Wieck

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Wieck

Wieck, family of German musicians: (1) (Johann Gottlob) Friedrich Wieck, music pedagogue; b. Pretzsch, near Torgau, Aug. 18, 1785; d. Loschwitz, near Dresden, Oct. 6, 1873. After studying music with P.-J. Milchmeyer in Torgau, he pursued training in theology at the Univ. of Wittenberg; he then was active as a private tutor. In 1816 he went to Leipzig as a music teacher. In 1818 he founded a piano factory and a circulating music library, but eventually devoted himself entirely to pedagogy. In 1843 Mendelssohn offered him a professorship in piano at the newly organized Leipzig Cons., which he declined; in 1844 he settled in Dresden. In 1871 he helped to establish the Wieck-Stiftung to assist musically gifted youths. He married Marianne Tromlitz in 1816; after their divorce in 1824, she married his old friend Adolf Bargiel; the product of this marriage was Woldemar Bargiel. In 1828 Wieck married Clementine Fechner. He won great distinction as a pedagogue. Among his pupils were his daughters Clara and Marie, his son Alwin, Hans von Bülow, Fritz Spindler, Isidor Seiss, and Gustav Merkel. He was also Robert Schumann’s teacher, but bitterly opposed Schumann’s marriage to his daughter Clara. He publ. Klavier und Gesang (Leipzig, 1853; 3rd ed., aug., 1878; Eng. tr., 1878) and Musikalische Bauernspruche (Dresden, 1871; 2nd ed., 1876); also publ. studies and dances for piano, songs, and singing exercises; ed. piano pieces. For a biography of his daughter Clara, see Schumann, Clara (Josephine) (née Wieck).

(2) Alwin Wieck, violinist, pianist, and teacher; b. Leipzig, Aug. 27, 1821; d. Dresden, Oct. 21, 1885. He studied piano with his father and violin with David. After playing violin in the St. Petersburg Italian Opera orch. (1849-59), he settled in Dresden as a music teacher. He publ. Materialen zu Friedrich Wiecks Pianoforte-Methodik (Berlin, 1875) and Vademécum perpetuumfilr den ersten Pianoforte-Unterricht nach Fr. Wiecks Methode (Leipzig, c. 1875). He also wrote piano music.

(3) Marie Wieck, pianist and teacher; b. Leipzig, Jan. 17,1832; d. Dresden, Nov. 2,1916. She studied with her father, and at the age of 11 made her debut at a concert given by her half sister, Clara Schumann. She was appointed court pianist to the Prince of Hohenzollern in 1858. After tours of Germany, England, and Scandinavia, she settled in Dresden as a teacher of piano and singing. Her last public appearance was with the Dresden Phil. in Nov. 1915, playing the Schumann Concerto. She publ. piano pieces and songs, and also ed. her father’s Pianoforte-Studien. She wrote Aus dem Kreise Wieck- Schumann (1912; 2nd ed., aug., 1914).

Bibliography

A. von Meichsner, F. W. und seine beiden Töchter Clara Schumann, geb. Wieck, und Marie Wieck (Leipzig, 1875); A. Kohut, E W.: Ein Lebens- und Künsterbild (Dresden, 1888); V. Joss, F. W. und sein Verhältnis zu Robert Schumann (Leipzig, 1900); idem, Der Musikpädagoge F. W. und seine Familie (Dresden, 1902); M. Wieck, Aus dem Kreise W.-Schumann (Dresden, 1912; 2nd ed., 1914); K. Walch- Schumann, F. W.: Briefe aus den Jahren 1830-1838 (Cologne, 1968).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire