A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bischoff, Ludwig

by Alfred Maczewski

BISCHOFF, Dr. Ludwig Friedrich Christoph, born at Dessau Nov. 27, 1794. His father was a cello-player in the Duke's band, and the boy was early initiated into music, though (like so many musicians) intended for science. In 1812 he entered the university of Berlin, and attended the philological lectures of Boeckh. But the war of freedom put a stop to study; Bischoff volunteered, and was taken prisoner by the French. After the treaty of Paris he resumed his studies and took his degree. He filled various posts in Switzerland, was professor at Berlin, and director of the gymnasium at Wesel from 1823 to 1849. Here he was remarkably active in musical matters, founding societies, assisting performances, and making his house in every sense a home for music. After twenty-five years he took his leave, and settled first in Bonn and then in Cologne. There he founded the 'Rheinische Musikzeitung' (1850) and the 'Nieder-Rheinische Musikzeitung' (1853), and edited them to the day of his death (Feb. 24, 1867), acting also as reporter to the 'Cölnische Zeitung,' and acquiring great influence throughout the Lower Rhine districts. The tendency of his papers was dead against that of the 'Neue Zeitschrift' of Schumann and Brendel, in regard to Wagner and Liszt. Bischoff's worship for Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, with whom he afterwards associated Mendelssohn, was so exclusive as to preclude his appreciating even Schumann, essential as he is in the development of modern music. On the other hand his influence on music in the Lower Rhine was both good and great. He was the musical centre of the energy and devotion which kept up the festivals of Cologne, Aix-la-Chapelle, and Düsseldorf, and through them acted so beneficially on the whole of Germany. With Bischoff 's death his papers came to an end, nor have they been yet replaced.

[ A. M. ]