A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Titze, Ludwig

by Carl Ferdinand Pohl

TITZE, or TIETZE, Ludwig, member of the Imperial chapel and of the Tonkünstler-Societät, and Vice-Pedell of the University of Vienna, born April i, 1797, died Jan. 11, 1850. Possessor of a sympathetic and highly-trained tenor voice, with a very pure style of execution, Titze was universally popular. He sang at the Concerts Spirituels, and acted as choir-master, Karl Holz being leader, and Baron Lannoy conductor. Between 1822 and 1839 he appeared at 26 concerts of the Tonkünstler-Societät, singing the tenor solos in such works as Handel's 'Solomon,' 'Athaliah,' 'Jephthah,' and 'Messiah, 'and Haydn's 'Creation' and 'Seasons,' associated in the latter with Staudigl after 1833. From 1822 he also sang at innumerable concerts and soirées of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde. His special claim to distinction, however, was his production of Schubert's songs at these soirées. He sang successively, 'Rastlose Liebe' (1824 and 31); 'Erlkönig' (1825); 'Der Einsame' (1826); 'Nachthelle' (1827); 'Norman's Gesang' (March 8, 1827, accompanied by Schubert on the PF., and 1839); 'Gute Nacht' (1828); 'Der blinde Knabe,' and 'Drang in die Ferne' (1829); 'Liebesbotschaft,' and 'Auf dem Strome' (1832); 'An mein Herz,' 'Sehnsucht,' and 'Die Sterne' (1833); besides taking his part in the quartets 'Geist der Liebe' (1823 and 32); 'Die Nachtigall' (1824); 'Der Gondelfahrer' (1825); and the solo in the 'Song of Miriam' (1832). At the single concert given by Schubert, March 26, 1828, he sang 'Auf dem Strome,' accompanied on the French horn by Lewy, jun.. and on the PF. by Schubert. These lists show that Schubert's works were not entirely neglected in Vienna. His name appears in the programmes of the Gesellschaft soirées 88 times between 1821 and 1840.

[ C. F. P. ]