Ferdinand Ries facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ferdinand Ries
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Ferdinand Ries
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| Born | |
| Baptised | 28 November 1784 |
| Died | 13 January 1838 (aged 53) |
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Ferdinand Ries (born 28 November 1784 – died 13 January 1838) was a German composer. He was a close friend, student, and secretary to the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
Ries wrote many pieces of music. These include eight symphonies, a violin concerto, and nine piano concertos. He also composed three operas and 26 string quartets. In 1838, he helped publish a book about his teacher, Beethoven. Ries's music mixes styles from the Classical and early Romantic eras.
Contents
Early Life and Learning Music
Ferdinand Ries was born in Bonn, Germany. His family was very musical. His grandfather, Johann Ries, was a court trumpeter. His father, Franz Anton Ries, was a violinist and music director. Ferdinand learned piano from his father. He also studied with Bernhard Romberg, a cellist.
In 1803, Ries traveled to Vienna. He had a letter that helped him meet Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven had actually learned some music from Ries's father! Ries became one of Beethoven's only students at that time. Beethoven taught him piano. He also sent Ries to other teachers for harmony and composition. Beethoven even helped Ries find jobs teaching piano to rich families.
Working with Beethoven
Ries soon became Beethoven's secretary. He helped Beethoven with letters to music publishers. He also copied music notes and ran errands. Ries even helped Beethoven find a nice apartment.
In July 1804, Ries played his first public concert as a pianist. He performed Beethoven's C minor concerto. He was even allowed to write his own special part for the piano, called a cadenza. People loved his performance!
Ries and Beethoven spent summers together. They became very close friends. Ries often helped Beethoven with his work.
One famous story about Ries happened during a rehearsal of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. Ries thought a horn player made a mistake and said so out loud. This made Beethoven very angry!
Leaving Vienna
In 1805, Ries had to leave Vienna. He was worried about being forced to join the French army. He went back to Bonn for a year. There, he wrote his first piano concerto. He also published his first two piano sonatas, which he dedicated to Beethoven.
Ries then spent two years in Paris. It was hard for him to succeed there. He even thought about quitting music. But in 1808, he returned to Vienna. He helped Beethoven with the first performances of his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies.
In 1809, Ries left Vienna again. This time, he was worried about joining the Austrian military. He went back to Bonn and wrote more important pieces. These included his first Symphony and his Violin Concerto.
Later Life and Travels
In 1811, Ries began a long concert tour. He traveled through many European cities. He went to Kassel, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and St. Petersburg in Russia. In Russia, he met his old teacher Bernhard Romberg. They played concerts together. Ries wrote two more piano concertos for this tour.
In 1812, Napoleon's army was moving towards Moscow. So, Ries left Russia and toured other parts of Europe. He arrived in London in April 1813.
Time in London
Ries stayed in England for the next eleven years. He became a respected piano teacher in London. In 1814, he married Harriet Mangeon, who came from a wealthy family.
He joined the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1815. He even became one of its directors. Ries stayed in touch with Beethoven. He helped publish many of Beethoven's works in London. He also played a big role in the Philharmonic Society asking Beethoven to write his famous Choral Symphony (the 9th Symphony).
Ries wrote many of his orchestral works while in London. Six of his eight symphonies were written for the Philharmonic Society. However, he also started writing lighter piano pieces.
After 1820, Ries had some disagreements with the Philharmonic Society. He felt his music wasn't being played enough. In 1821, he left his director position. He started planning to return to Europe. In May 1824, he gave his farewell concert in London.
Return to Germany
In July 1824, Ries moved back to Germany with his family. He settled in Frankfurt. He became a composer and conductor there. His reputation grew in Central Europe.
In 1834, he became the head of the city orchestra in Aachen. He wrote two large choral works, called oratorios, for them. He also directed the Lower Rhenish Music Festival eight times. In 1824, he directed the first German performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony at this festival.
Ries also started writing operas. His first opera, The Robber Bride, was a big success in Frankfurt in 1828. He wrote two more operas later.
In 1832-1833, Ries and his wife went on a concert tour in Italy. He wrote his last Piano Concerto and String Quartet during this trip.
Ries continued to compose and travel. In 1836-1837, he visited Paris and London. He returned to Frankfurt and accepted a new offer in August 1837. However, he died on 13 January 1838, after a short illness.
Ferdinand Ries is buried in the Frankfurt am Main cemetery.
His Music
Ferdinand Ries wrote over 300 pieces of music. A scholar named Cecil Hill created a detailed list of all his works.
Today, you can find recordings of all his symphonies and many of his concertos. His music for piano and orchestra, and his chamber music (music for small groups of instruments), are also being recorded. This helps more people discover his wonderful compositions.
Selected Works
Operas
- Die Räuberbraut (The Robber Bride), opera in three acts (1827/28)
- Liska, oder die Hexe von Gyllensteen (Liska, or the Witch of Gyllensteen), opera in two acts (1831)
- Die Nacht auf dem Libanon (The Night in Lebanon), romantic opera in three acts (1834–38)
Symphonies
- No. 1 in D major, op. 23 (1809)
- No. 2 in C minor, op. 80 (1814)
- No. 3 in E flat major, op. 90 (1816)
- No. 4 in F major, op. 110 (1818)
- No. 5 in D minor, op. 112 (1813)
- No. 6 in D major, op. 146 (1822)
- No. 7 in A minor, op. 181 (1835)
Concertos
- Concerto for 2 Horns in F major (1811)
- Concerto No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra in E minor op. 24 (1810)
- Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra in E flat major op. 42 (1808)
- Concerto No. 3 for Piano and Orchestra in C sharp minor, op. 55 (1812)
- Concerto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra in C minor, op. 115 (1809)
- Concerto No. 5 for Piano and Orchestra in D major, op. 120 (around 1816)
- Concerto No. 6 for Piano and Orchestra in C major, op. 123 (1806)
- Concerto No. 7 for Piano and Orchestra in A minor, op. 132 (1823)
- Concerto No. 8 for Piano and Orchestra in A flat major, op. 151 (1826)
- Concerto No. 9 for Piano and Orchestra in G minor, op. 177 (1832/33)
Oratorios
- Der Sieg des Glaubens (The Victory of Faith), op. 157 (1829)
- Die Könige in Israel (The Kings in Israel), op. 186 (1837)
Chamber Music (for small groups of instruments)
- Cello Sonata in C minor (1799)
- Violin Sonata in A-flat major (1800)
- Octet in F major, op. 12 (1808)
- Grand Septuor in E flat major for piano, clarinet, 2 horns, violin, cello and double bass, op. 25 (1812)
- Clarinet Sonata in G minor, op. 29 (1808)
- 3 String Quartets, op. 70 (1812, rewritten 1815)
- Quintet in B minor for piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass, op. 74 (1815)
- Grand Otetto in A flat major for piano, violin, viola, clarinet, horn, bassoon, cello and double bass, op. 128 (1816)
Piano Music
- Piano Sonata in C major, op. 1 no. 1 (1806)
- Piano Sonata in A minor, op. 1 no. 2 (1803-4)
- Grande Sonate in D major, op. 9 no. 1
- Grande Sonata Fantaisie in F sharp minor, 'L'Infortune' op. 26
Images for kids
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Ferdinand Ries
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Commemorative plaque for the first London performance of Beethoven's 9th symphony, which Ries helped arrange.
See also
In Spanish: Ferdinand Ries para niños
