DEATH OF MAX BRUCH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 25, 25 October 1920, Page 7

DEATH OF MAX BRUCH

'. PASSING OF A CELEBRATED COMPOSER. I Nows was received' a few (toys ugo of the death of the veteran 'German com- . poser Max Bruch, whose wonderful con- • certos for the violin are some of Ui« finest test pieces in the history of litera tuw for the violin, for tl\ey arc at onco tho hope and the despair of students Max Bfuch was born at. Cologne on Jnnu--1 ary G, 1838. His niothor, who was a . very good singer, watcliod over tho early , musical development of her son. lie received his theoretical instruction from. >. Professor Breidenstein at Bonn, and very early showed 'signs of extraordinary pro--1 miso. When only 14 ycai's of ace hp . gained tho scholarship of the Mozart -, foundation at Frankfort for four years, , during which time lie continued his ' studies, under Hiller Reinocko and Brcunin? Nt Cologne, at the eaino time becom- ■ ing gradually known by his compositions. He further broadenod Lis knowledge by lengthy visits to Leipsi'c, Munl ic'i, and other towns of musical note. 5 During one of"' 'those visits to Munich '. he had tho good fortune to meet Geibel, whose "Lorely," writton for Mondelsn fiolui, Bruch had composed whilst al 1 Cologne. He at length obtained tho '• poet's consent for the performance _of tho opera, and proceeded to Jlnnnheim, where it was firstjiroiluced, and whom he subsequently occupied. himself with ■' tho study of stage roquiremeiits for fu--1 hire lyrical works. Ho aftorwards peril formed many pieces tjiere which ' haye t since 'become associated with his name. In 18(i"i Bruch accepted the position of direcr' tor of the Concert- Institution at Coblcnz, '■ mid two years later became Chapel Master to tho Prince of Swarzhurg-Sonder-B hnusen This post ho resigned in 1870, ' and since that timo-half a century ago— Bruch has lived independently, devoting himself almost «xclustvoly to composition Ho was most widely known lor his Concertos in G minor, iu D minor, I and for two symphonies.