A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Speidel

by George Grove

SPEIDEL, a musical family of Ulm. 1, Konrad, well-known singer and director of the 'Ulm Liederkranz' singing society: he died Jan. 29, 1880. 2. His eldest son, Wilhelm, born Sept. 3, 1826, was educated in music first by his father and then by I. Lachner and W. Kuhe. After teaching for two years at Thann in Alsace he made Munich his headquarters, but was widely known as a PF, player throughout Germany, and intimately associated with Schumann, Liszt, and Thalberg, He was music-director at Ulm from 1854 to 1857, but in the latter year joined Stark, Lebert, etc. in founding the Conservatorium at Stuttgart, and remained there as Professor of the PF, till 1874, when he left the Conservatorium to found a private school of his own. He is conductor of the Stuttgart 'Popular Concerts.' His works are numerous, comprising 65 opus numbers in all departments. He has also edited the sonatas of Haydn and Mozart, and the PF. works of Mendelssohn. 3. His brother Ludwig was born, also at Ulm, April 11, 1830. He received his education at the University of Munich, and joined the staff of the Augsburg Gazette. In 1853 he took up his quarters in Vienna, and was soon engaged on the press of that city, first on the 'Presse,' then on the 'Neue Freie Presse' and the 'Fremdenblatt,' for both of which he still writes. He is one of the most considerable Anti-Wagnerites of the day, of great independence of opinion and remarkable force of expression. Herr Speidel is also well-known as a devoted adherent of Schubert.

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