Adolf Bernhard Marx facts for kids
Adolf Bernhard Marx (born Samuel Moses, May 15, 1795 – May 17, 1866) was an important German music expert. He was a music theorist, a critic, and a musicologist. Marx was born in Halle and passed away in Berlin.
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Life of Adolf Bernhard Marx
Marx was born into a family in Halle. His father was a doctor. Marx was named Samuel Moses at birth. In 1819, he changed his name to Adolf Bernhard Marx when he was baptized.
Early Studies and Career
Marx first studied law in Halle. He also learned how to compose music there. One of his classmates was the composer Carl Loewe. Marx later turned down a job offer in law.
In 1821, he moved to Berlin. In 1825, Adolf Martin Schlesinger asked him to be the editor. This was for a music magazine called Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung. Marx wrote smart reviews that even Beethoven liked. However, his writings sometimes upset people in Berlin. This included Carl Friedrich Zelter.
Friendship with Mendelssohn
Marx became very close with the family of Felix Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn was a famous composer. Marx's ideas about how music can tell a story greatly influenced Mendelssohn. Their friend Eduard Devrient wrote about Marx's help. He noted Marx's influence on Mendelssohn's overture for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (1826).
In 1829, Mendelssohn brought back J. S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Marx then convinced Schlesinger to publish this work. This made Bach's masterpiece available to everyone for the first time.
As Mendelssohn grew older, he and Marx grew apart. They had once agreed to write a story for an oratorio for each other. Mendelssohn wrote a story about Moses. Marx wrote one about St. Paul. Mendelssohn later used a much changed story for his own St. Paul oratorio.
In 1841, Marx asked Mendelssohn to perform his Moses in Leipzig. Mendelssohn refused, saying it was not good enough. Marx was very angry. He threw all his letters from Mendelssohn into the river. Because of this, their letters are now lost forever. Moses was later performed by Liszt in Weimar in 1853.
Later Life and Influence
In 1830, Mendelssohn recommended Marx for a new job. Marx became a professor of music at Berlin University. From this time until his death, Marx was mainly known as a writer and teacher. In 1832, he also became the music director at the University.
In 1850, he helped start the Berlin Stern conservatory. His four-volume book on how to compose music was very important. It was called Die Lehre von der musikalischen Komposition. This book showed a new way to teach music. It presented a clear system for musical forms. It ended with sonata form, which Marx showed using Beethoven's piano sonatas.
Near the end of his life, Marx finished a book about Beethoven. He also wrote many articles about the music of his time. He published a two-volume book about his own life.
See also
In Spanish: Adolf Bernhard Marx para niños
