A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Silcher, Friedrich

by Franz Gehring

SILCHER, Friedrich, well-known composer of Lieder, born June 27, 1789, at Schnaith, near Schorndorf in Würtemburg, was taught music by his father, and by Auberlen, organist at Fellbach near Stuttgart. He was educated for a schoolmaster, and his first post was at Ludwigsburg, where he began to compose. In 1815 he took a conductorship at Stuttgart, and composed a cantata, which procured him, in 1817, the post of conductor to the University of Tübingen. This he held till 1860, when he retired, and died shortly after (Aug. 26) at Tübingen. The honorary degree of Doctor had been conferred upon him by the University in 1852. His most important publications are—'Sechs vierstimmige Hymnen' (Laupp), 'Dreistimmiges würtemb. Choralbuch' (ibid.), and 'Swabian, Thuringian, and Franconian Volkslieder' (12 parts), many of which are his own compositions. Several of Silcher's melodies have become true songs of the people, such as 'Aeunchen von Tharau,' 'Morgen muss ich weit von hier,' 'Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten,' 'Zu Strassburg ent der Schanz,' etc. The Lieder were published simultaneously for 1 and 2 voices, with PF, and for 4 men's voices. He edited a method for harmony and composition in 1851. A biographical sketch of Silcher by Köstlin appeared in 1877.

[ F. G. ]