Gurlitt, Cornelius

1820-1901

German composer; born at Altona; was a pupil of Reinecke, senior, and later of Weyse at Copenhagen. In 1846 he visited Rome; in 1864 became organist of the principal church in his native town. He was appointed Royal musical director in 1874, and was for a time professor in the Conservatory at Hamburg. During the SchleswigHolstein campaign he was also musical director of the army. His works include an opera, Scheik Hassan; two operettas; a string quartet; three sonatas for violin; sonata for violoncello; two sonatinas for cello; and songs. He is best known, however,  as a composer of numerous piano pieces, suitable for teaching purposes, and widely used by teachers and schools of music.