Schunke, Karl

1801-1839

 

German pianist and teacher; born at Magdeburg, and studied with his father, Michael Schunke, a celebrated horn-player, and later with Ries, with whom he went to London. He settled in Paris in 1828 and met with much success as a concert-player and teacher. In 1835 he was appointed pianist to the Queen and received the cross of the Legion of Honor. He lost his speech through an attack of apoplexy, which also unbalanced his mind. He committed suicide by throwing himself from a window. Schunke wrote many light pieces of music, many of which were popular in his time, in all about sixty variations; fantasias; dances, and other compositions for the piano. He was a cousin of Ludwig Schunke, the intimate friend of Robert Schumann.