Silcher, Friedrich

1789-1860 

Famous German song-composer; born at Schorndorf, Würtemberg. Was a pupil of his father and of Auberlen, organist at Fellbach. He resided for some time in Stuttgart as a music teacher, and in 1817 was appointed musical director at the University of Tubingen, receiving his degree in 1852 and holding the post almost until his death. Silcher was a promoter of choral singing, and urged the singing of German folk-songs through his Sammlung deutscher Volkslieder. Many of his songs became exceedingly popular. He composed four-part male choruses; a choral book, containing Swabian, Thuringian and Franconian folk-songs and a work on harmony and composition.