Posse, Wilhelm

views updated

Posse, Wilhelm

Posse, Wilhelm , German harpist, pedagogue, and composer; b. Bromberg, Oct. 15, 1852; d. Berlin, June 20, 1925. His father, a musician, gave him his first music lessons. He taught himself to play the harp, however, and was only 8 when he was engaged as accompanist to Adelina Patti at the Italian Opera in Berlin. Following a concert tour of Russia with his father (1863–64), he returned to Berlin and completed his training with L. Grimm at the Kullak Academy (1864–72). From 1872 to 1903 he was 1st harpist of the Berlin Phil, and the Royal Opera Orch. He also was a teacher (1890–1910) and a prof. (1910–23) at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. In addition to his important pedagogical works, he also composed solo harp pieces and prepared various transcriptions for his instrument, including piano pieces of Liszt.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire