Hermann Ritter

Hermann Ritter (16 September 1849 in Wismar – 25 January 1926 in Würzburg) was a German viola player, composer and music historian.
Biography
Hermann Ritter studied violin at the Neue Akademie für Musik in Berlin from 1865 to 1870. His outstanding talent was soon recognized, and he was appointed music director of the municipal orchestra in Heidelberg, where he also continued his education at the University of Heidelberg. During this time, his interest in performance shifted from the violin to the viola, wit the intention of improving the status of the violist by raising the standard of performance and developing an instrument with a tone equal to that of the violin and cello.
Besides musical compositions and transcriptions, Ritter is credited with writing many books and essays including several volumes on the music history of Europe.
Selected works
Original compositions
Stage
Ein kritischer Tag, Familienscene in 1 act (1894)
Durch Nacht zum Licht!, Schauspiel in 4 acts (1895)
Ein Stein des Anstoßes, Abenteuer in 1 act (1895)
Im Alpenglühen, Gebirgsstück mit Gesang und Tanz in 1 act (1903)
Vocal
Altschottische Volksweisen mit Beibehaltung der Originalmelodien for voice and piano (published 1887); words by Robert Burns
Fortgeflogen, fortgezogen for soprano or tenor and piano, Op. 20 (published c.1900)
Schneeglöckchen for voice and piano, Op. 30 (published 1872); words by Fritz Holthey
Leb' wohl! (Good-bye!) for voice and piano, Op. 59 (published 1893)
Ich fühle deinen Odem for voice and piano, Op. 60 (published 1894)
Lieder-Grüße aus Natur und Leben, 10 leichte und ansprechende Gesänge for voice and piano, Op. 62 (published 1894)
Piano
Deutscher Sieges-Hymnus (German Victory Hymn), Op. 23 (1871)
Trauergesang auf den Tod eines Kriegers (Lament on the Death of a Warrior), Op. 24
Pedagogical works
Viola-Schule: für den Schul- und Selbstunterricht (Viola School; Méthode pour l'alto) (published 1884)
Elementartechnik der Viola alta (Elementary Technique for the Viola alta) (published 1895)
Solobuch für Viola (Viola alta, Altgeige), Heft I-II: Enthaltend die wichtigsten Soli der orchestralen Litteratur dieses Instrumentes (Orchestral Studies for Viola, Books I and II: Containing the Most Important Solos from the Orchestral Literature) (published 1910s)
Viola or viola alta
Zwei Stücke (2 Pieces) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 7 (1869)
Idylle
Elfengesang
Schlummerlied (Lullaby) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 9 (1871)
Canzonetta in G major for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 10 (1875)
Erinnerung an die Alpen (Souvenir of the Alps) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 11 (published 1891)
Jagdstück for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 17 (published 1883)
Auf den Wellen (On the Waves) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 27 (published 1878)
Melodie for viola (viola alta) and piano (published 1878)
Spinnerlied (Spinning Song) in B major for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 28 (published 1878)
Zwei Stücke (2 Pieces) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 32 (1886)
Pastorale und Gavotte in A minor
Im Traume in G major
Nach slavischen Eindrücken (After Slavic Impressions) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 33 (1886)
Elegie in G minor
Introduktion und Mazurka in A minor/C major
Erinnerung an Schottland: Phantasie mit Benutzung altschottischer Weisen (Souvenir of Scotland: Fantasy on an Old Scottish Air) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 34 (1886)
Concert-Phantasie No.1 in C minor for viola (viola alta) and orchestra or piano, Op. 35 (1886)
Concert-Phantasie No.2 in C major for viola (viola alta) and orchestra or piano, Op. 36 (1886)
Italienische Suite (Italian Suite) for viola (viola alta) and orchestra or piano, Op. 37 (1886)
Barcarole (Venezia)
Elegie (Roma) in A minor
Tarantella (Napoli)
Zwei Stücke (2 Pieces) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 48 (1889)
Valse caprice
Moto perpetuo
Zwei Stücke (2 Pieces) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 65 (1898)
Andante
Allegretto Scherzando
Gesangsstück in D major for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 66 (1900)
Ständchen (Serenade) in A minor for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 70 (published 1905)
Rokoko: 2 Vortragsstücke (Rococo: 2 Concert Pieces) for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 73 (published 1907)
Gavotte in C major
Pastorale und Menuett in C major
Dithyrambe in G minor for viola (viola alta) and piano, Op. 74 (published 1907)
Melodia religiosa for viola (viola alta) and piano
Transcriptions
Transcriptions for viola or viola alta and piano unless otherwise noted
Hermann Ritter's Repertorium für die Viola alta (Altgeige) mit Begleitung des Pianoforte (Hermann Ritter's Repertoire for the Viola alta and piano) (published 1878 by W. Schmid, Nürnberg)
Aria di chiesa by Alessandro Stradella
Largo in E minor by Jean-Marie Leclair
Larghetto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Moment musical by Franz Schubert; original for piano
Lied ohne Worte by Felix Mendelssohn; original for piano
Melodie by Hermann Ritter
La Romanesca: Tanz aus dem XVI. Jahrhunderts
Recitativ und Arie (aus Rinaldo) by George Frideric Handel
Largo in F major by Johann Sebastian Bach
Aria by Antonio Lotti
Sonate in E-moll by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ave verum by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Larghetto from the Violin Concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven
Ave Maria by Franz Schubert
Russisches Lied (Der Zweifel) by Mikhail Glinka; original for voice, chorus and piano
Auf den Wellen by Hermann Ritter
Gavotte (G-Dur) by Giovanni Battista Martini
Romanze (Tregiorni) by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Andante (F-Dur) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Andantino (Es-Dur) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Nocturne by John Field
Arie (aus der D-Dur-Suite) by Johann Sebastian Bach
La séparation: Nocturne (1839) by Mikhail Glinka; original for piano
Chant sans paroles (Lied ohne Worte), Op. 2 No. 3 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Anthologie für Bratsche (Altgeige) mit Begleitung des Klaviers (Anthology for Viola or Viola alta and Piano), Book I: Works by Ludwig van Beethoven (published 1880s by C. Merseburger, Leipzig)
Romanze, Op. 40; original for violin and orchestra
Adelaide, Op. 46; original for voice and piano
Romanze, Op. 50; original for violin and orchestra
Anthologie für Bratsche (Altgeige) mit Begleitung des Pianoforte (Anthology for Viola or Viola alta and Piano), Book II (published 1880s by C. Merseburger, Leipzig)
Larghetto from Sonate Concertante No. 4 in D major, Op. 115 (1809) by Louis Spohr; original for violin and harp
Recitativ und Andante from the Violin Concerto No. 6, Op. 28 (1808–1809) by Louis Spohr; original for violin and orchestra
Barcarole from 6 Salonstücke, Op. 135 No. 1 by Louis Spohr; original for violin and piano
Erlkönig, Op. 1 by Franz Schubert
Musik für Viola: Übertragungen von Hermann Ritter (Music for Viola: Transcriptions by Hermann Ritter); Nos. 1~3 (1884); Nos. 4~17 (1885); No. 20 (1891); Nos. 21~25 (1892); published by Friedrich Kistner, Leipzig
Air varié, Op. 10 by Pierre Rode
Élégie, Op. 10 by Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst; original for violin and piano
Suite by Johann Sebastian Bach
Sarabande (BWV 1012)
Gavotte (BWV 811)
Andante (BWV 1003)
Allegro (BWV 1009)
Notturno, Op. 9 No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin; original for piano
Lied ohne Worte, Op. 53 No.2 by Felix Mendelssohn; original for piano
Russische Melodie (Kosakentanz)
Moto perpetuo by Niccolò Paganini; original for violin and piano
Frühlingslied (Lied ohne Worte), Op. 62 No.6 by Felix Mendelssohn; original for piano
Lied ohne Worte, Op. 85 No. 1 by Felix Mendelssohn; original for piano
Adagio cantabile aus der Sonate pathétique, Op. 13 by Ludwig van Beethoven; original for piano
Romance sans paroles in G major, Op. 23 (1875) by Karl Davydov; original for cello and piano
Cavatine by Joachim Raff
Wiegenlied, Op. 98 No. 2 by Franz Schubert
Impromptu, Op. 90 No. 3 by Franz Schubert; original for piano
Serenade aus dem Quartett No. 74 (Andante cantabile) by Joseph Haydn
Notturno aus der Musik "Sommernachtstraum" by Felix Mendelssohn; original for orchestra
Waltz, Op. 34 No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin; original for piano
Adagio aus dem Klarinettenkonzert by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; original for clarinet and orchestra
Aria in D minor by Francesco Durante
Larghetto by Giuseppe Tartini
Czárdás
Lento, Movement I from a Sonata by Johann Sebastian Bach
Siciliano by Johann Sebastian Bach
Adagio by Johann Sebastian Bach
4 altschottische Volkslieder (4 Old Scottish Folk Songs)
Liebesgesang (Love Song), Notturno for viola (viola alta) and piano by Leopold Damrosch (published 1888)
Albumblatt (Es-dur) for viola (viola alta) and piano by Richard Wagner (published 1890s); original for piano (1875)
Bel canto: sechs Stücke von Meistern des XVII. und XVIII. Jahrhunderts (Bel Canto: 6 Pieces by Masters of the 17th and 18th Centuries) for viola alta (or violin) and piano or organ (published 1900)
Arietta in G major by Alessandro Stradella
Siciliana in G minor by Alessandro Scarlatti
Vergin tutt'amor in D minor by L. Durante
Aria "Caro mio ben" in D major by Giuseppe Giordani
Adagio in E major by Johann Sebastian Bach
Andante in A minor by George Frideric Handel
Causerie for viola and piano (1900) by Alphonse Mailly (1833–1918); original for piano
Literary works
Die Viola ihre Geschichte, ihre Bedeutung und die Principien ihres Baues (The Viola: Its History, Significance and the Principles of Its Structure) (1876)
Die Geschichte der Viola alta und die Grundsätze ihres Baues (The History of the Viola alta, and the Principles of Its Structure) (1877)
Repetitorium der Musikgeschichte nach Epochen übersichtlich dargelegt, nebst einem Verzeichnisse der hauptsächlichsten wissenschaftlichen Musikliteratur (1880)
Über den Zweck des Studiums der Musikgeschichte (The Purpose of Music History Studies) (1880)
Hermann Ritter und seine Viola alta (Hermann Ritter and His Viola alta) (1881)
Aus der Harmonielehre meines Lebens: Kleine Skizzen und Aphorismen von Hermann Ritter (From the Harmony Teachings of My Life: Little Sketches and Aphorismen of Hermann Ritter) (1883)
Die Viola alta oder Altgeige (The Viola alta or Altgeige) (1885)
Populäre Elementartheorie der Musik für gebildete Musikfreunde (Popular Elementary Music Theory for Music Lovers) (1885)
Die Aesthetik der Tonkunst in ihren wichtigsten Grundzügen (The Aesthetics of Music in Its Most Fundamental Features) (1886)
Der dreifüßige oder Normal-Geigensteg erfunden und begründet von Hermann Ritter: Mit 50 Modell-Abbildungen (The Three-Footed or Normal Violin Bridge Invented and Founded by Hermann Ritter: With 50 Model Images) (1889)
Musik in den Alpen (Music in the Alps) (1889)
Katechismus der Musik-Aesthetik: Ein Hülfsbuch für den Musikunterricht in Schule und Haus (Catechism of the Music Aesthetic: a Guidebook for Music Lessons in School and Home) (1890)
Richard Wagner als Erzieher. Ein Volksbuch und zugleich Begleiter zu den bayreuther Festspielen (Richard Wagner as an Educator. A Companion Book of the Bayreuth Festival) (1891)
Über musikalische Erziehung: Ein Mahnruf an Eltern, Vormünder, Erzieher (On Music Education: A Warning Cry to Parents, Guardians, Educators) (1891)
Studien und Skizzen aus Musik- und Kulturgeschichte, sowie Musikästhetik (Studies and Sketches of Musical and Cultural History and also Aesthetics of Music) (1892)
Etwas weniger Musik! (A Little Less Music) (1896)
Franz Schubert (Geb. 31. Januar 1797) Gedenkschrift zur 100. Geburtstagsfeier. Dem "Schubert-Bund" in Wien gewidmet (1896)
Volksgesang in alter und neuer Zeit (Folk Song in Ancient and Modern Times) (1896)
Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven. Ein Dreigestirn am Himmel deutscher Tonkunst (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven. A Heavenly Triumvirate of German Musical Art) (1897)
Die fünfsaitige Altgeige (Viola alta) : und die sich daran knüpfende eventuelle Weiterentwickelung der Streich-Instrumente (The Five-String Altgeige (Viola alta) and Further Development of Stringed Instruments) (1898)
Einiges zum Verständniss von Berlioz' Haroldsinfonie und Berlioz' künstlerischer Bedeutung (Insight to Berlioz's Harold en Italie Symphony and Berlioz's Artistic Significance) (1899)
Über die materielle und soziale Lage des Orchestermusikers: Ein Mahnruf an Eltern, Vormünder, Erzieher (On the Material and Social Situation of Orchestra Musicians: A Warning Cry to Parents, Guardians, Educators) (1901)
Allgemeine illustrierte Encyklopädie der Musikgeschichte, 6 Bände (General Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music History, 6 Volumes) (1901–1902)
Musikgeschichte des Altertums (A Music History of Antiquity) (1902)
Musikgeschichte des Mittelalters (A Music History of the Middle Ages) (1902)
Musikgeschichte Deutschlands im 16. – 18. Jahrhunderts (A Music History of Germany in the 16th through 18th Centuries) (1902)
Musikgeschichte Deutschlands im 19. Jahrhunderts (A Music History of Germany in the 19th Century) (1902)
Musikgeschichte Frankreichs, Britanniens, Russlands u.s.w. (A Music History of France, Britain, Russia, etc.) (1902)
Musikgeschichte Italiens (A Music History of Italy) (1902)
Das 19. Jahrhundert in seinen musikalischen Hauptvertretern in Deutschland (The 19th Century in Its Main Musical Representatives in Germany) (1902)
Allgemeines über Streichinstrumente sowie Ideen über ein neues Streichquartett: Soprangeige (Violine), Altgeige (Viola alta), Tenorgeige (Viola tenore), Bassgeige (Viola bassa oder Violoncello): nach den Intentionen und dem Modell von Hermann Ritter (General Information about Strings and Ideas about a New String Quartet: Soprano Violin (Violin), Altgeige (Viola alta), Tenor Violin (Viola tenore), Bass Violin (Viola bassa or cello): According to the Intentions and the Model of Hermann Ritter) (1905)
Erkenne Dich selbst!: Das goldene Buch der Lebensweisheit, 2 Bände (Know Thyself! The Golden Book of Life's Wisdom, 2 Volumes) (1905)
Professor Hermann Ritter's Neues Streichquartett <Ritter-Quartett> (The Ritter Quartet: Professor Hermann Ritter's New String Quartet) (1910)
Mein neues oder Reform-Streichquartett (My New or Reform String Quartet)
Die Quellen zu Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" (The Sources for Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen") (1911)
"Franz Liszt" von James Huneker 1911 – Aufsatz von Hermann Ritter ("Franz Liszt" by James Huneker 1911 – Essay by Hermann Ritter) (1911)
Dedications
Cyrill Kistler (1848–1907) – Serenade in D minor for violin, or viola (viola alta), or cello and orchestra, Op. 72 (1903)
Franz Liszt (1811–1886) – Romance oubliée for viola and piano, S. 132 (1880)
Hans Sitt (1850–1922) – 3 Fantasiestücke (3 Fantasy Pieces) for viola and piano, Op. 58 (1894)
References
External links
Wagner Society of Dallas: Richard Wagner and the Ritter Viola
Musical Courier about an interview of Hermann Ritter by Richard Wagner
1849 births
1926 deaths
People from Wismar
People from the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
German classical violists
German composers
German music historians
German male non-fiction writers
19th-century German musicians