Petri, Henri Wilhelm

1856

Excellent contemporary violinist; born near Utrecht, Holland, and came from a musical family. He began the study of music under his father, a fine oboe player, and after his death studied under Dahmen At fifteen years of age he was sent to Berlin at the expense of King William III. He later spent a year and a half at Brussels, but w'ith that exception studied under Joachim until 1876, when he accompanied him to London, appearing in that city with success. In 1877 he was appointed concertmaster of the Court Orchestra at Sondershausen, and during the four years in which he held this position he advanced greatly in the knowledge of the orchestra and benefited by intercourse with Max Erdmannsdorfer, the conductor. From 1881 to 1883 he was conductor of the Royal Theatre in Hanover; then for six years was leader of the Gewandhaus concerts at Leipsic, and since 1889 has been concertmaster of the Court Orchestra at Dresden. Besides his duties in the orchestra he teaches violinplaying at the Dresden Conservatory. With A. Spitzner, E. Warwas, and G. Wille he has organized a string quartet, which has toured a number of European countries, besides playing annually a series of concerts at Dresden. He has published a great number of instructive works, besides composing numerous pieces for the violin and many songs.