Robert Volkmann facts for kids
Friedrich Robert Volkmann (born April 6, 1815 – died October 30, 1883) was a German composer. He is known for his beautiful classical music, including pieces for piano, orchestra, and string instruments. Volkmann lived during the Romantic period of music, a time when composers focused on expressing strong emotions in their work.
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Robert Volkmann's Early Life
Robert Volkmann was born in a small town called Lommatzsch in Germany. His father was a music director at a church. He taught Robert everything about music from a young age. Robert learned to play the organ and the piano from his father. He also studied the violin and cello with another teacher named Friebel.
By the time he was 12, Robert was already playing the cello in small music groups. He played famous pieces by composers like Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
School and Music Studies
In 1832, Robert went to a school called Freiberg Gymnasium. He planned to become a teacher. But his music teacher there, August Ferdinand Anacker, saw his talent. Anacker encouraged Robert to focus more on music.
After that, Robert moved to Leipzig in 1836 to continue his music studies. He learned from Carl Ferdinand Becker, a well-known musician. In Leipzig, Robert met the famous composer Robert Schumann. Schumann was very supportive of Robert's musical journey. They met several times and became friends.
Starting a Music Career
After finishing his studies, Robert Volkmann became a voice teacher. He worked at a music school in Prague. He did not stay there for very long. In 1841, he moved to Budapest, a big city in Hungary.
In Budapest, he taught piano lessons. He also wrote articles for a music newspaper. For a short time, he worked on his own as a composer. Then, in 1848, he became a choirmaster and organist at a church.
Becoming a Known Composer
For several years, Robert Volkmann composed music without much attention. But in 1852, things changed. His piece called "Piano Trio in B-flat minor" became very popular. Two famous musicians, Franz Liszt and Hans von Bülow, loved it. They played his trio many times across Europe. This helped Robert become known as a talented composer.
In 1854, Volkmann moved to Vienna, Austria. But he returned to Budapest in 1858.
Support for His Music
A publisher named Gustav Heckenast helped Robert a lot. In 1857, Heckenast agreed to publish all of Volkmann's music. He paid Robert a regular income, no matter how many copies were sold. This allowed Robert to focus completely on writing music. This support continued until the early 1870s, when Heckenast closed his publishing business.
While visiting Vienna in 1864, Robert Volkmann met another great composer, Johannes Brahms. They became very close friends. In their letters, they called each other "dear friend."
Later Years and Legacy
From the 1870s, Robert Volkmann composed less music. In 1875, he became a professor at Budapest's National Academy of Music. He taught harmony and counterpoint, which are important parts of music theory. Franz Liszt was the director of this academy at the time.
Robert Volkmann passed away in Budapest in 1883. He was 68 years old. His music is still enjoyed today by many people.
Compositions
Robert Volkmann wrote many different types of music. He composed pieces for:
- Orchestra: This includes symphonies and concertos.
- Choir: Music written for groups of singers.
- Chamber music: Pieces for small groups of instruments, like his famous piano trio.
- Piano: Many solo pieces for the piano.
- Songs: Music for a singer with piano accompaniment.
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