895 He and the BSO parted company amicably in 1906 due to the BSO s failure to meet his expectations for a new contract 1 He died in Vienna Works editHe published a number of works for orchestra also pianoforte works and some chamber music Among his works are Maiglockchen May bells Muntrer Bach was rauscht du so Merry brook what stirs you so Wach auf du schone Traumerin Wake up beautiful dreamer Notes edit a b c d e R Nicholas Tobin 1999 Gericke Wilhelm American National Biography online ed New York Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 anb 9780198606697 article 1800444 subscription required References editThis article contains translations from the corresponding article on German Wikipedia visited 6 July 2011 Gilman D C Peck H T Colby F M eds 1906 Gericke Wilhelm New International Encyclopedia 1st ed New York Dodd Mead Rines George Edwin ed 1920 Gericke Wilhelm Encyclopedia Americana Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilhelm Gericke amp oldid 1186273894, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
