Hermann Goetz was born on December 7, 1840, in Königsberg (Prussia) and died on December 3, 1876, in Zurich-Hottingen. He was a composer, organist and pianist. Spending his youth in Königsberg (Prussia) he attended the college there from 1847 until 1858. He received piano lessons from his cousin Friederike Tiessen. His first attempts at composition were made at the age of fourteen writing sonatas, ‘singspiel’ (the German equivalent of the English opera) and songs for voice and piano. He received a more sturdy musical education from Louis Köhler (1820-1886) who instructed him in piano after 1857. Initial success soon followed with a solo performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concert KV 365 during a school concert in 1858. Subsequent to his undergraduate education Goetz matriculated at the University of Königsberg with the intention of studying mathematics but left after just four semesters to begin a study of music in Berlin. During three semesters (1860-1862) at the Sternschen Conservatory in Berlin he studied piano under Hans von Bülow (1830-1894), conducting under the founder of the institute Julius Stern (1820-1883), and composition under Hugo Ulrich (1827-1872).
Following his work in Berlin as a freelance piano teacher and conductor of a mixed choir (‘Meichsnerscher Gesangverein’), Goetz decided to search for other career possibilities and, on the recommendation of the chapel master of the Leipzig ‘Gewandhaus’ Carl Reinecke (1824-1910), succeeded Theodor Kirchner (1823-1903) as the organist of the municipal church in Winterthur. He worked in Winterthur as a concert pianist with the music collegium, however the concerting possibilities with this local orchestra, consisting mostly of amateur musicians, were somewhat limited. Goetz founded and lead the singing association ‘Melodia’ which, although short-lived, had a big impact on the local music scene. In addition to his salary as an organist Goetz was able to increase his income by offering private piano lessons, he was also able to make several contacts in social circles. He met Joseph Viktor Widmann (1842-1911), the librettist of his comical opera ‘Der Widerspenstigen Zähmung’, through the group ‘Academia’. The world premiere of this opera followed on the October 11, 1874, at the ‘Hoftheatre’ in Mannheim and remained for many years in the repertoire of the European opera houses. He met Laura Wirth, who was later to become his wife (1868), in another of Winterthur’s social circles. Goetz retained his position as organist at the municipal church even after relocating to Hottingen in Zurich in 1870, only to have to retire two years later due to a lung disease.
In Zurich Goetz was supported by Friedrich Hegar (1841-1927) who engaged him as a soloist for the subscription concerts of the ‘Tonhalleorchester’. Until 1906 Hegar was the principle conductor of this orchestra founded in 1868 and conducted Goetz’s works at its concerts. The cooperation between the two culminated in the realisation of the ‘Schweizerischen Musikfestes’ in 1874 where Goetz sat in the jury. Even Johannes Brahms was present at the festival and so a meeting between Brahms, Hegar, Widmann and Goetz was arranged this, however, was hindered by Goetz’s poor health. In 1874 Goetz completed the vocal composition ‘Nenie’ op. 10 based on a text by Friedrich Schiller, a piece which probably inspired Brahms to compose his ‘Nänie’. During his time in Zurich Goetz was a reviewer for the ‘Neue Zürcher Zeitung’, the ‘Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung’ and the ‘Musikalische Wochenblatt’, often discussing the work of Brahms in the process. In the final years of his life Goetz essentially endeavoured to complete his opera ‘Francesca von Rimini’ and his symphony in F major (1873), the abovementioned opera in three acts however, remained incomplete. It was Goetz’s wish that it should be completed by Johannes Brahms but he forwarded it to Ernst Frank whose completed version lead to the world premiere of the work in Mannheim (1877).
Lukas Näf
Elenco delle opere
Frühling wird's
Strumentazione: für gemischten Chor (SATB) a cappella
1. Eine Blume weiss ich: "Eine Blume hegt die Erd'" (Ernst Scherenberg)
2. O Lieb', o Lieb', du Wonnemeer (Ernst Scherenberg)
3. Frühlings Wiederkehr: "Wenn der Duft quillt aus der Knospe Schooss" (L. Liber)
4. Ein Frühlingstraum: "Noch liegt der Winter in der Stadt" (Albert Träger)
5. Der Frühling kommt!: "Thut auch das bange Herz dir weh" (Albert Träger)
6. Wanderers Nachtlied: "Der du von dem Himmel bist" (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Englische Übersetzung von John Troutbeck.
Drei Lieder von Lenau, Uhland und Eichendorff, op. 3 (1861)
Strumentazione: für Gesang und Klavier
1. Die Stille: "Es weiss und räth es doch Keiner" (Joseph von Eichendorff)
2. Bitte: "Weil' auf mir, du dunkles Auge" (Nikolaus Lenau)
3. Frühlingsglaube: "Die linden Lüfte sind erwacht" (Ludwig Uhland)
Englische Übersetzung von John Troutbeck.
1. Gute Nacht: "Es soll kein Tag sich enden" (Robert Eduard Prutz)
2. Oktoberlied: "Der Nebel steigt" (Theodor Storm)
3. Waldszene: "Im grünen Wald ist grosse Ruh" (Johann Gabriel Seidl)
4. Trinklied: "Wirt, hast du noch ein volles Fass?" (Julius Wolff)
Englische Übersetzung von John Troutbeck.
Strumentazione: für gemischten Chor (SATB) a cappella
1. Er ist's: "Frühling lässt sein blaues Band" (Eduard Mörike)
2. Sehnsucht: "In die Ferne möcht' ich ziehen" (Max von Schenkendorf)
3. Guter Rath: "An einem Sommermorge, da nimm den Wanderstab" (Theodor Fontane)
4. Beharre: "Scheide, ach scheide doch nur von Liebe nicht" (Wilhelmine von Chezy)
5. Treue: "Wenn alle untreu werden" (Novalis)
6. In der Ferne: "Will ruhen, will ruhen, unter den Bäumen hier" (Ludwig Uhland)
7. Seelentrost: "Gräm' dich nur nicht so viel" (Emil Pohl)
Ein pläsirlich Neujahrsspiel zu dem "Winterthurer Sonntagskränzchen"
Strumentazione: für Stimmen, Sprecher, Chor und Klavier
Testo: Josef Viktor Widmann
Personen:
Nymphe Eulach (Sprechrolle)
Der Hofbauer (Bar)
Die Bäuerin (Sprechrolle)
Ilde, deren Tochter (A)
Peter, ihr Bräutigam (B)
Friedrich/Balthasar, ihr Geliebter (hoher Bar oder T)
Melchior (Bar)
Caspar, der Mohr (Bar)
Sopran-Solo, Gesinde, Kinderchor
Englische Übersetzung von John Troutbeck.
1. Wüsst' ich gewiss, dass es mein Liebster hörte
2. Geh, zartes Blatt, geh, armes Brieflein, hin!
3. Und wenn ich werd' im Sarg gebettet liegen
4. O Schwälblein, das da fliegt in weite Ferne
5. Am Sonntag Morgen, zierlich angethan
6. Wie lange schon war immer mein Verlangen
Novello & Co Ltd
8-9 Frith Street W1v 5TZ London England
Sechs Lieder, op. 12 (1867-1876)
Strumentazione: für Sopran oder Tenor und Klavier
1. Geheimnis: "Ich flüsterte leis in den einsamen Bach" (Richard Pohl)
2. Schliesse mir die Augen beide (Theodor Storm)
3. Wandervöglein: "Wandervöglein, leichtes Blut, das zur Ferne fliegt" (Hermann Kletke)
4. Lied der Gertrude aus dem Rattenfänger von Hameln: "Immer schaust du in die Ferne" (Julius Wolff)
5. Das verlassene Mägdelein: "Früh, wann die Hähne kräh'n" (Eduard Mörike)
6. Beruhigung: "Ist mir's zu Muthe schwül und bang" (Albert Träger)
Englische Übersetzung von John Troutbeck.
Novello & Co Ltd
8-9 Frith Street W1v 5TZ London England
Konzert in B-Dur, op. 18 (1867)
Strumentazione: für Klavier und Orchester (2,2,2,2 - 2,2,0,0 - Pk - Str)
Strumentazione: für Stimmen, Chor und Orchester (2,2,2,2 - 4,2,3,0 - Pk. Hfe, Git - Str)
Testo: William Shakespeare (Joseph Viktor Widmann)
Personen: Baptista (B)
Katharine (S)
Bianka (S)
Hortensio (Bar)
Hortensios Frau (A)
Lucentio (T)
Petruchio (Bar)
Grumio (B)
Ein Schneider (T)
Haushälterin (S)
Haushofmeister (T)
Dienerschaft, Nachbarinnen, Hochzeitsgäste
Strumentazione: für Violine, Viola, Violoncello, Kontrabass und Klavier
Wollenweber Verlag
München Deutschland
Francesca da Rimini (1875-1876)
Oper in drei Akten
Strumentazione: für Stimmen, Chor und Orchester (2,2,2,2 - 4,2,3,0 - Pk, Hfe - Str)
Testo: Hermann Goetz
Das Fragment wurde von Ernst Frank vollendet.
Personen:
Francesca (S)
Diana (S)
Lanciotto (Bar)
Paolo (T)
Pietro (Bar)
Guido (B)
Sopran-Solo, junge Landleute, Dienerschaft