Kretzschmar, August Ferdinand Hermann

1848

Teacher, critic and composer; born at Olbernhau. Studied under J. Otto at the Kreuzschule, in Dresden, and later under Richter, Reinecke, Paul and Papperitz at the Leipsic Conservatory, where he was given the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for a thesis he wrote on Musical notation prior to Guido. In 1871 he was made teacher of harmony and of organ at the Leipsic Conservatory. He became conductor at the Metz Theatre in 1876, and in 1877 was made musical director at Rostock University, becoming musical director for the town three years later. In 1887 he became musical director of the Leipsic University, and was also conductor of the Academic Male Choir. In 1888 he succeeded Riedel as conductor of the Riedel-Verein, which he conducted until 1897, retiring then on account of ill health. He organized the Academic Orchestral concerts in 1890, and during his five years' conductorship of them gave some especially interesting historical programs. In 1898 he gave up his conductorship, but, as a professor, is still lecturing on musical history. His compositions consist of only some organ-music and songs, but as a critic he is well known as a contributor to the Musikalisches Wochenblatt and the Grenzboten. Among his published lectures are Choraf Music, and Peter Cornelius. His Fuhrer durch den Concertsaal are somewhat akin to our analytical musical programs.