Adolf Weidig 1867 -1931

[giles.enders]

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 

[Alan Howe]

There appear to be some manuscripts here:
https://archives.newberry.org/repositories/2/resources/376

[semloh]

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.

[eschiss1]

Only 6 items at IMSLP, too (including the 3 episodes in score, though.)

[eschiss1]

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.

[Alan Howe]

Various performances of the Piano Trio can be heard at YouTube, as semloh says:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=adolf+weidig+trio

[Alan Howe]

I've sampled this - can't wait to hear the whole thing! Great work yet again, Martin!

[Reverie]

Symphony in Eb  (1890)

Not bad for a 23 yr old !


LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzvChmrZrUo&t=1638s

[eschiss1]

Thanks, Rêverie!!!
Pinned Merged link needs edit.

[Mark Thomas]

Not 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.

[Alan Howe]

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.

[Ilja]

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!

[Rainolf]

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)