Reichel, Friedrich

1833-1889

German conductor, composer and teacher; born at Oberoderwitz, Lusatia, near Zittau; showed musical talent early, and at the age of twelve played five different instruments, as well as singing, with sufficient skill to take part in the church-music of his home village. He studied at Dresden under F. Wieck in piano and under Julius Rietz and Julius Otto in theory, and also attended for four years the teachers' seminary at Bautzen. After two years of elementary teaching in Dresden he went to Poland as a teacher of music, but returned to Dresden in 1857, where he conducted several musical societies, choral and orchestral, and in 1878 became the organist and precentor of St. John's, a position he held until his death. His compositions comprise thirty-two published works, including choruses, symphonies, piano-music, and songs, the principal ones being a Fruhlings symphonic (spring symphony); motets; studies; and part-songs for male voices. His music in manuscript includes two string quartets and an octet for wind-instruments. His operetta, Die Geangsteten Diplomaten, was produced in Dresden in 1875.