Adolf H A Weidig Born 28.11.1867 Hamburg Died 23.8.1931 Hinsdale, Illionois.
Adolf was the son of Ferdinand Weidig a trombonist. He initially studied the violin with Johannes Jagan, and later at the Hamburg Conservatory with K L Brugheer and Hugo Riemann. At the age of 16 he became a member of the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1887 he entered The Munich Conservatory where he was a pupil of Abel and Josef Rheinberger.
Quote from Cobbett's 'All Weidigs music reveals a profoundly scholarly manner of writing, he is thoroughly skilled in the use of all contrapuntal and harmonic devices'
He decided to go to the US in 1892 and settled in Chicago. He married Helen Ridgway in 1896
Orchestral
Symphony in C minor
Symphonic Fantasy, Semiramis – Tone poem Op.33 1893
Drei Episoden: Im Frieien, Trauer, Liebesgluck Op.38 pub. by B Schott 1909
Symphonic Suite in three movements 1914
Serenade for strings Op.16
Concert Overture Op.65 1919
Chamber
Piano Trio Op.9 pub. by Augener & Co. 1899
String Quintet
String Quartet in D minor 1888
String Quartet in A
String Quartet in C minor
Quartettino in C pub. by Schott Op.11 1900
Serenade for string quartet Op.16 pub. by C F Summy 1899
Credo – 'In Memoriam' for string quartet Op.53 pub. by Clayton F Summy 1920
Leichte Stuke, three pieces for violin and piano: Romanze, Barcarole and Mazurka Op.5 1888
Three compositions for violin and piano: Ballad, Menuet, and Venetian Serenade. Op.17 pub. by C F Summy 1899
Suite for violin and piano in G minor Op.21 pub. by C F Summy
Petite Suite for violin and piano: Aria & Intermezzo, Gavotte and Finale Op.22 pub. by B Schott & Co. 1902
Trois Morceau for violin and piano: Berceuse, Valse-Caprice and Gavotte. Op.24 pub. by B Schott & Co. 1904
Italian Suite for violin and piano: Venice, Florentine Serenade, In Rome, Ave Maria, Neapolitan Romance and On Capri. Op.40. pub. by C F Summy 1914
Three compositions for violin and piano: May day, A Summer's Evening and In a Cheerful mood. Op.41 Pub. by C Fischer NY 1913
Romanza for cello Op.14 pub. by C F Summy
Piano
Canons for solo piano Op.42 pub. by C F Summy 1911
Canzonetta Op.48 pub. by C F Summy 1912
Song
Eventide – song for mezzo or baritone and orchestra . words by C E Kilburger Op.29 pub. by C F Summy 1915
Golden Primrose Op.10/1
Ah, might I clear each wishful -- words by F Kanowski Op.10/2
Ah, might I kiss thee. Op.10/3
Three Children's Songs: Op.15/1 A Spring Chorus, /2.Polly's Handkerchief, /3 The Disappointed Snowflakes . pub. by C F Summy
O Sing unto the Lord - motet Op.20 pub. by C F Summy 1900
Five songs Op.21. /1 The Sleeping of the Wind, words by C B Goring.
21/2 Let her in,
21/3 Night Whisperings, words by F Evans,
21/4 Not Yet, words by S Coolidge,
21/5. A Sleepy-time song words by M J Shennon. All pub. by Clayton F Summy 1902
Two Garden songs: Op.25/1 You and I, words by E Beddy, /2 A Garden Tragedy words by C E Cleaver pub. by C F Summy 1903
Good night words by A H Lockhart Op.26 pub. by C F Summy 1904
Two songs: Op.27/1 Love'sCalender words by C E Cleaver, /2 The Gypsy words by M Morgan pub. by O Ditson& Co.
Le Coquette words by G Ames pub. by C F Summy 1901
Buccaneer, a song story. 25 songs. Words by Alden Charles Noble.Op.31 pub. by C F Summy 1905
Sun Divine words by M A Crosby Op.38 pub. by C F Summy 1908
The Garden of Gethsemane. words by A E Walker sacred song pub. by C F Summy 1919
Book og Children's songs, words by M Morgan Op.49 pub. by C F Summy
Three songs with words by T B Aldrich: Op.80/1 Cradle Song, /2. Necromancy, /3. A Refrain. pub. by G Schirmer 1927
Choral
Horch' auf! Awake. For male voices Op.14 pub. by C F Summy 1904
The Pilgrim's Hymn Words by E C Steadman pub. by Novello 1916
Sing again my heart and chant it - madrigal for mixed voices. Words by S R Gaines Op.66 pub by J Fischer & Bros. 1921
Serenade for three part chorus of woman's voices. Words by T B Aldrich Op.81 pub. by G Schirmer
There appear to be some manuscripts here:
https://archives.newberry.org/repositories/2/resources/376
There is a reference to a recording of his song 'The Mill Wheel' at the UCSB discography"
https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/109429/Weidig_Adolf
I notice the month of his death is given here as August.
His Op.9 trio, among other works, can be found on YT, and several scores can be accessed at the Internet Archive. It's meagre pickings in view of his output. :(
Only 6 items at IMSLP, too (including the 3 episodes in score, though.)
The back cover of Wrightson's 3rd organ sonata advertises a list of works published by Clayton Summy around 1899 (or later- this could be a reprint) including 4 miniatures for piano by Weidig.
Various performances of the Piano Trio can be heard at YouTube, as semloh says:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=adolf+weidig+trio
I've sampled this - can't wait to hear the whole thing! Great work yet again, Martin!
Symphony in Eb (1890)
Not bad for a 23 yr old !
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzvChmrZrUo&t=1638s
Thanks, Rêverie!!!
Pinned Merged link needs edit.
Quote from: Reverie on Wednesday 07 August 2024, 22:53Not bad for a 23 yr old !
Absolutely. Commendably compact for a youthful late-romantic symphony. First impressions are that Weidig's material is attractive and used with imagination. The work's well-balanced and varied movements have plenty of dynamic, harmonic and melodic contrast, maybe let down just slightly by the
finale. So, not a master work but an enjoyable and satisfying piece to which I'll return.
I agree with Mark. For a late-romantic Symphony, albeit by a young composer, there is no inflation - just good, strong material and an urgent sense of movement and symphonic development. The music is basically conservative in its harmony and general approach, but it is unfailingly attractive and would reward an adventurous orchestra and conductor.
Same here. Nicely balanced in every sense, and with some hidden depths. I even like the finally in spite of a some sagging in the middle. Thank you for this, Martin!
Youtube has another orchestral work by Adolf Weidig:
Three Episodes op. 38
1. Im Freien (Scherzo) [Outdoors]
2. Trauer (Adagio doloroso) [Grief]
3. Liebesglück (Allegro) [Happiness of Love]
Dan Pasquale D'Andrea conducts the Sinfonietta Bel Canto:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAydHrdqn38
Here is the score:
https://imslp.org/wiki/3_Episoden%2C_Op.38_(Weidig%2C_Adolf)
Thank you to the conductor and members of the
Sinfonietta Bel Canto for their spirited performance of the 3 Episodes by the highly under-rated Adolf Weidig. It's quite superb to see a small local orchestra bringing back to life such a vibrant, expertly crafted piece of late romantic music.
*******************
I started work on my realisation quite a while ago and shelved it for a bit. Anyway I decided to get it finished and here it is.
Drei Episoden, Op.38 (1907)
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj_yt3hfiUI