Roentgen, Julius

1855-

 

Talented pianist; son of Engelbert; was born at Leipsic, and received his first lessons in music from his parents, studying later the piano and composition under Hauptmann, Plaidy, E. F. Richter and Reinecke, and finally under Lachner at Munich. In 1872 he made his first public appearance as pianist in a Gewandhaus concert, and in 1875 began a concert tour with the singer, Julius Stockhausen, in the capacity of accompanist, incidentally introducing his own compositions. In 1878 he was called to Amsterdam by the Society for the Culture of Tonal Art as teacher for its music school, and was soon thereafter made a member of the faculty of the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music. In 1886 he became conductor of the concert society known as the Felix Meritis, and also of the Society for the Culture of Tonal Art. He organized a society for chamber-music, which for over a quarter of a century did considerable work of an excellent character. Roentgen was successful and popular as a teacher and pianist in Amsterdam, and also widened his reputation by concert tours through Germany, Austria, France, England and other European countries. He retired in 1898 from the conductorship of the Society for the Culture of Tonal Art, and was succeeded by Willem Mengelberg. Roentgen has about  fifty compositions to his credit,, including a symphony; a serenade for seven wind-instruments; an operetta, Toskanische Rispetti; Das Gebet, for chorus and orchestra; Sturmesmythe, for mixed chorus and orchestra; trio in B flat, for piano and strings; three sonatas for violin and piano; three for cello and piano; two sonatas, a ballade, a concerto, a suite, and a fantasie for piano, and other pieces for piano, and for piano and violin; a number of songs, including a collection of Old Netherland love-ditties.