Otto, (Ernst) Julius

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Otto, (Ernst) Julius

Otto, (Ernst) Julius, German choral conductor and composer; b. Königstein, Sept. 1, 1804; d. Dresden, March 5, 1877. He studied with Weinlig in Dresden, then was a teacher there. In 1830 he was appointed cantor at the Kreuzkirche, and held this position for 45 years, his choir becoming one of the most celebrated in Germany; he also conducted several choral societies. His best works are the excellent male choruses in his collection Ernst und Scherz, which became extremely popular (Burschenfahrten, Gesellenfahrten, Soldatenleben, Der Spinnabend, Der Sängersaal, etc.). He also composed two grand operas and four comic operas for amateur performance (Die Mordgrundbruck bei Dresden is the best), three oratorios, many songs for Solo Voice (In die Ferne, Des deutschen Rheines Braut, etc.), piano sonatas, rondos, etc.

Bibliography

A. Scheumann, J. O. (Dresden, 1904).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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