Fuchs, Robert

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Fuchs, Robert

Fuchs, Robert, renowned Austrian composer and pedagogue, brother of Johann Nepomuk Fuchs; b. Frauenthal, Styria, Feb. 15, 1847; d. Vienna, Feb. 19, 1927. He studied at the Vienna Cons., where, from 1875 to 1912, he was a prof. of harmony, establishing himself as a teacher of historical importance; among his stu-dents were Gustav Mahler, Hugo Wolf, and Schreker. His own compositions are, however, of no consequence, and there is no evidence that he influenced his famous pupils stylistically or even technically. The only pieces that were at all successful were his 5 serenades for string orch. He also wrote 2 operas, 5 syms., piano concerto, 2 piano trios, 3 string quartets, 2 piano quartets, piano quintet, and numerous pieces for piano solo and for piano, 4-hands.

Bibliography

A. Mayr, Erinnerungen an R. K (Graz, 1934); A. Grote, R. F.: Studien zu Person und Werk des Wiener Komponisten und Theorielehrers (Munich, 1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire