A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Rellstab
RELLSTAB. Two remarkable people, father and son. The father, Johann Karl Friedrich, was one of those active intellects who are so influential in their locality; he was born in Berlin Feb. 27, 1759. His father, a printer, wished him to succeed to the business, but from boyhood his whole thoughts were devoted to music. He was on the point of starting for Hamburg to complete his studies with Emmanuel Bach when the death of his father forced him to take up the business. He then added a music printing and publishing branch; was the first to establish a musical lending library (1783); founded a Concert-Society, on the model of Hiller's at Leipzig, and called it 'Concerts for connoisseurs and amateurs,' an unusually distinctive title for those days. The first concert took place April 16, 1787, at the Englische Haus, and in course of time the following works were performed:—Salieri's 'Armida,' Schulz's 'Athalia,' Naumann's 'Cora,' Basse's 'Conversione di San Agostino,' Bach's 'Magnificat,' and Gluck's ' Alceste,' which was thus first introduced to Berlin. The Society at last merged in the Singakademie. He wrote musical critiques for the Berlin paper, signed with his initials; and had concerts every other Sunday during the winter at his own house, at which such works as Haydn's 'Seasons' were performed; but these meetings were stopped by the entry of the French in 1806, when he frequently had 20 men, and a dozen horses quartered on him; lost not only his music but all his capital, and had to close his printingpress. In time, he resumed his concerts; in 1809 gave lectures on harmony; in 1811 travelled to Italy, and his letters in Voss's newspaper first drew attention to Fräulein Milder, and thus brought about her invitation to Berlin. Not long after his return he was struck with apoplexy while walking at Charlottenburg, Aug. 19, 1813, and found dead on the road some hours afterwards. As a composer he left 3 cantatas, a 'Passion,' a Te Deum, and a Mass. Also an opera; songs too numerous to specify; vocal scores of Graun's 'Tod Jesu,' and Gluck's 'Iphigenie'; a German libretto of Gluck's 'Orphée' apparently from his own pen. Of instrumental music he published marches for PF., symphonies and overtures; a series of pieces with characteristic titles, 'Obstinacy,' 'Sensibility,' etc.; 24 short pieces for PF., violin and bass, etc. Also A 'Treatise on Declamation'; 'A Traveller's observations on church-music, concerts, operas, and chamber-music at the Palace in Berlin' (1789); and 'A guide to Bach's system of fingering for the use of pianists' (1790). These works, for the most part bibliographical curiosities, are very instructive.
Rellstab had three daughters, of whom Caroline, born April 18, 1793 or 94, was a singer, distinguished for her extraordinary compass. His son,
Heinrich Friedrich Ludwig, born April 13, 1799, in Berlin, though delicate in health, and destined for practical music, was compelled by the times to join the army, where he became ensign and lieutenant. In 1816, after the peace, he took lessons on the piano from Ludwig Berger, and in 1819 and 20 studied theory with Bernhard Klein. At the same time he taught mathematics and history in the Brigadeschule till 1821, when he retired from the army to devote himself to literature. He also composed much part-music for the 'jüngere Liedertafel' which he founded in conjunction with G. Reichardt in 1819, wrote a libretto, 'Dido,' for B. Klein, and contributed to Marx's 'Musikzeitung.' A pamphlet on Madame Sontag procured him 3 months' imprisonment in 1825, on account of its satirical allusions to a well-known diplomatist. In 1826 he joined the staff of Voss's newspaper, and in a short time completely led the public opinion on music in Berlin. His first article was a report on a performance of 'Euryanthe,' Oct. 31, 1826, followed on Nov. 13 by another on a soirée at the Jagor Hall, at which Mendelssohn played Beethoven's 9th Symphony on the piano, and thus introduced that gigantic work to Berlin. Twenty-two years later Rellstab wrote:—
That evening made an indelible impression on my mind, and the recollection of it is as fresh as of an event of yesterday nay of to-day. The most accomplished musicians of Berlin, including Berger and Klein, were present. The wonderful, almost awe-inspiring work, exacted the homage due to it, but the attention of all present was rivetted upon the young artist dealing with unmistakeable mastery with that mighty score, as I related at the time, though in far too measured terms, my pen being then unpractised. His eager glance took in the whole of each page, his ear 'penetrated like a gimlet' (to use an expression of Zelter's) into the very essence of the music, his fingers never erred.
Two years later he wrote a cantata for Humboldt's congress of physicists, which Mendelssohn set to music.
Rellstab was a warm supporter of classical music, and strongly condemned all undue attempts at effect. He quarrelled with Spontini over his 'Agnes von Hohenstauffen' (Berlin 'Musikalische Zeitung' for 1827, Nos. 23, 24, 26, and 29), and the controversy was maintained with much bitterness until Spontini left Berlin, when Rellstab, in his pamphlet 'Ueber mein Verhaltniss als Kritiker zu Herrn Spontini,' acknowledged that he had gone too far.
Rellstab's novels and essays are to be found for the most part in his 'Gesammelte Schriften' 24 vols. (Leipzig, Brockhaus). A musical periodical, 'Iris im Reiche der Tonkunst,' founded by him in 1830, survived till 1842. His recollections of Berger, Schroeder-Devrient, Mendelssohn, Klein, Dehn, and Beethoven (whom he visited in March 1825) will be found in 'Aus meinem Leben' (a vols. Berlin, 1861). He was thoroughly eclectic in his taste for music, and, though not an unconditional supporter, was no opponent of the modern school of Liszt and Wagner. He died during the night of Nov. 27, 1860.[ F. G. ]