A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Otto, Ernst

by George Grove

OTTO, Ernst Julius, born at Königstein Sept. 1, 1804; though always musical, was not educated exclusively for music. On the contrary, he passed his 'maturity examination' at Dresden in 1822 with honour, and studied theology for three years at Leipzig. While doing this he worked at music with Schicht and Weinlig. His compositions are of a solid character—oratorios; masses; an opera ('Schloss am Rhein') performed at Dresden 1838, and another at Augsburg; sonatas; cycles of songs for men's voices, etc. In 1830 he was appointed Cantor at Dresden, a post which he held with honour to himself up till his death, March 5, 1877.

His brother Franz, a bass singer (born 1806), and another brother a tenor, came to England in 1833 as directors of a Part-singing society.

[ G. ]