Julius Reubke

(Friedrich) Julius Reubke
(b Hausneindorf, nr Quedlinburg, 23 March 1834; d Pillnitz, nr Dresden, 3 June 1858).

Composer, pianist and organist, son of (1) Adolf Reubke. He received his early musical training from Hermann Bönicke in Quedlinburg, and his Trio in E for two manuals and pedal dates from this period. In 1851, already proficient as an organist, he entered the newly founded Berlin Conservatory, where he studied the piano with Theodor Kullak and composition with Adolf Bernhard Marx. He was awarded high honours and Hans von Bülow considered him the school’s most gifted student. Two compositions of this period, a mazurka and a scherzo, are fluently written for the keyboard in the style of Chopin. After teaching the piano at the conservatory, in 1856 he moved to Weimar where he became one of Liszt’s favourite pupils. Close acquaintance with works of the new German school transformed his own style. In the spring of 1857 he completed his two most important works, the piano sonata in B minor and the organ sonata in C minor; the latter was first performed by him on the Ladegast organ in Merseburg Cathedral in June that year. Both works were highly esteemed by members of the Weimar circle; Liszt was particularly fond of the piano sonata and regarded Reubke as a composer of unusual promise. Reubke moved to Dresden at the end of the year; he joined the Dresdner Tonkünstlerverein and participated as pianist in its concerts. His failing health forced him to retire in the spring to Pillnitz, where he died in June. Peter Cornelius, a close friend, dedicated a poem to his memory.