A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Hüttenbrenner

by George Grove

HÜTTENBRENNER. An Austrian musical family, memorable from its connexion with Beethoven and Schubert. Anselm, the eldest, a professional musician, was born at Gratz, Oct. 13, 1794. He was for five years a pupil of Salieri's in Vienna, during which time he became intimate with Beethoven, Schubert, and other musicians of the day. He was one of the two persons present when Beethoven died. Why he took no part in the funeral is not explained, but it is certain that his name is not mentioned. He was a very voluminous composer in ail departments, and one of his Requiems, dedicated to Salieri, is spoken of as a work of real merit. It was performed for Schubert Dec. 23, 1828. Schubert had a great regard for Anselm. The well-known song 'Die Forelle' (op. 32) was written at his house 'at 12 o'clock at night,' as Schubert himself says.^[1] In his hurry Schubert shook the ink over the paper instead of the sand, a fact to which the autograph bears ample witness. The B minor Symphony was in Anselm's possession up to the time of its first performance at Vienna in Dec. 1865. He died at Ober-Andritz, Styria, June 5, 1868. For full details see his biography by von Leitner (Gratz, 1868).

Josef, the second brother, an enthusiastic amateur, was a government employé. His devotion to Schubert was excessive, so great as sometimes to bore the object of it; he was unwearied in his active services, communicated with publishers, and did all that devotion and admiration could do for his idol. The two used to play duets on an old worn-out piano. He was about Schubert during his last illness, and obtained the official permission for the performance of the Requiem after his death. The fine dramatic song 'Die Erwartung' by Schiller (op. 116) is dedicated by Schubert to 'his friend Josef Hüttenbrenner.'

The third brother, Heinrich, was a lawyer and a 'Dr. juris.' He was also a poet, and wrote the words for at least one of Schubert's pieces—the part-song 'Wehmuth' (op. 80, No. 1). [[App. p.681 amends to "he wrote the words for at least two of Schubert's pieces—'Der Jüngling auf dem Hügel,' op. 8, and the part-song 'Wehmuth' (op. 80, no. 1)."]

[ G. ]

1. Kreissle von Heilborn, 128. But I am assured by Mr. Nottebohm that the song was composed in 1817, so that this, though an autograph, is not the autograph.