The New International Encyclopædia/Weckerlin, Jean Baptiste Théodore

WECKERLIN, Ger. pron. vĕk'ẽr-lḗn, Fr. pron. vắ'kâr'lăN', Jean Baptiste Théodore (1821—). A French musician, born at Gebweiler, Alsace. In 1844 he began his musical career, studying singing with Ponchard and composition with Halévy at the Paris Conservatory. In 1847 he brought out his heroic symphony Roland. In 1853 Weckerlin was most successful in the production of a one-act comic opera, L'organiste dans l'embarras. In 1869 he was appointed assistant librarian to the Conservatory. In 1863 he produced his comic opera Die dreifach Hochzeit im Bäsethal, and in 1879 Der verhäxt Herbst. These were both in Alsatian dialect. In 1877 he brought out the one-act opera Après Fontenoy. In 1876 he became Félicien David's successor as librarian at the Conservatory and published in 1885 a biographical catalogue. Later he became librarian of the ‘Société des Compositeurs.’ Among his works are: an oratorio, Le jugement dernier; the cantatas, L'Aurore and Paix, charité, grandeur (1866); the ‘ode-symphonie’ Les poèmes de la mer, for solo, chorus, and orchestra (1860); L'Inde (1873); and La fête d'Alexandre, in the same year. His Histoire de l'instrumentation depuis le seizième siècle jusqu'à l'époque actuelle won the gold medal of the Académie in 1875. He has gained great renown as a composer of choral works.