Georg Vierling Explained

Georg Vierling (5 September 1820 – 1 June 1901) was a German musician and composer. He is noted for modernizing the secular oratorio form.^[1]

Life and career

Georg Vierling was born in Frankenthal, and studied music with Christian Heinrich Rinck in Darmstadt and composer Adolf Bernhard Marx in Berlin. In 1847 he became an organist in Frankfurt, and later director of the Singing Academy and in 1852 director of the Song Board in Mainz. In 1853 Vierling founded the Bach Verein in Berlin, and in 1859 he became Director of Music at the Royal Academy of the Arts in Berlin. In 1883 he became a member of the Prussian Academy of Arts. He died in Wiesbaden.^[2] After his death, memorial performances of his cantatas were held in Stuttgart.^[3] Notable students include George Lichtenstein.

Works

Vierling's compositions include songs and choral works, piano and organ works, overtures and one symphony. Selected works include:

• Hero and Leander
• The robbery of the Sabinerinnen
• Constantin
• Alarich
• The gentleman instructed his angels
• Sturm
• Maria Stuart
• Im Frühling
• Hermannsschlacht
• Tragic Overture
• String Quartet (No.2, Op. 76) in A major^{[4] [5]}

Vierling also wrote the libretti for a cantata of Max Bruch.

Notes and References

1. Web site: The History of Music. 9 February 2012.
2. Web site: Georg Vierling . 9 February 2012 .
3. Book: The Musical Times. 43. 1 May 1902.
4. Web site: Hofmeisters Monatsbericht. September 1892. 28 May 2013.
5. See IMSLP, where one finds sheet music and a recording.