Hans Sitt
Hans Sitt, was a Bohemian violinist, violist, teacher, and composer. During his lifetime, he was regarded as one of the foremost teachers of violin. Most of the orchestras and conservatories of Europe and North America then sported personnel who numbered among his students.
Biography
Sitt was born in Prague the son of Anton Sitt the Elder, a prominent Hungarian-born violin maker. Sitt's musical talent manifested itself early and from all accounts, he could easily have enjoyed the typical career of a “wunderkind” had his parents chosen to exploit him, but they wisely refused this course. Instead, he was allowed to have a normal life and received a regular education at a gymnasium before being sent to the Prague Conservatory. There he studied violin with Moritz Mildner and Antonín Bennewitz, and composition with Josef Krejčí and Johann Friedrich Kittl from 1861 to 1867. Subsequently, he pursued a successful solo career for a short time. Sitt was appointed concertmaster of the Breslau Opera Orchestra in Wrocław in 1867 at age 17, and in Chemnitz from 1873 to 1880. In addition, he was a conductor of repute holding positions with orchestras in France, Austria and Germany.From 1884 to 1921 Sitt held the august position of Professor of Violin at the Leipzig Conservatory, and authored several important studies for violin and viola, some of which are still used. He was conductor of the Leipzig Bach Society from 1885 to 1903. Sitt played the viola in the Brodsky Quartet of Leipzig from 1883 to 1895 along with Hugo Becker, Julius Klengel, and founder Adolph Brodsky.
Besides his pedagogical works, Sitt wrote several pieces for violin and orchestra, including six concertos and a number of sonatas for various instruments. The only chamber music of his we have are two piano trios which were composed during the 1880s.
Sitt is responsible for the best-known orchestration of Edvard Grieg's Norwegian Dances, Op.35, an 1881 work for piano duet. His most prominent students include the composers Franco Alfano, Pablo Sorozábal and Frederick Delius, and the conductor Václav Talich.
Hans Sitt's elder brother Anton Sitt the Younger was also a noted professional violinist, and the concertmaster of the Helsinki Orchestral Society, who premiered most of the major orchestral works of Jean Sibelius.
Selected works
Orchestral
- Nocturne und Scherzo for orchestra, Op. 6
- Gavotte in E minor, Op. 15 ; also for piano
- Ouverture zu A. Leschivo's "Don Juan d'Austria" for orchestra, Op. 20
- Wiegenlied und Gavotte for string orchestra, Op. 48 ; also for violin and piano
- Festmarsch, Op. 54
- Nocturne in F major for violin and orchestra
- Concerto No. 1 in D minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 11
- Concerto No. 2 in A minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 21
- Concertino No. 1 in A minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 28
- Polonaise No. 1 in A major for violin and orchestra, Op. 29
- Concertino No. 2 "in den ersten drei Lagen ausführbar" in E minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 31
- Concerto No. 1 in A minor for cello and orchestra, Op. 34
- Concerto No. 2 in D minor for cello and orchestra, Op. 38
- Concertstück in G minor for viola and orchestra, Op. 46
- Concertino No. 3 in D minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 65
- Concerto in A minor for viola and orchestra, Op. 68
- Concertino "in den ersten 5 Lagen" in A Minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 70
- Concertino in A minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 93
- Romance in G minor for viola and orchestra, Op. 72
- Concerto No. 3 in D minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 111
- Konzertstück: Allegro appassionato, Romanze und Tarantelle for violin or viola and orchestra, Op. 119
Chamber music
- Piano Trio No. 1 in G major, Op. 63 No. 1
- Piano Trio No. 2 in B major, Op. 63 No. 2
- Rêverie for horn and piano, Op. 75 No. 2 ; original for viola and piano
- Gretchen: Paraphrase aus Liszt's Faust-Symphonie for violin and piano
- Namenlose Blätter for violin and piano, Op. 10
- 3 Albumblätter: Romanesca in B minor, Melodie and Gondoliera for violin and piano, Op. 13
- 3 Stücke for violin and piano, Op. 14
- Romanze in G major for cello and piano, Op. 17
- 2 Etüden zum Conzertgebrauch for violin and piano, Op. 24
- Cavatine und Barcarole for violin and piano, Op. 25 ; Cavatine arrangement for violin and orchestra
- Walzer in D major for violin and piano ; published in Eulenburg's musikalischer Haus- und Familienkalender
- Aus der Jugendzeit, 12 Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 26
- Lose Blätter, 10 Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 37b ; original version for piano solo
- 6 Albumblätter for violin and piano, Op. 39 ; original version for viola and piano
- 6 Fantasiestücke for violin and piano, Op. 40
- Violin-Duette, sechs leichte instructive Duette for 2 violins, Op. 42
- 6 Stücke for violin and piano, Op. 47
- Wiegenlied und Gavotte for violin and piano, Op. 48 ; also for string orchestra
- Polonaise No. 2 in A major for violin and piano, Op. 49
- Capriccio for violin and piano, Op. 50
- Romanze und Mazurka for violin and piano, Op. 52
- Miniatures, 12 Easy Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 53
- 3 Berceuses for violin and piano, Op. 56
- Aus der Jugendzeit: Neue Folge, 12 Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 57
- Scherzo capriccioso for violin and piano, Op. 59
- 3 Sonatinen for violin and piano, Op. 62
- 2 Stücke: Barcarolle und Canzonetta for violin and piano, Op. 64b ; original version for cello and piano
- 3 Fantasien in progressiver Reihenfolge for violin and piano, Op. 66
- 4 Stücke for violin and piano, Op. 67
- 3 Violin-Vorträge: Romanze, Nocturne, Scherzo-Tarantelle for violin and piano, Op. 71
- 20 kleine Vortragsstücke in progressiver Schwierigkeit for violin and piano, or for 2 violins, Op. 73
- 3 kleine Fantasien über Weihnachtslieder for violin and piano, Op. 74
- Zwölf Melodische Vortragsstücke for violin and piano, Op. 78
- Jugend-Album, 12 Little Easy Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 79
- Bunte Blätter, 12 Easy Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 84
- 2 Stücke for violin and piano, Op. 87
- Suite in D minor for violin and piano, Op. 88
- 3 Stücke for violin and piano, Op. 89
- 3 Duette in der ersten Lage für Anfänger for 2 violins, Op. 91
- Suite for violin and piano
- 3 instruktive Vortragsstücke for violin and piano, Op. 94
- Mosaik: Zwölf kleine Vortragsstücke for violin and piano, Op. 95
- Sechs lyrische Stücke for violin and piano, Op. 96
- 3 Stücke for violin and piano, Op. 97
- 3 Stücke for violin and piano, Op. 102
- Schüler-Konzertino No. 1 in der ersten Lage in C major for violin and piano, Op. 104
- Schüler-Konzertino No. 2 in den ersten 3 Lagen in A minor for violin and piano, Op. 108
- 3 Sonatinen for violin and piano, Op. 109
- Schüler-Konzertino No. 3 in den ersten 5 Lagen in D minor for violin and piano, Op. 110
- Gavotte for violin and piano, Op. 113 No. 3
- 3 kleine leichte Duette in der 1.-3. Lage for 2 violins, Op. 117
- 3 kleine leichte Duette in der 1.-3. Lage for 2 violins, Op. 118
- Concertino in D minor for 2 violins and piano, Op. 133
- 6 Albumblätter for viola and piano, Op. 39 ; also for violin and piano
- Concertstück in G minor for viola and piano, Op. 46
- 3 Fantasiestücke for viola and piano, Op. 58
- 3 Stücke for viola and piano, Op. 75
- Gavotte und Mazurka for viola and piano, Op. 132
- Romanze in D minor for viola and piano, Op. 102 No. 1 ; original from Drei Stücke for violin and piano; transcription by the composer
- Romanze in G major for cello and piano, Op. 17
- 3 Stücke for cello and piano, Op. 33
- Scherzo in A minor for cello and piano, Op. 35
- 3 kleine Stücke for cello and piano, Op. 45
- 2 Stücke: Barcarolle und Canzonetta for cello and piano, Op. 64 ; also for violin and piano
- Serenade for cello and piano
Pedagogical">Pedagogy">Pedagogical works
- Nachtrag zu Henry Schradieck's Tonleiterstudien for violin
- Zwölf Etüden für Violine, Op. 30
- 100 Etüden als Unterrichtsmaterial zu jeder Violinschule zu gebrauchen for violin, Op. 32
- Tonleiterstudien für Violine in Doppelgriffen zum praktischen Gebrauch beim Unterricht, Op. 41
- Praktische Bratschen-Schule
- 20 Etüden zur Ausbildung in der linken Hand for violin, Op. 51
- 20 Studien für Violine für vorgerücktere Schüler, Op. 69
- 24 Etüden für Violine in 24 verschiedenen Tonarten als Vorstudien zu Rode's Capricen zu benutzen, Op. 80
- 20 Etüden für Anfänger in der ersten Lage for violin, Op. 90
- Technische Studien für Violine, Op. 92
- 50 tägliche Übungen zur Ausbildung der linken Hand for violin, Op. 98
- Dur und Moll: 28 leichte melodische Etüden für Violine zur Befestigung der Intonation in allen Tonarten, Op. 107
- 15 Etüden for viola, Op. 116
- 40 besondere Übungen in den ersten 5 Lagen for violin, Op. 134
- Schule der Geläufigkeit und Fingerfertigkeit: 60 besondere Übungen zur Ausbildung der linken Hand, Op. 135
Piano
- Dornröschen Polka for piano, Op. 8
- Namenlose Blätter, 10 Pieces for piano, Op. 10
- 2 Ländler, Op. 12 ; also for piano 4-hands arranged by Aug. Riedel
- Gavotte in E minor, Op. 15 ; also for orchestra
- 6 Stücke for piano 4-hands, Op. 16
- 8 kleine Fantasiestücke, Op. 19
- Petite Sérénade for piano, Op. 33
- Lose Blätter, 10 Pieces for piano, Op. 37 ; also for violin and piano
Vocal
- 5 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 3
- 2 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 18
- 3 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 22
- 4 Gesänge aus "Wanderzeit" for voice and piano, Op. 23 ; words by Karl Stieler
- 5 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 36
- 3 kleine Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 61
- Weihnachtslied for voice and piano ; words by Julius Sturm
- An Graf Zeppelin for voice and piano
- Zu Strassburg auf der langen Brück’, Swiss Folk Song
- 3 Lieder for mixed chorus, Op. 43
- Festhymne for male chorus and orchestra, Op. 55 ; words by Fritz Lange
- Sandmännchen: rheinisches Volkslied for male chorus
- 3 Lieder für Männerchor, Op. 60 ; words by Georg von Örtzen, Gustav Kastropp and Rudolf Baumbach
- Nun brich von deiner höchsten Eiche, Patriotisches Festlied for male chorus
- 3 Lieder für gemischten Chor, Op. 76
- 3 Lieder für Männerchor, Op. 77 ; words by Julius Gersdorff
- 3 Männerchore, Op. 82 ; words by August Naaf, Felix Dahn and Rudolf Dietz
- Vergebliche Flucht for male chorus, Op. 83 ; words by Julius Sturm
- Böhmische Volkslieder für gemischten Chor
- Böhmische Volkslieder für Männerchor
- Böhmische Volkslieder für Frauenchor
- Die Krone im Rhein for male chorus, Op. 85 ; words by Ernst von Estouches
- Du mit Strahlen mich begleitend for male chorus, Op. 86 No. 1 ; words by Friedrich Rückert
- Frommes Wunder for male chorus, Op. 86 No. 3 ; words by Fritz Karstedt
- Heimkehr for male chorus ; words by Otto Roquette