Composer and Performer
After graduating the University of Vienna with a law degree, Schenker devoted himself entirely to music. His first major opportunity came with Maximilian Harden, editor of Die Zukunft who published his earliest writings. Publications in other periodicals followed. Surviving letters in Schenker's archive suggest that during his schooling Schenker had no income and survived purely by gifts from supporters. He continued this practice after graduating. Schenker dedicated his Inventions op. 5 to Irene Graedener (maiden name Mayerhofer). On her death (Aug. 9, 1923), he recalled in his diary that it was at her house that he was able to find himself and realize his future calling. At this point in his career, Schenker saw himself primarily as a composer and tried to ingratiate himself as a means of promoting his compositions. Several letters attest to his meetings with Eduard Hanslick. By 1900, Schenker was actively trying to promote his musical compositions as evidenced by correspondence with Ignaz Brüll, Karl Goldmark, Eugen d'Albert and Ferruccio Busoni. There were probably more compositions than the existing ones (in the Oswald Jonas Memorial Collection at the University of California at Riverside), although dedications on the published compositions indicate who were sympathetic and possibly gave money to enable Schenker's works to be published. His Op. 1 carries a dedication to Julius Epstein, Op. 2 is dedicated to Ferruccio Busoni, Op. 4 is dedicated to Eugen d'Albert. D'Albert had promised to play some of Schenker's works, and Busoni was particularly enthusiastic about the Fantasy, Op. 2. With letters from d'Albert, Brüll, Busoni, and Detlev von Liliencron, Schenker felt confident in promoting his compositions. Correspondence indicates that Schenker was in contact with Max Kalbeck, as the latter was trying to make introductions for him. Similar patronage is evidenced by the dedication on the Syrian Dances (without opus number), dedicated to Baron Alphonse de Rothschild. At Busoni's insistence, the dances were orchestrated by Arnold Schoenberg and played on June 5, 1903, the ensemble led by Busoni.
The publication of Schenker's Vorüber Op. 7, no. 3, in a collection sponsored by the Wiener Singakademie attests to a friendship between composer and the organization's conductor, Carl Lafite.
In the final decade of the 19th century Schenker was also active on the concert stage. He did not give solo recitals but participated as an accompanist or participant in chamber music, occasionally programming his own works. Programs exist showing that Schenker accompanied french horn virtuoso Louis Savart in Schenker's Serenade für Waldhorn on November 5, 1893 (at the Salle der Börse) and March 5, 1894 (at the Bösendorfersaal). Schenker also was the accompanist for Lieder singer Johan Messchaert on a tour organized by the Ludwig Grünfeld Bureau whose stops included: Klagenfurt (January 8), Graz (January 11), Trieste (January 13), Brünn (January 15), Lemberg (January 17), Vienna (January 19), Budapest (January 21), Linz (January 24), Vienna again (January 26), Ústí nad Labem (January 30) and again Budapest (February 3). This tour enabled Schenker to play his own pieces, namely the Fantasia op. 2 and the Allegretto grazioso from Op. 4, no. 2. Existing correspondence shows that Messachaert was highly appreciative. Schenker also accompanied the bass singer Eduard Gardener on occasion, and Gardener programmed Schenker's song "Meeresstille" Op. 6, no. 3 and Blumengruss on a concert at the Bosendorfersall on January 19, 1895. On a Gardener recital January 26, 1900, Schenker and Moritz Violin gave the premiere of the Syrian Dances. On December 1, 1900, Gardener, accompanied by Alexander von Zemlinsky, sang Schenker's Wiegenlied, Op. 3 no. 2 and on March 13, 1902 Gardener sang Ausklang, Op. 3, no. 4, and on January 26, 1905 at the Bosendorfersaal), Gardener sang Op. 6, nos. 1 and 2.
In 1897, Schenker went on a tour to file performance reports from various places. He was disappointed in much of the new music he heard, and documented it in the reviews he wrote.
Read more about this topic: Heinrich Schenker
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