A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Wieck, Friedrich

by George Grove

WIECK, Friedrich, a remarkable pianoforte teacher, and father of Madame Schumann, was born Aug. 18, 1785, at Pretsch, near Torgau, in Saxony, began life as a student of theology at Wittenburg, preacher and private tutor, and, was for some time engaged in a piano factory and library at Leipzig. His first wife was named Tromlitz, and was the mother of Clara Josephine, his famous daughter, and of two sons, Alwyn and Gustav. This union, however, was broken off, and the lady married Bargiel, father of Woldemar Bargiel. Wieck married again, July 31, 1828, Clementine Fechner, by whom he had a daughter Marie. About 1844 he removed from Leipzig to Dresden, where he resided till his death, Oct. 6, 1873, spending the summer at Löschwitz, and leading a very musical life, his house a rendezvous for artists. Mendelssohn endeavoured to secure him as Professor of the Piano in the Leipzig Conservatorium, but without success, and Moscheles was appointed instead.

Wieck began to teach the piano on Logier's system, but soon abandoned it for a method of his own, if that can be called a method which seems to have consisted of the application of the greatest care, sense, and intelligence possible to the teaching of technique and expression. He has embodied his views on the piano and singing in a pamphlet entitled 'Clavier und Gesang' (2nd ed., Leipzig, 1875), translated bv H. Krüger, of Aberdeen, with three portraits. [See vol. iii. p. 423b.] Among Wieck's pupils may be mentioned Hans von Bülow, who, in a letter quoted in the translation just mentioned, speaks of him with respect and gratitude. But his daughter Clara, is his best pupil, and his greatest glory.

An institution called the 'Wieck-Stiftung' was founded in Dresden on Aug. 18, 1871, his 86th birthday, partly by funds of his own. He continued to see his friends almost up to the end of his life, and an amusing account of a visit to him in 1872 is given by Miss Amy Fay ('Music Study in Germany,' London, 1886, p. 147). He published some Studies and Dances for the piano, Exercises in Singing, and a few pamphlets, Verfall der Gesangkunst' (Decay of the Art of Singing), etc. He edited a number of classical pianoforte works which are published anonymously, but distinguished by the letters DAS (Der alte Schulmeister). For portrait, see p. 492.

Marie Wieck, daughter of the foregoing, was born in Leipzig about 1830, and educated by her father. She visited England in 1864, and appears to have been the first to perform the Concerto of Robert Schumann, in London, viz. at the Crystal Palace, on March 5 of that year. She now resides in Dresden, and is much esteemed is a teacher both of the pianoforte and singing. She has edited several of her father's works.

[ G. ]

Friedrich Wieck. See p. 451.