Hugo Wolf

1
Hugo Wolf
By Lena (Morgan Boehm)
2
Hugo Wolf was born March 13, 1860 in northern
Slovenia.
When Wolf was 4 years old, his father taught him
Violin and Piano. When he started Primary
school, he studied piano and music theory with
Sebastian Weixler.
Any other subject other than music failed to hold
his interest, and he was dismissed from His first
secondary school for being Wholly Inadequate.
Wolf left 2 other schools as well, the first one
for difficulties in the compulsory Latin
studies, and the other from a falling out with
one of his professors.
Wolf then went on to the Vienna Conservatory,
where he was again dismissed from The school for
Breach of Discipline
Wolf claimed he quit the school out of
frustration of the schools conservatism.
Wolf contracted Syphilis as a teenager.
3
Wolf went to the Vienna Conservatory to teach.
Even though his fiery Temperament Wasnt ideal
for teaching, his talent and personal charm
earned him a lot of attention and sponsorship.
The support of his sponsors allowed Wolf to make
his living as a composer/teacher, a daughter of
one of the sponsors inspired him quite a bit.
Her name was Valentine Franck, she was his first
love, they were involved for over three years.
She left him just shy of his 21st birthday, and a
heartbroken Wolf returned home.
Wolf was prone to depression and mood swings
That had a big impact on his work throughout his
life.
Wolf spent a year working in Salzburg as a second
Kapellmeister (Choir Master), during this time
he didnt really accomplish anything which just
reassured his father that Wolf would never
accomplish anything.
Within a year of working in Salzburg,
Wolf returned to Vienna to continue teaching in
the same circumstances that he was in before he
originally left.
4
Richard Wagner was Wolfs greatest mentor and
idol, when he died he felt tremendous despair and
pressure to fill Wagner's shoes.
After Wagners death Wolf often isolated himself
from his friends, but his music still charmed and
inspired them.
The song. Zur ruh, zur ruh was composed shortly
after the death of Wagner, and is considered to
be the best of His early works. It is though to
be dedicated for Wagner.
Franz Liszt, a well respected friend who loved
Wolf's music,became his new mentor.
Even though Wolf admired Liszt, he felt his music
was too dry and academic, where as Wolf strove
for color and passion. Wolf was famous for using
tones to reinforce moods and emotions in his
music.
In 1887, Wolf stopped his work as a critic and
began composing more, shortly after he Completed
italienische Serenade, which was regarded as one
of his first works of mature style as a composer.
Although Spanish-influenced works were most
popular at the time, Wolf opted to use poems
that were neglected by others, but that he saw
potential in for his own music.
Wolf faced extensive amounts of criticism
throughout his career, and although he lost Many
opportunities because of it, he never lost his
passion and would not let it change him or his
works.
Exhaustion, depression, and syphilis once again
began taking its toll on Wolf and his health,
as a result his composing went to rest for
several years. He worked little on completing
unfinished compositions but did not start any new
ones. His works were spreading throughout
Austria and Germany and were gaining popularity
and receiving positive reviews.
5
A story about an adulterous love triangle,
influenced Wolfs Last opera because it was one
he could identify with. He was in love with
Melanie Koechert, and they had a long
affair Throughout much of her marriage to Wolfs
longtime friend and Patron, Heinrich Koechert.
The Operas text was weak and it failed, never
to be revived.
6
Wolfs Last concert appearance was in February of
1897. Not long after, Wolf slipped into
Syphilitic Insanity. After mid 1899, Wolf no
longer could compose music, and he tried to drown
himself. At his own will, Wolf was placed in an
asylum. His lover, Melanie, visited him
faithfully through his decline, until his death
on February 22, 1903. The guilt from her lack of
faith to her husband finally got the best of her,
and she killed herself 3 years later. Wolf is
buried in the Zentralfriedhof in Vienna along
with other notable composers, such as Beethoven.
7
Bibliography

• Music Itunes
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Wolf
• http//www.classiccat.net/wolf_h/biography.htm
• http//www.classicalmidi.co.uk/wolf.htm
• http//w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/wolf.html
• http//www.vh1.com/artists/az/wolf_hugo/bio.jhtml
• http//music.aol.com/artist/hugo-wolf/1494/biograp
  hy