Marx, Adolf Bernhard

1799-1866

 

Editor, lecturer, musical director and composer; born in Halle. He studied for the bar, but his love for music soon led him to abandon the legal profession. He studied harmony under Türck at Halle, and in Berlin he was a pupil of Logier and Zelter. He taught composition, piano and singing until 1824 when, with a musical publisher, Schlesinger, he founded the Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung, which during the seven years of its existence had much influence on the musical development of Germany, widening the appreciation of Beethoven and bringing to the fore some little known works of Handel and Bach. In 1827 he received the degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Marburg, and in 1830 was appointed professor in Berlin Conservatory, where he became director in 1832. In 1850 he was instrumental in founding the Berlin Conservatory, but in 1856 he withdrew from it to devote himself to his pupils, literary work, and lectures at the University. At one time he was intimate with Mendelssohn, but the latter's adverse criticism of his writings offended him and the friendship cooled. His theoretical writings and his work on the musical paper which he edited did much for the advancement of music in Germany. Among his works are the oratorios Moses and Johannes der Taufer; music for the drama, Jery und Bately; some cantatas; songs; and choruses. Among his literary works are Die Kunst des Gesangs; Die Lehre von der musikalischen komposition; and many other writings on the theory of music.