Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 4.djvu/788

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RHAPSODY.
ROBERTS.

Brahms has adopted the term 'Rhapsodie' both in Liszt's sense and in that of the Greek Rhapsodists; and, as usual with him, he has added weight to its significance. His original 'Rhapsodien,' op. 79 for pianoforte solo—in B minor and G minor—are abrupt impassioned aphoristic pieces of simple and obvious structure, yet solidly put together. The 'Rhapsodie' in C, op. 53, for contralto, male chorus, and orchestra, justifies its title, in the Greek sense, inasmuch as it is a setting—a recitation, a rhapsody—of a portion of Goethe's poem 'Harzreise im Winter'; it, also, is a compact and carefully balanced piece.

Of Rhapsodies recently written, for the most part in the vein of Liszt, the following may be mentioned:—

Raff, op. 22, two 'Rhapsodies élégiaques,' op. 120, 'Rhapsodie Espagnole,' and the 'Rhapsodie' contained in the Suite, op. 163—all for pianoforte.

Dvořák, op. 45, three 'Slavische Rhapsodien,' for orchestra.

Svendsen, two 'Norwegische Rhapsodien,' for orchestra.

A. C. Mackenzie, op. 21, 'Rhapsodie Écossaise' in B♭ (original), and op. 24, 'Burns, Second Scotch Rhapsody,' also in B♭, for orchestra. The latter, based on national tunes, is an admirable example of its kind.

The last movement of C. Hubert H. Parry's 'Symphonic Suite in A minor for orchestra,' entitled 'Rhapsodie,' consists of a systematized series of melodies on the plan familiar in the Rondo.

[ E. D. ]

RHEINBERGER, Joseph. Line 2 of article, for 1859 read 1839. Among his works are to be mentioned the following, besides those referred to in the article. Two large compositions for solos, chorus and orchestra, 'Christoforus' and 'Montfort'; two elaborate settings of the 'Stabat Mater' and a Requiem for the same, an organ concerto, and 6 sonatas for that instrument, making the number of these compositions eleven in all; two string quartets, three piano trios, a quintet for piano and strings, a duet for two pianos, besides part-songs, and other vocal works. Among his latest works are a nonet for wind instruments (op. 139), a string quartet (op. 147), 6 pieces for PF. and organ (op. 150), a mass (op. 151) and 12 organ pieces (op. 156). He has the title of Hofkapellmeister and Professor, and is a member of the Academy of Arts in Berlin.

RICHARDS, Brinley. Add date of death, May 1, 1885.

RICHARDSON, Vaughan. Line 8 of article, for about 1695 read in June 1693.

RICHTER, Hans. Line 5 of article, for Pesth read Vienna. P. 129 a, l. 9, for Capellmeister read Hofkapellmeister; l. 10, etc. add that the Richter Concerts have been given every year, since the publication of the article, and are now among the most successful of London concerts.

RICORDI. Line 14 of article, add that Tito Ricordi was born in 1811, and died Sept. 7, 1888.

RIEDEL, Carl. Add date of death, June 4, 1888.

RIES. P. 132 a, add day of birth of Hubert Ries, April 1.

RIETZ, Julius. Line 7 from end of article, for Oct. 1 read Sept. 12.

RIMSKY-KORSAKOW, Nikolaus Andrejewitch, born at Tichwin, Russia, in 1844, was at first intended for a military career, and became an officer of marines in the Imperial army. After several years' service, he abandoned his profession in order to devote himself to music. Although principally self-taught, he turned his studies to such good account that in 1871 he was made professor of composition at the Conservatorium at St. Petersburg. Not long afterwards he was appointed director of the free school of music in the same capital. Two operas by him have been represented at the Russian opera-house, 'Pakowitjanka,' Jan. 13, 1873, and 'Die Mainacht' (as the name is given in Riemann's Opernhandbuch), Jan. 20, 1880. The words of the latter are by the composer himself. Some fragments of another opera were published at St. Petersburg, where several symphonies, works for piano, and a collection of 100 Russian popular songs, have appeared. A 'legend' for orchestra, entitled 'Sadko,' was given by the Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein at Altenburg in 1876, in which year a string quartet by him obtained considerable success, The society just mentioned produced his symphony 'Antar' (op. 15), at Magdeburg in 1881. He lately collaborated with the Russian composers, Liadow, Borodine, and Glazounow, in writing a string quartet on the name Belaieff, i.e. the notes 'B-la-f,' or B♭, A, F. A 'symphoniette' in A minor has lately been published as op. 31, a 3rd symphony as op. 32, a fantasia for violin and orchestra on Russian themes as op. 33, and a Capriccio Espagnol for orchestra as op. 34.

[ M. ]

RITTER, F. L. Line 2 from end of article for Women read Woman. Add that Mme. Ritter has recently brought out a second series of the Essays and Criticisms of Schumann, and has written a sketch entitled 'Some Famous Songs.'

RITTER, Theodore. See vol. ii. p. 735 a, and add date of death, April 6, 1886.

ROBARTT, of Crewkerne, was an 'orgyn maker' who let out organs to churches by the year. The Mayor of Lyme Regis in 1551 paid him ten shillings for his year's rent.

ROBERTO DEVEREUX. Line 4 of article, for 1836 read the autumn of 1837, and add that an opera of the same name, composed by Mercadante, was produced at Milan on March 10, 1883.

ROBERTS, J. Varley. Add that in 1882 he was elected organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, succeeding Mr. Parratt. In 1884 the University Glee and Madrigal Society was founded under his conductorship; it now numbers about 150 members. In 1885 he accepted the post of organist of St. Giles's, Oxford, and in the same