Sachs, Johann Melchior Ernst

1843-

Born at Mittelsinn, Lower Franconia; was the son of a peasant. He studied t first at Altdorf Seminary; taught in the elementary schools from 1861 to 1863, then entered the Munich Conservatory and remained there from 1863 to 1865, becoming a pupil under Rheinberger, from 1867 to 1869, at the Royal School of Music, founded by von Bülow. Sachs conducted the Liederkranz from 1868 to 1872, and in 1871 was appointed a teacher of harmony at the Royal School of Music. The school has since become the Royal Academy of Tonal Art and Sachs still occupies his position as professor there. From 1869 until 1873 he conducted a male choral society at Munich, and he is the founder and at present the conductor of the Tonkunstlerverein. As a musical theoretician he holds original opinions on many points. Among his numerous compositions, of which the greater part   remain unpublished, are symphonies; symphonic poems; an opera, Palestrina. which was performed at Ratisbon in 1886; a ballad, Das Thai des Espingo, for chorus and orchestra; a paternoster; and one work of gigantic dimensions, entitled Cain, His Sin and Atonement, the production of which would fill seven evenings. He has also composed many songs and much piano-music.