Andreae Volkmar c/o Marc Andreae
Via Moretto 6
CH-6924 Sorengo (TI)
Svizzera
Genre: Classical Music
Professional activity: Composers, Authors
Biography
* 05. 07. 1879 Bern, † 18. 06. 1962 Zürich.
Volkmar Andreae was born July 5, 1879, in Bern and died on 18 June, 1962, in Zurich. He was the son of Philipp Andreae, a chemist, and Adelina Perroni. Andreae spent his early childhood in Bern and was instructed in piano under Selma Stämpfli from the age of five until the completion of his undergraduate education in 1897. He then studied under Ernst Denhof and Dominik von Reding at the 'Musikschule Bern' (Bern School of Music). Karl Munzinger (1842-1911) instructed Andreae in composition and theory. Further education (1897-1900) followed at the conservatory in Cologne, attended simultaneously by Fritz Brun. Andreae studied composition under Franz Wüllner (1832-1902) and under Friedrich Wilhelm Franke (1862-1932).
In 1900 Volkmar Andreae was engaged as solo répétiteur at the 'Hofoper' in Munich, returning subsequently to Bern to study philosophy for a short period at Bern university. In 1901 he enlisted into the armed forces. After having completed his recruitment training in 1899 he intended to dedicate his life to the military but was prevented from this by his friends Joseph Viktor Widmann and Friedrich Hegar. Andreae was often released from his responsibilities at the 'Tonhalle' in Zurich due to military service, particularly during the first world war. He was commander of the 3rd Infantry Battalion in 1913. Andreae first appeared in public on December 22, 1901, in Bern with the cantata 'Charons Nachen' op. 3. From 1902 until 1949 he conducted the 'Gemischten Chor Zürich' after succeeding Hermann Suter (1870-1926) who went on to conduct the 'Allgemeinen Musikgesellschaft' in Basel. Shortly after Andreae became the second conductor, alongside Carl Attenhofer (1837-1914), of the 'Männerchors Zürich', a choir which he was to become permanent conductor of on of July 1, 1904, and remain so until 1924. In addition to this he conducted the 'Stadtsängerverein Winterthur' from 1902 until 1914.
After substituting Friedrich Hegar a number of times due to illness in 1904 and filling other obligations of his in following years, Volkmar Andreae took over the position of chapel master of the 'Tonahalleorchester' when Hegar stepped down in 1906. Only in 1949, at the age of seventy, did Andreae retire from this post. He not only accomplished countless subscription concerts while in this position but was also responsible for the Musician's Festival of the General German Music Association in 1901 and for the implementation of the International Bruckner Festival in 1936. On May 14, 1907, Andreae married Elisabeth Landis who bore him three children; Hans, Ruth and Marianne. Andreae was offered, but refused, the position of succeeding Gustav Mahler as conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in 1911. He was the conductor of the 'Zürcher Studentengesangsvereins' between 1913 and 1917. This engagement presented him, like his predecessor Carl Attenhofer, with the post of a University Music Director. The associated 'venia legendi' allowed him to lecture for two semesters on the musical form of Beethoven. The University of Zurich conferred the academic title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Andreae on April 18, 1914. In the same year he succeeded Carl Attenhofer (1837-1914) as the director of Zurich Conservatory where he taught not only score playing, but also conducting and composition. Since 1919 Andreae worked together with Carl Vogler (1874-1951) who succeeded him on the board of directors in 1939, remaining there until 1945.
Andreae's popularity grew during the twenties and, with this, so the number of engagements he received from abroad, he was able thereby to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic in 1922 leading subsequently to a concert tour through Switzerland with this orchestra. Andreae's dedication to professional Swiss musicians was made evident through his commitment to the Association of Swiss Musicians (ASM). Founded in 1900, he first became a member of the board of directors of the ASM in 1909, from 1918 until 1920 vice president, and from 1920 until 1925 president thereof. On retiring from this position he was officially nominated the first honorary president of the ASM. Important performances of his own work, for instance the opera 'Abenteuer des Casanova' (1924, Dresden), were being presented abroad. He increased his activities as a guest conductor in foreign countries following his retirement from the 'Tonhalle' in Zurich, where he also permitted many performances of contemporary music including works by his good friend Othmar Schoeck. Besides concerts in Germany, Italy, France and Spain others worthy of mention are those, particularly since the end of the war, with the 'Wiener Philharmonikern'. This work was honoured by the presentation of the 'Nicolai-Medaille'.
Instrumentation: for tenor, male choir (T), organ and large orchestra (3(3picfl).2.ca.2.bcl.2.cbn)/6.4.3.2/timp.perc(tri, tam tam, small drum)/hp.org.pf/str)
Texts: Walter Schädelin
1. Schwermut
2. Entrückung
3. Vision
Duration: 25' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
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Drei schlichte Weisen, op. 8 (1904)
Instrumentation: for male a-cappella choir
1. Der schwere Traum
2. Lieblich hat sich gesellet
3. Weinschröterlied
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Schutzgeister (1904)
Cantata
Instrumentation: for tenor, male choir and orchestra (1.1.2.1/2.2.1.0/timp/str)
1. Auf dem Canale grande (Conrad Ferdinand Meyer)
2. Der Jungschmied (Walter Schädelin)
3. Die schweren Zeiten (August Kopisch)
4. Campo santo di Staglieno (Friedrich Nietzsche)
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Four Songs, op. 12 (1907)
Instrumentation: for voice and piano
1. Mond am Tage (Conrad Ferdinand Meyer)
2. Alte Schweizer (Conrad Ferdinand Meyer)
3. Der Schmied (Walter Schädelin)
4. Du bist ein Kind (Ernst Ziel)
Duration: 12' 00"
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Piano Trio in Eb Major, op. 14 (1908)
Instrumentation: for piano, violin and violoncello
Duration: 30' 00"
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Four Songs, op. 15 (1909)
Instrumentation: for voice and piano
1. Wenn ich Abschied nehme (Karl Weitbrecht)
2. Eiche im Sturm (Walter Schädelin)
3. Nirgend mehr ein Sonnenschein (Karl Weitbrecht)
4. Der Bevorzugte (Carl Spitteler)
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Six Poems in the Swiss German Dialect, op. 16 (1909)
Instrumentation: for voice and piano
Texts: Meinrad Lienert
1. 'S G'spüslis Auge: "Aeugli hät mys Schatzeli"
2. Die alte Schwyzer: "Wer sind die alte Schwyzer gsy"
3. Herbstliedli: "Lyslig falled d'Blätter"
4. I wett i wär: "I wett i wär 's Chopfchüsseli"
5. Inukerli: "Doli doli, Chindli"
6. Dr Handorgeler: "Bi blöiss à arme Musikant"
1. Ravenna: "Ich bin auch in Ravenna gewesen"
2. Gebet der Schiffer: "Die Stunden eilen - Mitternacht!"
3. Bei Spezia: "In grossen Takten singt das Meer"
4. Barcarole: "Spiegellichter flackern hin und wieder"
Duration: 14' 00"
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Ratcliff, op. 25 (1914)
Tragedy
Texts: Heinrich Heine
Stadtarchiv Zürich
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String Trio in D Minor, op. 29 (1917)
Instrumentation: for violin, viola and violoncello
Duration: 18' 00"
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Little Suite, op. 27 (1917)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (3.3.3.3/4.2.3.1/timp.perc/hp.cel/str)
Instrumentation: for large orchestra (picfl.3.2.ca.4.2.cbn/4.4.3.1/timp.2perc/hp.cel/str)
Duration: 25' 00"
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Rhapsody, op. 32 (1920)
Instrumentation: for violin and orchestra (2.2.2.2/3.2.3.0/timp.perc(tri, cym, tambourine)/str)
Duration: 14' 00"
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Abenteuer des Casanova, op. 34 (1924)
Four one-acters
Texts: Ferdinand Lion
Stadtarchiv Zürich
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Music for Orchestra No. 1, op. 35 (1929)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (4(picfl).2.ca.3.2.cbn/4.3.3.1/timp.3perc/pf/str)
Duration: 12' 00"
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Höheres Leben, op. 36 (1929)
Instrumentation: for male choir (TTBB) and wind orchstra (0.2.2.2.cbn/4.3.3.1/timp.bdm)
Texts: Friedrich Hölderlin
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Li-tai-pe, op. 37 (1931)
Eight Chinese songs
Instrumentation: for tenor and orchestra (3.3(ca).3(bcl).3(cbn)/4.3.3.0/timp.perc/hp/str)
Texts: Alfred Henschke (Klabund)
1. The Song of Sorrow
2. Wanderer Awakens in the Hostel
3. The Fisherman in Spring
4. On the Banks of the Yoh-Yeh
5. Si-schy
6. Dancing on a Clouds
7. Farewell
8. The Great White Egret
Duration: 18' 00"
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Concert in F Minor, op. 40 (1935)
Instrumentation: for violin and orchestra (2.2.2.2/3.2.0.0/timp.perc(tri,cym,timbrel ring,rod)/str)
Duration: 14' 00"
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Suite, op. 38 (1935)
Instrumentation: for male a-cappella choir
Texts: Ernst Zahn
Duration: 10' 00"
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Angedenken und andere Chöre, op. 39 (1935)
Instrumentation: for male a-cappella choir
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Concertino, op. 42 (1941)
Instrumentation: for oboe and orchestra (2.0.2.2/2.2.0.0/timp.perc/str)
Duration: 15' 00"
Boosey & Hawkes
London
Divertimento, op. 43 (1942)
Instrumentation: for flute and strings
Stadtarchiv Zürich
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Music for the 'La cité sur la montagne' Festival, op. 41 (1942)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2.2(ca).2.2/4.4.3.1/timp.2perc/str)
Texts: Gonzague de Reynold
Stadtarchiv Zürich
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