Otto Erich Deutsch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Otto Erich Deutsch
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| Born | 5 September 1883 Vienna
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| Died | 23 November 1967 (aged 84) Baden bei Wien
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| Nationality | Austrian |
| Occupation | Musicologist |
| Known for | Compiling the first comprehensive catalogue of Franz Schubert's compositions |
Otto Erich Deutsch (born September 5, 1883 – died November 23, 1967) was an Austrian expert in music history, called a musicologist. He is famous for creating the first complete list of all the musical pieces written by Franz Schubert. This list is known as the Schubert Catalogue. It was first published in English in 1951. A newer version came out in German in 1978. The "D" numbers you see for Schubert's music, like "Symphony No. 8, D 759," come from this very catalogue.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Otto Erich Deutsch was born in Vienna, Austria, on September 5, 1883. He came from a Jewish family.
He studied art history and literature in Vienna and Graz. After his studies, he worked at the University of Vienna. He was an assistant in the Department of Art History.
Interest in Biedermeier and Schubert
Deutsch became an expert in the Biedermeier period. This was a time in Central Europe (around 1815-1848) known for its art, literature, and music. People focused on home life and simple beauty.
Because he studied this period, Deutsch became very interested in Franz Schubert. Schubert was a famous composer who lived during the Biedermeier era.
World War I and New Interests
Deutsch's studies were stopped by World War I. He served in the Austrian Army. After the war, he worked as a bookseller for a while.
He then changed his focus to historical musicology. This is the study of music history. He became a music librarian and worked with the music collection of Anthony van Hoboken.
Life During World War II
In 1938, Nazi Germany took over Austria. This event was called the Anschluss. Otto Erich Deutsch was a Protestant with Jewish family roots. Because of this, he decided to leave Austria for his safety.
He moved to Cambridge, England, in 1939. He lived there until 1951. After World War II ended, he returned to Vienna.
Deutsch was also a close friend of another important music scholar, Heinrich Schenker.
Otto Erich Deutsch passed away in Baden bei Wien on November 23, 1967. He was 84 years old. He is buried in a special honorary grave in the Vienna Central Cemetery.
His Work as a Scholar
Otto Erich Deutsch believed that old documents and pictures were key to understanding someone's life. He used this idea in his work.
He created "documentary biographies" for composers like Schubert, Mozart, and Handel. In these books, he put old letters, notes, and other documents in order. He added his own comments to explain things. This way, the documents themselves told the story of the composer's life.
Deutsch also wrote many scholarly articles about these composers. He also wrote about Joseph Haydn. He helped publish musical texts, including Haydn's canons (a type of musical piece).
In 1959, he received a special award from Austria. It was called the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class. This award recognized his important contributions to knowledge and art.
Famous Works
Deutsch's most famous work is the catalogue of Franz Schubert's music. This book lists all of Schubert's known compositions. It gives each piece a "D" number, which helps musicians and scholars easily identify them.
Films About Deutsch
- D 795 oder Die schöne Müllerin. Otto Erich Deutsch – Ein Leben für die Musik, a film by Claus Spahn, shown on ARD in 1983. It is 60 minutes long.
See also
In Spanish: Otto Erich Deutsch para niños
- List of compositions by Franz Schubert
- List of compositions by Franz Schubert by genre
