Fidelio Friedrich "Fritz" Finke (22 October 1891 – 12 June 1968) was a Bohemian-German composer.

Life

Finke was born the son of a teacher in 1891 in the north-Bohemian village of Josefstal (modern-day Josefův Důl, Czech Republic). From 1906 to 1908, he attended a teacher's seminar in Reichenberg (now

Liberec Liberec (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 108,000 inhabitants, making it the fifth largest city in the country. It lies on the Lusatian Neisse River, in a basin surrounded by mountains. The city centre is well preserved and is pr ...

). He received organ, piano and violin lessons, and from 1908 to 1911, studied at the

Prague Conservatory The Prague Conservatory () is a public music school in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 1808. Currently, the school offers four- or six-year courses, which can be compared to the level of a high school diploma in other countries. Graduates c ...

, where he studied piano and composition. From 1911 onward, he worked as a private music teacher and from 1915 as a teacher of musical theory at the

. In 1920, he moved to the German Academy of Music and Performing Arts in

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

, where he worked as a teacher of musical theory and composition. He became a professor in 1926, and worked as the rector from 1927 to 1945. His students included

Friederike Schwarz Friederike Schwarz (15 January 1910 – 5 May 1945) was a Czech composer, educator, pianist and writer. She, together with her sister, committed suicide during the Prague uprising. She sometimes published under the pseudonym rz. Biography Schwarz ...

. During the

German occupation of Czechoslovakia German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

, he composed works expressing sympathy for the

Nazis Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

, most notably the hymn ''O Herzland Böhmen'' (1942). His opportunistic application for membership within the

Nazi party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party ( or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor ...

expired in 1942 because of his political unreliability.MGG, 2001, Sp. 1194 After imprisonment and expropriation as a result of the

Beneš decrees The Beneš decrees were a series of laws drafted by the Czechoslovak government-in-exile in the absence of the Czechoslovak parliament during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in World War II. They were issued by President Edvard Beneš fr ...

as well as a suicide attempt in 1945, Finke was brought to

Dresden Dresden (; ; Upper Saxon German, Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; , ) is the capital city of the States of Germany, German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, 12th most p ...

by the Soviet occupation forces via

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. There, he founded the State Academy of Music and Dresden Theatre, and was, until 1951, its rector. Until 1958, he was a professor of sound recordings at the

Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...

Academy of Music. His total works comprise about 170 compositions. Fidelio_F

Finke was a member of the SED from 1946 until his death in 1968 in Dresden. He was buried in Heidenfriedhof Cemetery. His signature graces his gravestone. Finke's estate is preserved by the

Academy of Arts An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

Selected works

Stage

* ''Die versunkene Glocke'' (The Sunken Bell), Opera in 4 acts after the drama by

Gerhart Hauptmann Gerhart Johann Robert Hauptmann (; 15 November 1862 – 6 June 1946) was a German dramatist and novelist. He is counted among the most important promoters of Naturalism (literature), literary naturalism, though he integrated other styles into h ...

(1916–1919); unfinished * ''Die Jakobsfahrt'', Opera in 3 acts after the legend by (1932–1936); premiere 1936,

New German Theatre The State Opera (Czech: Státní opera) is an opera house in Prague, Czech Republic. It is part of the National Theatre of the Czech Republic, founded by Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic in 1992. The theatre itself originally opened i ...

, Prague) * ''Lied der Zeit'', Dance Pantomime in 2 parts (premiere 1947 in Buehlau, Dresden) * ''Ruth, die Ährenleserin, begegnet Boas,'' Characteristic Dance for solo dancer and piano (1946–1947) * ''Der schlagfertige Liebhaber'', Opera buffa in 3 acts after Karl Zuchardt (1950–1954); unfinished (vocal/piano score only) * ''Der Zauberfisch'', Children's Opera in 2 acts after folk tales by the

Brothers Grimm The Brothers Grimm ( or ), Jacob Grimm, Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm, Wilhelm (1786–1859), were Germans, German academics who together collected and published folklore. The brothers are among the best-known storytellers of Oral tradit ...

(1956–1959; premiere 1960, State Opera Dresden); libretto by Wilhelm Hübner

Orchestral

* ''Schauspielouvertüre'' (1908) * Suite for string orchestra (1911) * ''Variationen und Fuge'' for chamber orchestra (1915) * ''Pan'', Symphony for large orchestra (1919) * ''Konzert für Orchester'' (Concerto for Orchestra) (1932) * ''Kleine Festmusik'' for concert band (1937) * ''Acht Bagatellen'' (8 Bagatelles) (1939) * ''Vier Studien'' (4 Studies) (1943) * ''Ciacona'' (1944) * Suite No. 2 (1947) * Suite No. 3 (1949) * Suite No. 4 for 16 wind instruments and percussion (1953) * Suite No. 5 ''Musik für elf Bläser'' (Music for 11 Winds) (1955) * Suite No. 6 (1956) * ''Symphonische Märsche'' (Symphonic Marches), Suite No. 7 (1960) * Suite No. 8 for wind quintet, 2 pianos and string orchestra (1961) * ''Divertimento'' for chamber orchestra (1964) * ''Festmusik'' (1964)

Concertante

* Concerto for piano and small orchestra (1930) * ''Capriccio über ein polnisches Volkslied'' (Capriccio on a Polish Folk Song) for piano and orchestra (1953)

Chamber music

* String Quartet No. 1 (1914); dedicated to

Arnold Schoenberg Arnold Schoenberg or Schönberg (13 September 187413 July 1951) was an Austrian and American composer, music theorist, teacher and writer. He was among the first Modernism (music), modernists who transformed the practice of harmony in 20th-centu ...

* Piano Trio (1923) * ''8 Musiken'' for 2 violins and viola (1923) * Sonata for violin and piano (1924) * String Quartet No. 2 ''„Der zerstörte Tasso“'' (with soprano solo) (1925) * '' Ciacona nach Vitali'' for violin and piano (1925) * String Quartet No. 3 (1926, lost) * Sonata for cello (1926, lost) * Sonata for flute and piano (1927) * ''100 Stücke'' (100 Pieces) for

recorder Recorder or The Recorder may refer to: Newspapers * ''Indianapolis Recorder'', a weekly newspaper * ''The Recorder'' (Massachusetts newspaper), a daily newspaper published in Greenfield, Massachusetts, US * ''The Recorder'' (Port Pirie), a newsp ...

solo (1936) * Sonatina for harp (1945) * Sonata for horn and piano (1946) * Sonata for clarinet and piano (1949) * Sonata for viola and piano (1954) * Wind Quintet (1955) * ''Toccata'' for accordion (1955) * String Quartet No. 5 (1963–1964) * ''… ismen und … ionen'' for flute, viola, cello, double bass, piano and harp (1968); movement IV completed by Heinrich Simbriger

Piano

* ''Polka groteska'' * Sonata in E minor (1903, lost) * ''Thema con Variazioni'', Op. 9 (before 1908) * ''Fantasia auf der Fahrt'' (Fantasia on the Ride), Op. 12 (1908) * ''Intermezzo'' (1909) * ''4 Klavierstücke'' (4 Piano Pieces) (1910–11) * ''Eine Reiter-Burleske'', Symphonic Poem for piano (1913) * ''Romantische Suite'' (Romantic Suite) (1916) * ''Gesichten'' (Visions), 7 Piano Pieces (1921) * ''Klaviermusiken für Kinder'' (Piano Music for Children) (1921) * ''19 kleine Klavierstücke'' (19 Little Piano Pieces) (1921) * ''Marionetten-Musiken'', 6 Piano Pieces (1921) * ''10 Kinderstücke'' (10 Pieces for Children) (1926) * Suite No. 2 (1928) * Concertino for 2 pianos (1931) * ''Lehrer und Schüler'' (Teacher and Student), 10 Pieces for piano 4-hands (1935) * ''10 Kinderstücke'' (10 Piano Pieces) for piano 4-hands (1938) * ''Egerländer Sträußlein: Eine Reihe kleiner Stücke für Klavier nach Egerländer Volkslieder'' (Egerland Bouquet: Series of Little Piano Pieces after

Egerland The Egerland (; ; Egerland German dialect: ''Eghalånd'') is a historical region in the far north west of Bohemia in what is today the Czech Republic, at the border with Germany. It is named after the German name ''Eger'' for the town of Cheb an ...

Folk Songs) (1939) * ''Tänze aus dem Isergebirge'' (Dances from the

Jizera Mountains Jizera Mountains (), or Izera Mountains (; ), are part of the Western Sudetes on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland. The range got its name from the Jizera (river), Jizera River, which rises at the southern base of the Smrk (Jizera), ...

) for piano 4-hands (1940) * Sonatina (1945) * ''Klavierstücke nach slawischen Volksliedern'' (Piano Pieces after Slavic Folk Songs) (1952) * ''Drei Klaviersätze nach deutschen Volksliedern'' (3 Movements for Piano after German Folk Songs) (1954)

Organ

* ''Fantasie, Variationen und Doppelfuge über den Choral „Aus tiefer Not“'' (1928) * ''Toccate und Fuge'' (1928) * ''Sieben Choralvorspiele'' (7 Chorale Preludes) (1928) * ''Suite für Orgel'' (1930)

Choral

* ''Trinklied'' (Drinking Song) for mixed chorus (1908); words by

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (; ; 22 January 1729 – 15 February 1781) was a German philosopher, dramatist, publicist and art critic, and a representative of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the dev ...

* ''Es fuhr eine Fischerin'' for female chorus and piano (1912); words from ''

Des Knaben Wunderhorn ''Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Alte deutsche Lieder'' (German for "The boy's magic horn: old German songs") is a collection of German folk poems and songs edited by Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano. The book was published in three volumes, the ...

'' * ''7 Frauenchöre'' (7 Female Choruses) (1914); words from folk poetry and by

Eduard Mörike Eduard Friedrich Mörike (; 8 September 18044 June 1875) was a German Lutheran pastor who was also a Romantic poet and writer of novellas and novels. Many of his poems were set to music and became established folk songs, while others were used b ...

Clemens Brentano Clemens Wenzeslaus Brentano (also Klemens; pseudonym: Clemens Maria Brentano ; ; 9 September 1778 – 28 July 1842) was a German poet and novelist, and a major figure of German Romanticism. He was the uncle, via his brother Christian, of Franz a ...

* ''Mein Trinklied'' for 3 male voices, male chorus and wind orchestra (1918) * ''Weihnachtskantilene'' for mixed chorus (1933); words by

Matthias Claudius Matthias Claudius (15 August 1740 – 21 January 1815) was a German poet and journalist, otherwise known by the pen name of "Asmus". Life Claudius was born at Reinfeld, near Lübeck, and studied at Jena. He spent the greater part of his life i ...

* ''Der große und der kleine Hund'' for mixed chorus; words by Matthias Claudius * ''Sechs vierstimmige Kanons'' (6 Four-Voice Canons) (1936); words by

Wilhelm Busch Heinrich Christian Wilhelm Busch (14 April 1832 – 9 January 1908) was a German humorist, poet, illustrator, and painter. He published wildly innovative illustrated tales that remain influential to this day. Busch drew on the tropes of f ...

* ''Chor der Toten'' for mixed chorus (1938); words by

Conrad Ferdinand Meyer Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (11 October 1825 – 28 November 1898) was a Swiss poet and historical novelist, a master of literary realism who is mainly remembered for stirring narrative ballads like "Die Füße im Feuer" (The Feet in the Fire). Biog ...

* ''Wir tragen ein Licht'' for mixed chorus (1938); words by Franz Höller * ''Deutsche Kantate'' (German Cantata) for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, boys chorus, orchestra and organ (1940); words by Franz Höller * ''Weihnachtslied'' (Christmas Song) for mixed chorus (1940) * ''O Herzland Böhmens'' for mixed chorus, organ and brass (1942) * ''3 Kanons'' (2 Canons) for mixed chorus (1946); words by

Emanuel Geibel Emanuel von Geibel (17 October 18156 April 1884) was a German poet and playwright. Life Geibel was born at Lübeck, the son of a pastor. He was originally intended for his father's profession and studied at Bonn and Berlin, but his real interests ...

, Wilhelm Busch, Ludwig Christoph Hölty * ''2 russische Volkslieder'' (2 Russian Folk Songs) for female chorus and piano (1946) * ''Weihnachts-Kantilene'', Little Cantata for children's or female chorus with optional violin, cello and organ (or piano) (1948); words by

* ''Das Göttliche Edel sei der Mensch'' for mixed chorus (1949); words by

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...

* ''Freiheit und Friede'', Cantata for mixed chorus (1953); words by

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known as Bertolt Brecht and Bert Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a p ...

* ''Aufbaulied'' for mixed chorus with instrumental accompaniment (1953) * ''Naturtrieb wie die goldnen Bienlein schweben'' for mixed chorus (published 1953) * ''Erziehung durch Natur ich hör das süße Lallen'' for mixed chorus (published 1953) * ''Die Zeit so ist nun mal die Zeit'' for female chorus (published 1953) * ''Glaubensbekenntnis'' (Faith), Cantata in One Movement for mixed chorus (published 1958); words by Christo Boteff * ''Bauernballade'' for mixed chorus (1961); words by

Johannes Robert Becher Johannes Robert Becher (, 22 May 1891 – 11 October 1958) was a German politician, novelist, and poet. He was affiliated with the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) before World War II. At one time, he was part of the literary avant-garde, writi ...

* ''Wir, Volk der schaffenden Hände'', Three-voice canon (1962)

Vocal

* ''3 frühe Lieder'' (3 Early Songs) (1915) * ''Frühling'' (Spring) (1912) * ''Abschied'', Lyric Scene after

Franz Werfel Franz Viktor Werfel (; 10 September 1890 – 26 August 1945) was an Austrian-Bohemian novelist, playwright, and poet whose career spanned World War I, the Interwar period, and World War II. He is primarily known as the author of '' The Forty ...

for soprano, tenor and orchestra (1917) * ''Fallender Schnee'' (1917) * ''3 Lieder'' (1918) * ''Kleinseitner Adagio'' (1928) * ''3 Lieder'' (1929); words by

Rainer Maria Rilke René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926), known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was an Austrian poet and novelist. Acclaimed as an Idiosyncrasy, idiosyncratic and expressive poet, he is widely recognized as ...

* ''Drei Lieder nach Carl Bayer'' for voice and piano (published 1931) * ''Märlein'' (1937); words by Hans Watzlik * ''Frau Nachtigal'', Madrigal for soprano, alto, tenor, high and low bass (1937); words from ''

'' * ''Sudetendeutsche Volkslieder'' (1939) * ''Lob des Sommers'', 4 Songs for voice and piano (1940); words by Rainer Maria Rilke * ''4 Lieder'' (1940–1942); words by Emil Merker * ''Einmal'' for bass (or alto) and piano (1943); words by Franz Brendal * ''Beginn des Endes'' (1945); words by

Theodor Storm Hans Theodor Woldsen Storm (; 14 September 18174 July 1888), commonly known as Theodor Storm, was a German-Frisian writer and poet. He is considered to be one of the most important figures of German realism. Life Storm was born in the small t ...

* ''Schein und Sein'', 10 Songs for voice and piano (1948); words by Wilhelm Busch * ''Drei Terzette nach slawischen Volksliedern'' (3 Trios after Slavic Folk Songs) for soprano, alto, tenor and piano (published 1953) * ''Eros'', Cantata for soprano, tenor and orchestra (1962) * ''Der Apfelbaum am Wegrand'' (The Apple Tree by the Wayside) for voice and piano (1965); words by

Mihai Beniuc Mihai Beniuc (; 20 November 1907 – 24 June 1988) was a Romanian socialist realist poet, dramatist, and novelist. Biography He was born in 1907 in Sebiș, Arad County (at the time in Austria-Hungary), the son of Athanasie and Vaseline Beniuc. H ...

* ''Epilog'' (1966); words by

Bertold Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known as Bertolt Brecht and Bert Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a ...

* ''Cantata piccola'' for voice and piano (1966); words by Wilhelm Busch

Honors, memberships

* 1910

Brahms-Preis The Brahms-Preis (Brahms Prize) has been awarded by the Brahms Society of Schleswig-Holstein since 1988. The prize is furnished with 10,000 euros. It rewards artists who have contributed mesmerizing work for the preservation of the artistic her ...

at the Vienna Tonkünstlervereins * 1919 Chorpreis des Weltmusikbundes in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

* 1928 and 1937 Czechoslovak State Prize for music * 1956

National Prize of the German Democratic Republic The National Prize of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) () was an award of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) given out in three different classes for scientific, artistic, and other meritorious achievement. With scientific achievem ...

* Membership at the

Academy of Arts, Berlin The Academy of Arts () is a state arts institution in Berlin, Germany. The task of the Academy is to promote art, as well as to advise and support the states of Germany. The academy's predecessor organization was founded in 1696 by Elector F ...

* Honorary sponsor at the music academies of Dresden and Leipzig * 1961 Bronze Patriotic Order of Merit

Literature

Dieter Härtwig Dieter Härtwig (18 July 1934 – 30 December 2022) was a German dramaturge, musicologist and author of numerous writings on Dresden's music history and its personalities. Biography Dieter Härtwig was born in Dresden on 18 July 1934. After gai ...

: ''Fidelio F. Finke: Leben und Werk.'' Habilitationsschrift, masch. vervielf. Leipzig 1970. Deutsche Bibliothek Frankfurt am Main U.70.3699 * Fred K. Prieberg: ''Handbuch Deutsche Musiker 1933–1945'', CD-Rom-Lexikon, Kiel 2004, . * Wilhelm Hübner: ''Fidelio F. Finke – Gedanken über meinen Lehrer'', in: ''Dresden und die avancierte Musik im 20. Jahrhundert. Teil II: 1933-1966'', edited by

Matthias Herrmann Matthias Herrmann (born 14 October 1955) is a German musicologist and university professor. Life Born in Mildenau, Herrmann became a member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor conducted by Kreuzkantor Rudolf Mauersberger, later Martin Flämig. He then s ...

and

Hanns-Werner Heister Hanns-Werner Heister (born 14 June 1946) is a German musicologist. Life and career Born in Plochingen, (Baden-Württemberg), Heister studied musicology, German literature and linguistics in Tübingen, Frankfurt a. M. and Berlin, received his doc ...

, Laaber 2002, (Musik in Dresden 5),

References

External links

*
Fidelio-F.-Finke's Archive
at the archive of the

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finke, Fidelio 1891 births 1968 deaths People from Jablonec nad Nisou District German Bohemian people Socialist Unity Party of Germany members German opera composers Male opera composers 20th-century classical composers 20th-century German composers Academic staff of the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit in bronze 20th-century German male musicians Czechoslovak emigrants to Germany Prague Conservatory alumni