A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bitter, Karl

BITTER, Karl Hermann, was born Feb. 27, 1813, at Schwedt on the Oder, and died Sept. 12, 1885, at Berlin. Having studied law and finance at the universities of Berlin and Bonn, he entered upon his legal career in the former city in 1833. After holding various high official positions from 1846 onwards, at Frankfort, Minden, Posen, Schleswig, and Düsseldorf, he was appointed, in 1877, Under Secretary of State for the Interior; and in July, 1879, was made Minister of Finance, which post he held until June 1882. During the war with France he had been Prefect of the department of the Vosges, and subsequently Civil Commissioner at Nancy. His activity in affairs of state found ample recognition. His lively interest in music had many practical results—among other things the Schleswig-Holstein Festival of 1875 owed its existence chiefly to him; and his contributions to musical literature are of no small importance. The most valuable of these are the biographies of the Bachs—(1) 'Johann Sebastian Bach,' in 2 vols. (1865)—2nd ed., revised, in 4 vols (1881); (2) 'Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach und Wilhelm Friedemann Bach und deren Brüder,' in 2 vols. (1868). The latter is the most exhaustive and trustworthy work yet published on the subject of Bach's sons; the former has been superseded by Spitta's great 'Life of Bach,' with which it cannot compare for thoroughness or penetration. Although it is by no means free from errors and superficiality, it obtained a wide success soon after its appearance, on account of the enthusiastic homage displayed in the presentment of its subject. It was especially successful among those who knew little or nothing about Bach, and it contributed in no small degree to the general appreciation of the master. Bitter's other literary works are: 'Mozart's Don Juan und Gluck's Iphigenia in Tauris,' with new translations of the words of both operas (1866); 'Ueber Gervinus' Händel und Shakespeare' (1870); 'Beiträge zur Geschichte des Oratoriums' (1872); 'Eine Studie zum Stabat Mater' (1883); 'Die Reform der Oper durch Gluck und R. Wagner's Kunstwerk der Zukunft' (1884). To these must be added various contributions to periodical literature, the most recent of which (in the 'Deutsche Revue' for October, 1885), 'Gedanken über die Bildung eines Ministeriums der schönen Künste für Preussen' is remarkable. In 1870 Bitter edited Löwe's autobiography.

[ A. D. ]