August Wilhelmj

Romance

August Wilhelmj was born in Usingen (Taunus) in 1845. At a surprisingly early age he developed into an eminent violin virtuoso. It was on Franz Liszt's recommendation that he received a complete musical education at the Leipzig conservatory between 1861 and 1864. During that period, he also performed in the Gewandhaus. Having been acquainted with Richard Wager since 1862, he turned into his ardent follower. He was the principal at the first performance of the Ring of the Nibelung in Bayreuth. On completing his studies, he started his career as a soloist with numerous concert tours which first took him all around Europe and later even overseas. In 1871, Wilhelmj was awarded the title of Professor Royal. He founded his own violin school in Biebrich on the Rhine. From 1886 until 1893 he taught in Dresden-Blasewitz. In 1894, he took up the position of violin teacher at the Guildhall Music School in London where he died in 1908. In his compositions, Wilhelmj followed the New German school which - under the leadership of Franz Liszt - set itself apart from the style of Viennese Classicism. The Romance op. 10 in E Major presented here was originally written for violin and orchestra and was first published by Schlesinger in 1872.