A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bernsdorf, Eduard

BERNSDORF, Eduard, born at Dessau March 25, 1825, a pupil of F. Schneider at Dessau and of A. B. Marx at Berlin; has lived for many years at Leipsic. He has published various songs and pieces for the piano, but is chiefly known as editor of the 'Universal Lexikon der Tonkunst' (3 vols., with supplement, 1856), begun by von Schladebach—and also as a critic in the well-known musical periodical, the 'Signale.' Bernsdorf is a thorough conservative, with a strong antipathy to all modern efforts in music. Within his own predilections however he is a keen and intelligent critic, though a certain severity of expression in his reports of the Leipsic concerts has brought on him the dislike of many musicians.

[ A. M. ]