A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bocklet, Carl von

by Franz Gehring

BOCKLET, Carl Maria von, pianoforte-player, born at Prague, 1801; learned the pianoforte from Zawora, the violin from Pixis, and composition from D. Weber. In 1820 he settled in Vienna as first violin in the Theatre 'an der Wien,' but shortly after resigned the violin and gave his whole attention to the piano. Beethoven took much interest in him, and at different times wrote him three letters of recommendation (Nohl, 'Beethovens Briefe,' Nos. 175, 176, 324). He was very intimate with Franz Schubert, whose piano compositions he was the first to bring into public notice, and for whom he had a romantic attachment. His great object in performance was to catch the spirit of the composition. Meeting with great success as a teacher he gradually withdrew himself from all public appearance; but in 1866, after a long interval, appeared once more to introduce his son Heinrich to notice. [App. p.549 "Date of death, July 15, 1881."]

[ F. G. ]