A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Kuhe, Wilhelm

by Alexis Chitty

KUHE, Wilhelm, born Dec. 10, 1823, at Prague, was taught music by Tomaschek, with Schulhoff as a fellow student. He made a concert tour with great success in 1844–45 at Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Augsburg, Munich, and Stuttgart. He visited London with Pischek in 1845, and played with success at the Musical Union in Mayseder's trio, op. 52, May 13. He has lived in England ever since, dividing his time between London and Brighton since 1847, at which last place he has attained popularity as a teacher and performer, and as a promoter of concerts. In the last capacity Mr. Kuhe showed great enterprise by the annual festival held by him from 1870 to 1882, wherein he encouraged native talent by the new works composed at his instance and produced by him, viz. Virginia Gabriel's 'Evangeline' in 1873; Barnett's cantata, 'The Good Shepherd,' in 1876; Clay's 'Lalla Rookh' in 1877 and 1878; Cowen's 'Deluge,' and Cellier's 'Suite Symphonique' in 1878; Walter Macfarren's overture, 'Hero and Leander,' Gadsby's 'Lord of the Isles,' Wingham's Concert Overture in A, and Sloper's suite in 1879; Leslie's cantata, 'First Christmas Morn,' A. H. Jackson's 'Ballet Suite' and W. Macfarren's Symphony in B♭ in 1880: W. Macfarren's Concertstück in B♭, played by Miss Kuhe, in 1881; Corder's orchestral Nocturne in 1882, etc., in addition to 'The Woman of Samaria,' 'The Martyr of Antioch,' etc., under the respective direction of their composers. He has occasionally appeared in London, where he has given an annual concert since 1846. He was appointed a Professor of the Royal Academy of Music in 1886. His numerous compositions include many drawing-room pieces, fantasias, and studies, viz. 'Lieder ohne Worte,' op. 12; 'Le Carillon,' op. 13; 'Chanson d'Amour'; 'Romance sans Paroles,' op. 17; 'Le Feu Follet,' op. 38; 'Victoria Fantasia on National Anthem'; 'Fantasia on Austrian Anthem'; operatic fantasias, etc.

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