Otto, Ernst Julius

1804-1877

German composer; born at Konigstein, Saxony. He studied at the Kreuzschule, in Dresden, from 1814 to 1822, and then took a course in theology at the Leipsic University from 1822 to 1825, also studying music under Weinlig and Schicht. Returning to Dresden he taught music for a number of years at Blochmann's Institute and in 1838 went to the Kreuzschule. Among his pupils was Gustav Meckel. From 1830 to 1875 he was cantor at Kreuzkirche, and directed the music of the leading Lutheran Churches as well as conducting the Liedertafel. He composed several oratorios, Hiob, Bitterfeld, Des Heilands letzte Worte, Die Feier der Erlosten am Grabe Jesu; motets, masses; two operas, Das Schloss am Rhein, and Der Schlosser von Augsberg; and four comic-operas, the best of them entitled, Die Mordgrundbruck bei Dresden; sonatas; trios; songs; and part-songs for men's voices; rondos, and etudes. He died at Dresden.

His brother Franz, born at Konigstein in 1809 and died in Mayence in 1842, was a bass-singer and composer of popular songs and part-songs, the best known being In Dem Hummel ruht die Erde, and Blauer Montag. He wrote twelve dances for the orchestra, and went to England in 1833 to direct a Part-Singing Society.