Hugo Wolf By Lena (Morgan Boehm)

Hugo Wolf was born March 13, 1860 in northern Slovenia. When Wolf was 4 years old, his father taught him Violin and Piano. When he started Primary school, he studied piano and music theory with Sebastian Weixler. Any other subject other than music failed to hold his interest, and he was dismissed from His first secondary school for being “Wholly Inadequate”. Wolf then went on to the Vienna Conservatory, where he was again dismissed from The school for “Breach of Discipline” Wolf left 2 other schools as well, the first one for difficulties in the compulsory Latin studies, and the other from a falling out with one of his professors. Wolf claimed he quit the school out of frustration of the schools conservatism. Wolf contracted Syphilis as a teenager.

Wolf went to the Vienna Conservatory to teach. Even though his fiery Temperament Wasn’t ideal for teaching, his talent and personal charm earned him a lot of attention and sponsorship. The support of his sponsors allowed Wolf to make his living as a composer/teacher, a daughter of one of the sponsors inspired him quite a bit. Her name was Valentine Franck, she was his first love, they were involved for over three years. She left him just shy of his 21 st birthday, and a heartbroken Wolf returned home. Wolf was prone to depression and mood swings That had a big impact on his work throughout his life. Wolf spent a year working in Salzburg as a second Kapellmeister (Choir Master), during this time he didn’t really accomplish anything which just reassured his father that Wolf would never accomplish anything. Within a year of working in Salzburg, Wolf returned to Vienna to continue teaching in the same circumstances that he was in before he originally left.

Richard Wagner was Wolf’s greatest mentor and idol, when he died he felt tremendous despair and pressure to fill Wagner's shoes. After Wagner’s death Wolf often isolated himself from his friends, but his music still charmed and inspired them. Franz Liszt, a well respected friend who loved Wolf's music,became his new mentor. In 1887, Wolf stopped his work as a critic and began composing more, shortly after he Completed italienische Serenade, which was regarded as one of his first works of mature style as a composer. Although Spanish-influenced works were most popular at the time, Wolf opted to use poems that were neglected by others, but that he saw potential in for his own music. Wolf faced extensive amounts of criticism throughout his career, and although he lost Many opportunities because of it, he never lost his passion and would not let it change him or his works. Exhaustion, depression, and syphilis once again began taking its’ toll on Wolf and his health, as a result his composing went to rest for several years. He worked little on completing unfinished compositions but did not start any new ones. His works were spreading throughout Austria and Germany and were gaining popularity and receiving positive reviews. Even though Wolf admired Liszt, he felt his music was too dry and academic, where as Wolf strove for color and passion. Wolf was famous for using tones to reinforce moods and emotions in his music. The song. “Zur ruh, zur ruh” was composed shortly after the death of Wagner, and is considered to be the best of His early works. It is though to be dedicated for Wagner.

A story about an adulterous love triangle, influenced Wolf’s Last opera because it was one he could identify with. He was in love with Melanie Koechert, and they had a long affair Throughout much of her marriage to Wolf’s longtime friend and Patron, Heinrich Koechert. The Opera’s text was weak and it failed, never to be revived.

Wolfs Last concert appearance was in February of Not long after, Wolf slipped into Syphilitic Insanity. After mid 1899, Wolf no longer could compose music, and he tried to drown himself. At his own will, Wolf was placed in an asylum. His lover, Melanie, visited him faithfully through his decline, until his death on February 22, The guilt from her lack of faith to her husband finally got the best of her, and she killed herself 3 years later. Wolf is buried in the Zentralfriedhof in Vienna along with other notable composers, such as Beethoven.

Bibliography Music: Itunes