Riccius, Carl August

1830-1893

Conductor and composer; nephew of August Ferdinand; also born at Bernstadt. Studied piano and violin at Dresden under F. Wieck, Kragen, and Schubert, the leader of the orchestra; and later, from 1844 to 1846, at the Leipsic Conservatory under Mendelssohn, Schumann, Richter, Hauptmann, and David. In 1847 he entered the Court Orchestra at Dresden in the capacity of violinist, becoming chorusmaster in 1863, and third conductor in 1887, also librarian of the Royal Musical Library in 1889. His compositions include Es spukt, comic opera; incidental music to several operettas, and to Ella, a farce by Roder; setting of Schiller's Dithyrambe. None of the above was published, but some songs and music for piano were published. He died in Dresden.