A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Schneider, Friedrich

by Franz Gehring

SCHNEIDER, Friedrich johann Christian, composer, teacher, and conductor, born Jan. 3, 1786, at Alt-Waltersdorf, near Zittau, composed a symphony as early as 10. In 1798 entered the Gymnasium of Zittau, and studied music with Schönfelder, and Unger. In 1804 he published 3 PF. sonatas, and having entered the University of Leipzig in 1805 carried on his musical studies to such purpose that in 1807 he became organist of St. Paul's, in 1810 director of the Seconda opera, and in 1812 organist of St. Thomas's church. There he remained till 1821, when he became Capellmeister to the Duke of Dessau, whose music he much improved, and founded in the town a Singakademie, a schoolmaster's choral society, and a Liedertafel. In 1829 he founded a musical Institute, which succeeded well, and educated several excellent musicians, Robert Franz among the number. Schneider was also an industrious composer, his works comprising oratorios—'Das Weltgericht' (1819), 'Verlorne Paradies' (1824), 'Pharao' (1828), 'Christus das Kind,' and 'Gideon' (1829), 'Getsemane und Golgotha' (1838) [App. p.785 "A fuller list of his oratorios will be found in vol. ii. p. 555a"]; 14 masses; Glorias and Te Deums; 25 cantatas; 5 hymns; 13 psalms, 7 operas; 23 symphonies; 60 sonatas; 6 concertos; 400 Lieder for men's voices, and 200 ditto for a single voice—all now forgotten except the men's part-songs. Schneider directed the musical festivals of Magdeburg (1825), Nuremberg (1828), Strasburg (1830), Halle (1830 and 35), Halberstadt (1830), Dessau (1834), Wittenberg (1835), Coethen (1838 and 46), Coblenz and Hamburg (1840), Meissen (1841), Zerbst (1844), and Lübeck (1847). He also published didactic works—'Elementarbuch der Harmonie und Tonsetzkunst' (1820), translated into English (London, (1828); 'Vorschule der Musik' (1827); and 'Handbuch des Organisten' (1829–30). The oratorio of the 'Sündfluth' was translated into English as 'The Deluge' by Professor E. Taylor, published in London and probably performed at one of the Norwich festivals.

Schneider was a doctor of music, and a member of the Berlin and several other Academies. He died Nov. 23, 1853. Some traits of his curious jealous temper will be found in Schubring's Reminiscences of Mendelssohn, in 'Daheim' for 1866, No. 26. He was vexed with Mendelssohn for his revival of Bach's Passion but the feeling passed away; and in the 'Signale' for 1866, Nos. 46, 47, 48, there are eight letters (1829–45) from Mendelssohn to him showing that they were on very good terms. When Mendelssohn's body passed through Dessau, on its way to Berlin, Schneider met it at the station, with his choir, and a lament was sung, which he had purposely composed, and which will be found in the A.M.Z. for 1847, No. 48.

[ F. G. ]