Franz Mittler
Encyclopedia
Franz Mittler was an Austria
n (and later on an American) composer
, musician, and humorist.
. His maternal grandmother financed his earliest musical education which started out under Mr. Deutsch and later Oscar Stock (violin
). His first public performance took place in 1902 when he performed the Schubert Sonatina in D D. 384 with the then 7-year old Clara Haskil
. In 1904 he moved from the violin to the pursuit of piano where his teacher became Theodor Leschetizky. He studied theory with Joseph Labor (also teacher of Julius Bittner
and Arnold Schoenberg
), later composition with Richard Heuberger
and Karl Pohaska. From these teachers, Mittler attained his neo-Brahmsian style. Further studies included Fritz Steinbach
and Carl Friedberg at the Vienna University and the Conservatory in Cologne. He also studied with Heinrich Schenker
.
In 1913 Mittler volunteered for a one year stint in the Imperial and Royal Austrian Army in the supply and logistics division. As sub-lieutenant his military duties included the supervision of a bread-baking unit during all of World War I. During that time he came near the Russian front in Poland, and was stationed in Serbia. After the war, Mittler also studied singing (with a Romanian mezzo by the name of Mme. Munteanu) and later, still, guitar, before he returned to the violin again.
He composed several smaller works during the pre-war years in Vienna, including his Schumannesque "Phantasiestück opus 5 for Piano, and a Richard Strauss influenced cycle of "Four Songs opus 6 for Medium Voice and Piano". Universal published Mittler's "Marienbildchen opus 7 No. 1 for Soprano and Piano" which a contemporary review called "a charming small idyll, foull of modern harmonic piquanteries", hinting at a harmonic style roughly reflecting that of Gustav Mahler. His First String Quartet from 1909 also falls into that time, and it shows the great talent and ability of the then 16 year old Mittler. The parts and score to String Quartet Nos. 1 and 3, his Cello Sonata (1910), as well as his Op. 3 Piano Trio were recently published by Edition Silvertrust
(2008-9).
Around 1940, Mittler was one of the four pianists who organized the First Piano Quartet
. He stayed with the group until the 1950s.
His daughter, Diana Mittler-Battipaglia, is a music teacher and pianist.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n (and later on an American) composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, musician, and humorist.
Life and work
Mittler was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. His maternal grandmother financed his earliest musical education which started out under Mr. Deutsch and later Oscar Stock (violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
). His first public performance took place in 1902 when he performed the Schubert Sonatina in D D. 384 with the then 7-year old Clara Haskil
Clara Haskil
Clara Haskil was a Romanian classical pianist, renowned as an interpreter of the classical and early romantic repertoire....
. In 1904 he moved from the violin to the pursuit of piano where his teacher became Theodor Leschetizky. He studied theory with Joseph Labor (also teacher of Julius Bittner
Julius Bittner
Julius Bittner was an Austrian composer.-Life:The son of a judge, Bittner also initially pursued a career in law. Until 1920 he was a judge in Wolkersdorf im Weinviertel, in Lower Austria...
and Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
), later composition with Richard Heuberger
Richard Heuberger
Richard Franz Joseph Heuberger was an Austrian composer of operas and operettas, a music critic, and teacher....
and Karl Pohaska. From these teachers, Mittler attained his neo-Brahmsian style. Further studies included Fritz Steinbach
Fritz Steinbach
Fritz Steinbach was a German conductor and composer who was particularly associated with the works of Johannes Brahms. Born in Grünsfeld, he was the brother of conductor Emil Steinbach. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory and in Vienna. Among his teachers were Martin Gustav Nottebohm and Anton...
and Carl Friedberg at the Vienna University and the Conservatory in Cologne. He also studied with Heinrich Schenker
Heinrich Schenker
Heinrich Schenker was a music theorist, best known for his approach to musical analysis, now usually called Schenkerian analysis....
.
In 1913 Mittler volunteered for a one year stint in the Imperial and Royal Austrian Army in the supply and logistics division. As sub-lieutenant his military duties included the supervision of a bread-baking unit during all of World War I. During that time he came near the Russian front in Poland, and was stationed in Serbia. After the war, Mittler also studied singing (with a Romanian mezzo by the name of Mme. Munteanu) and later, still, guitar, before he returned to the violin again.
He composed several smaller works during the pre-war years in Vienna, including his Schumannesque "Phantasiestück opus 5 for Piano, and a Richard Strauss influenced cycle of "Four Songs opus 6 for Medium Voice and Piano". Universal published Mittler's "Marienbildchen opus 7 No. 1 for Soprano and Piano" which a contemporary review called "a charming small idyll, foull of modern harmonic piquanteries", hinting at a harmonic style roughly reflecting that of Gustav Mahler. His First String Quartet from 1909 also falls into that time, and it shows the great talent and ability of the then 16 year old Mittler. The parts and score to String Quartet Nos. 1 and 3, his Cello Sonata (1910), as well as his Op. 3 Piano Trio were recently published by Edition Silvertrust
Edition Silvertrust
Edition Silvertrust is a U.S. publisher of chamber music. Founded by R.H.R. Silvertrust, Editor of The Chamber Music Journal and President of The International Cobbett Association for Chamber Music Research....
(2008-9).
Around 1940, Mittler was one of the four pianists who organized the First Piano Quartet
First Piano Quartet
The First Piano Quartet was a quartet of pianists first organized in the United States in 1941. Its founding members were Vladimir Padwa, Franz Mittler, Adam Garner, and Edward Edson. The quartet was originally conceived of as a radio group...
. He stayed with the group until the 1950s.
His daughter, Diana Mittler-Battipaglia, is a music teacher and pianist.
Notable works
- String Quartet No. 1 (1909)
- Sonata in G Major for Violin & Piano (1910)
- Piano Trio, Op. 3 (1911)
- String Quartet No. 3 (1915-18)
- Three Character Pieces for Piano (1912-26)
- Chaconne for Solo Violin, Op. 10 (1926)
Sources
- Franz Mittler - Austro-Hungarian Composer, Musician, and Humorous Poet by Diana Mittler-Battipaglia, Volume 8 Austrian Culture (Harry Zahn, General Editor), Peter Lang Publishing (New York - Vienna, 1992) ISBN 0-8204-2063-8
External links
- Edition Silvertrust Website with discussion of and soundbites from String Quartet Nos.1 & 3, Piano Trio Op.3 & Cello Sonata
- Franz Mittler biography and works on the UE website (publisher)
- Short Biography (in German) on the Austrian Broadcasting Service website.
- Brix.de - Sammlung von Schüttelreimen Collection of Mittler's limericks and spoonerisms
- Chamber Music You Didn’t Know You Love ( 3 ) by Jens F. Laurson for WETA-FM