Bargiel, Woldemar

1828-1897

German composer and teacher. Born in Berlin, where his father was a music teacher, his mother being the divorced wife of Friedrich Weick, thus making him the step-brother of Clara Schumann. He studied the piano, organ and violin with his father, and in 1846 went to Leipsic, where he spent two years in the Conservatory, at that time under the direction of Mendelssohn. While at Leipsic he composed an octet for strings, which brought him into notice. In 1850 he returned to Berlin, where he remained for nine years, becoming well known as a teacher and composer. He was appointed professor in the Conservatory of Cologne in 1859 and in 1865 was made director of the music school at Rotterdam. In 1874 he became professor at the Hochschule fur Musik in Berlin; in 1875, a member of the senate of the Academy of Arts; and in 1882, President of the Meisterschule fur Musikalische Komposition. Bargiel, as a composer, was a follower of Schumann and his compositions entitle him to a high place among modern German musicians. His best known works are his overtures, Medea; Romeo and Juliet; and Prometheus; his Symphony in C; three Danses brillantes for orchestra; an Intermezzo for the orchestra; several songs for chorus; also works for the piano, for piano and violin, and part-songs.