Joseph Schalk
Encyclopedia
Joseph Schalk was an Austria
n conductor
, musicologist and pianist
. His name is often given as Josef Schalk.
Schalk was born in Vienna
, Austria
, and together with younger brother Franz
, was a student of composer
Anton Bruckner
(1824–1896), and a friend of composer Hugo Wolf
(1860–1903). He was a prominent figure in Viennese musical life of the late nineteenth-century, a vocal advocate for the music of Wagner
, Bruckner and Wolf: in this capacity he was opposed to the more conservative supporters of Brahms
who were led by the critic Eduard Hanslick
. As president of the Vienna Wagner Society, Schalk was active in arranging performances of Bruckner's work: he also popularized his teacher's music by arranging it for piano
performance, writing articles and arranging for its publication. He played a comparable role in popularizing Wolf's music. Bruckner is said to have referred to him as Herr Generalissimus.
Schalk was involved in the preparation of several of Bruckner's scores for their first publication or performance: these include the Third
and Eighth
symphonies, along with the Mass in F Minor.
Schalk wrote a series of articles under the collective title Das Gesetz der Tonalität ("the foundation of tonality") which laid down his theory of harmony
, based on his teaching from Bruckner.
He was later a professor at the Vienna Conservatory. Upon Bruckner's death, Schalk was named administrator of his library of music scores.
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 conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, musicologist and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. His name is often given as Josef Schalk.
Schalk was born in Vienna
Vienna
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...
, Austria
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...
, and together with younger brother Franz
Franz Schalk
Franz Schalk was an Austrian conductor. From 1918 to 1929 he was director of the Vienna State Opera, a post he held jointly with Richard Strauss from 1919 to 1924. Later, Schalk was involved in the establishment of the Salzburg Festival.-Biography:Schalk was born in Vienna, Austria, where he later...
, was a student of 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...
Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, complex polyphony, and considerable length...
(1824–1896), and a friend of composer Hugo Wolf
Hugo Wolf
Hugo Wolf was an Austrian composer of Slovene origin, particularly noted for his art songs, or lieder. He brought to this form a concentrated expressive intensity which was unique in late Romantic music, somewhat related to that of the Second Viennese School in concision but utterly unrelated in...
(1860–1903). He was a prominent figure in Viennese musical life of the late nineteenth-century, a vocal advocate for the music of Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
, Bruckner and Wolf: in this capacity he was opposed to the more conservative supporters of Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
who were led by the critic Eduard Hanslick
Eduard Hanslick
Eduard Hanslick was a Bohemian-Austrian music critic.-Biography:Hanslick was born in Prague, the son of Joseph Adolph Hanslick, a bibliographer and music teacher from a German-speaking family, and one of his piano pupils, the daughter of a Jewish merchant from Vienna...
. As president of the Vienna Wagner Society, Schalk was active in arranging performances of Bruckner's work: he also popularized his teacher's music by arranging it for piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
performance, writing articles and arranging for its publication. He played a comparable role in popularizing Wolf's music. Bruckner is said to have referred to him as Herr Generalissimus.
Schalk was involved in the preparation of several of Bruckner's scores for their first publication or performance: these include the Third
Symphony No. 3 (Bruckner)
Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 3 in D minor was dedicated to Richard Wagner and is sometimes known as his "Wagner Symphony". It was written in 1873, revised in 1877 and again in 1891....
and Eighth
Symphony No. 8 (Bruckner)
Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 in C minor is the last Symphony the composer completed. It exists in two major versions of 1887 and 1890. It was premiered under conductor Hans Richter in 1892 in Vienna...
symphonies, along with the Mass in F Minor.
Schalk wrote a series of articles under the collective title Das Gesetz der Tonalität ("the foundation of tonality") which laid down his theory of harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
, based on his teaching from Bruckner.
He was later a professor at the Vienna Conservatory. Upon Bruckner's death, Schalk was named administrator of his library of music scores.