Johann Ritter von Herbeck (25 December 1831 – 28 October 1877) was an Austrian musician, conductor and composer, born in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, best known for leading the premiere of

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wo ...

's "Unfinished" Symphony. He was practically a self-educated musician, but by hard work rose rapidly from the position of

chorister A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...

to that of

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professors ...

in the Vienna Conservatory. From 1859 to 1870 and again from 1873 to 1877 he conducted the concerts of the

Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde The Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien (), also known as the Wiener Musikverein (German for 'Viennese Music Association'), is an Austrian music organization that was founded in 1812 by Joseph Sonnleithner, general secretary of the Court Thea ...

, which under his energetic leadership became events of prime importance. In 1866 he was made chief court Kapellmeister and from 1871 to 1875 he was director of the Imperial Opera, resigning over intrigues and annoyances he could not tolerate.Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed., 1954 He was a great supporter of the music of

, and conducted the premiere of his "Unfinished" Symphony in 1865. In 1867 he conducted the first three movements of

Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped with ...

's '' A German Requiem''. He also conducted the Viennese premiere of

Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

's '' Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg''. He was fairly influential in local musical life for much of his career. He was responsible for Anton Bruckner's appointment in Vienna and was one of his most ardent supporters. Hector Berlioz described him as a first-rate conductor.Embellishments
He wrote many excellent part-songs and some instrumental music. His orchestral music included ''Tanzmomente'' (which Franz Liszt arranged for solo piano, S. 492), ''Künstlerfahrt'', Symphonic Variations and several symphonies, among them a Symphony in D minor with organ (No. 4, his opus 20, published in 1878 posthumously in arrangement ). He also wrote a String Quartet in F, Op. 9, and various other works remain in manuscript. One of his best-loved works is ''Pueri Concinite'', a Christmas motet for boys' choir and solo voice. 1866 he wrote the Great Mass for chorus, organ and orchestra, recorded by the Philharmonic Choir Munich and the Philharmonie Festiva conducted by Gerd Schaller.Prestocassical
/ref> In 1874, three years before his death, Herbeck was appointed to the third rank of the Iron Crown, which raised him to knighthood, and he was henceforth "Johann Ritter von Herbeck". His son Ludwig wrote a memoir of his father in 1885.

Publications

* E. Hanslick, ''Suite (Zwei Wiener Kapellmeister)'' (Vienna, 1884) * David Ewen, Encyclopedia of Concert Music. New York; Hill and Wang, 1959.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Herbeck, Johann Ritter von 1831 births 1877 deaths 19th-century Austrian people 19th-century classical composers 19th-century conductors (music) Austrian Romantic composers Austrian conductors (music) Austrian male classical composers Austrian knights Male conductors (music) Musicians from Vienna Opera managers