Willy Böttcher

Willy Böttcher was born on 9 August 1898 in Wittgensdorf near Chemnitz (Germany). He received his musical education at the Städtische Orchester in Annaberg as violinist, violist and pianist. In 1919 Willy Böttcher moved back to Chemnitz for further studies as conductor and chorus master. From 1921 to 1931 he was concertmaster of the Chemnitz Philharmonic Orchestra. Willy Böttcher dedicated his activities also to his local congregation, the Adventsgemeinde Chemnitz where he led the chorus and string orchestra for decades. From 1946 untill his retirement in 1963 he was violist at the Städtische Orchester Chemnitz. Willy Böttcher then moved to Fürth in West-Germany where he died on 6 December 1976.

In my possession is the full score of the autograph manuscript of the String quartet No.1 op.27, which is subtitled "in Form einer Suite alten Stils". It was composed between 1926 and 1930. The work consists of six short movements titled I. Allemande - II. Menuett - III. Aria - IV. Gavotte-Musette - V. Sarabande - VI. Giga. The autograph bears an inscription to "Stud. Ass. R. Tretzsch", most likely this is Rudolf Tretzsch (1905 in Chemnitz - 1981), a violinist and music professor who is now best remembered for his huge viola collection which is part of the Primrose International Viola Archive.

Through the family of Willy Böttcher I also received the score of a small work for recorder student and piano. One can find the score for this piece below as well: