A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Elwart, Antoine

ELWART, Antoine Aimable Elie, learned musician, composer, and author, of Polish origin, born in Paris Nov. 18, 1808. He was originally a chorister in the church of St. Eustacho, but at 13 his father apprenticed him to a packing-case maker, from whom he ran away and supported himself by playing in the orchestra of a small theatre on the Boulevards. He became a pupil of the Conservatoire, learning composition under Fétis. In 1828, when in Lesueur's class, he founded 'concerts d'émulation' among the pupils, which continued for six years, and proved most useful to the students in composition as well as to the soloists. In 1831 he obtained the second prize for composition, and in 1834 the 'Grand Prix de Rome.' While at Rome he composed, amongst other things, an 'Omaggio alla memoria di Bellini,' performed at the Teatro Valle in 1835. In 1836 he resumed his post of assistant professor to Reicha at the Conservatoire. He conducted the concerts in the Rue Vivienne, and those of the Société de Ste. Cécile. Elwart was for long professor of harmony at the Conservatoire; after the war of 1870 he retired into private life, and died Oct. 14, 77. Among his compositions may be specified—the oratorios 'Noé' (Paris 1845) and 'La Naissance d'Eve' (1846); an opera 'Les Catalans' (Rouen); and choruses and instrumental music for the Alcestis of Euripides, performed at the Odéon; besides other operas not produced, symphonies, overtures, string quintets, quartets, and trios, masses, and other church music. He has written a life of Duprez (Paris, 1838); a 'Petit Manuel d'harmonie' (Paris, 1839), translated into Spanish, and in use at the Madrid Conservatoire; 'Le Chanteur accompagnateur' (Paris 1844); 'Traité du contrepoint et de la fugue' (Paris), and other theoretical works. He completed the 'Etudes élémentaires de musique' of Burnett and Damour (Paris 1845), and contributed articles on musical subjects to the 'Encyclopédie du dix-neuvième siècle' and to the 'Revue et Gazette musicale de Paris.' His 'Histoire de la Societé des Concerts' and 'Histoire des Concerts populaires' are two compendiums of useful and interesting matter. Though independent and eccentric, Elwart was both esteemed and liked.

[ M. C. C. ]