Ferdinand Thieriot (April 7, 1838 – July 31, 1919) was a German composer of

Romantic music Romantic music is a stylistic movement in Western Classical music associated with the period of the 19th century commonly referred to as the Romantic era (or Romantic period). It is closely related to the broader concept of Romanticism—the ...

and a

cellist The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

Life and career

Thieriot was born in

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. He was a pupil of Eduard Marxsen in Altona and belonged to the circle of musicians around

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; ; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period (music), Romantic period. His music is noted for its rhythmic vitality and freer treatment of dissonance, oft ...

, who was also a pupil of Marxsen. Later, Thieriot was a pupil of

Josef Rheinberger Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (17 March 1839 – 25 November 1901) was an organist and composer from Liechtenstein, residing in Kingdom of Bavaria, Bavaria for most of his life. As court conductor in Munich, he was responsible for the music in the ...

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

. A close, friendly relationship connected him with his teachers all his life. Thieriot was married to a publisher’s daughter ( Ernst Berens, Hamburg), Else Berens. The marriage remained childless. He worked as a music teacher and musical director in Hamburg,

Ansbach Ansbach ( , ; ) is a city in the Germany, German state of Bavaria. It is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk, administrative region of Mittelfranken, Middle Franconia. Ansbach is southwest of Nuremberg and north of Munich, on the river Fränk ...

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(1867) and Glogau (1868–1870). Later Brahms recommended Thieriot for the position of Artistic Director of the Styrian Music Association in

Graz Graz () is the capital of the Austrian Federal states of Austria, federal state of Styria and the List of cities and towns in Austria, second-largest city in Austria, after Vienna. On 1 January 2025, Graz had a population of 306,068 (343,461 inc ...

(1870–1885). The composer always received high praise in concert reviews: " ��and met with a warm and friendly reception by the audience and deservedly so. ��Excellent work, clarity and good taste regarding the instrumentation; employment of dignified motives full of character ��Enrichment of the concert repertoire". From March 1902 onwards, Thieriot had his home again in Hamburg where he lived until his death. (Performances of his works in concerts at the Hamburg Philharmonic and Singing Academy as well as in Leipzig where he obtained a post in 1897 at the Directorium of the

Bach Gesellschaft The German Bach-Gesellschaft (Bach Society) was a society formed in 1850 for the express purpose of publishing the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach without editorial additions. The collected works are known as the Bach-Gesellschaft-Ausg ...

in Leipzig). Thieriot's chamber music constitutes a great part of his total output and is judged to be among his finest compositions. He is known to have composed 4 piano trios: Opp. 14, 45, 47 & 90, 13 string quartets, only two of which have been published, 2 Octets (Op. 78 for 4 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos and Op. 62 for 2 violins, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, horn, and bassoon) a quartet for flute and string trio Op. 84, a quintet for piano and winds Op. 80, a quintet for piano and string quartet Op. 20 and several instrumental sonatas. In addition to the above, several unpublished compositions remain in manuscript awaiting publication. Wilhelm Altmann, one of the most influential and perceptive chamber music critics of all time, writing of Thieriot's chamber music, states: "Thieriot's chamber music is without exception noble and pure. He writes with perfect command of form and expression." Thieriot died in Hamburg.

References

* ''Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music'' (London: Oxford University Press, 1963) * Wilhelm Altmann: ''Handbuch fur Streichquartettspieler'', vol. 4 (Wilhelmshafen: Heinrichshofen Verlag, 1972)

External links

* Article in German Wikipedia
Short biography & sound-bites from Op.62 Octet

Trio Op.28
Score from Sibley Music Library Digital Scores Collection * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thieriot, Ferdinand 1838 births 1919 deaths Musicians from the German Empire 19th-century German classical composers 19th-century German musicians 19th-century German male musicians 20th-century German classical composers 20th-century German male musicians German classical cellists German male classical composers German Romantic composers Musicians from Hamburg Pupils of Eduard Marxsen Pupils of Josef Rheinberger 20th-century German cellists