Julius Weismann

Julius Weismann was born on 26 December 1879 in Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany). His father was the renowned zoologist and evolutionary biologist August Weismann. Julius Weismann was a sickissh child and so received private lesson from an early age. Especially talented in music Julius Weismann took therefore private lessons with Josef Rheinberger at the age of 11. He then studied piano under Hermann Dimmler in Freiburg, later under Leopold von Herzogenberg and Friedrich Stumpf in Berlin to complete his studies finally in Munich under Ludwig Thuille.

After his studies Julius Weismann worked as a pianist and conductor, but mainly focused on composing. In the 1920s he had his breakthrough as a composer at the latest. In this decade Julius Weismann composed 5 operas and he was widely performed and well received in Germany. In 1929 he became a member of the Prussian Academy of Arts and was received their Beethoven Award a year later. Also in 1930 Julius Weismann founded a music school in Freiburg together with Erich Doflein where he also taught music theory and led the piano master class. The institution later incorporated into the Freiburg conservatory. His compositions fit into the idea of the Nazi regime and so Julius Weismann could continue his work during this period of time. For example he composed music for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Shakespeare to replace the one by Mendelssohn Bartholdy. In 1939 Weismann was awarded the Bach Price in Leipzig and became honorary citizen of his birthplace Freiburg. In 1941 Juilius Weismann quit from teaching and moved to the Lake Constance where he continued to compose.

Julius Weismann died on 22 December 1950 in Singen at the Hohentwiel (Germany).

Julius Weismann was a prolific composer, his work catalogue contains more than 150 opera numbers and dozens uncounted works. His catalogue include 4 symphonies, concertos for violin (4), piano (3), cello (3), horn, bassoon and trautonium as well as smaller orchestral works. His chamber music include 5 string quartets, 4 violin sonatas and much more. He also composed 6 operas, the ballet "Landsknechte", music for plays and many, many songs (his wife was a professional singer).

Piano piece in D major

In my possession is the autograph manuscript of a the composition "Klavierstück in D-Dur" by Julius Weismann. It is a small piano composition which was composed as a compliment in 1916. The manuscript shows a dedication to "Luise Aign and the painter / a musical echo / to the delightful picture / of my house in Schachen" and is dated 27 May 1916 (for the dedication) and 24 May 1916 (for the composition).

In my possession are also some autographs and documents of Julius Weismann connected to the concert singer Lili Hungar, who premiered the "Sieben Lieder op.70" by Julius Weismann on 5 January 1918. The lot includes:

• autograph manuscript of "Gutenachtliedchen op.54a No.3"
• autograph manuscript of "Es rinnen rote Quellen op.70 No.4"
• autograph manuscript of "Wir sind ganz traumbefangen op.81 No.7"
• a typewritten collection of two newspaper reviews of the world premiere of Julius Weismann's "Sieben Lieder" with Lili Hungar, first review by Max Steinitzer, second by Eugen Segnitz
• printed score of "Abendsegen op.54a No.2", published by Tischer & Jagenberg
• title page only of the printed score of "Sieben Lieder op.70", published by Steingräber. The title page bears a handwritten inscription by Julius Weismann: "Fräulein Lili Hungar zur schönen Erinnerung an ihre erste Aufführung dieser Lieder von Julius Weismann 14.11.21"