A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Boehm, Joseph
BOEHM, Joseph, a violinist of repute, born at Pesth in 1798 [App. p.549 "1795"]. He was a pupil first of his father, and then of Rode, who took a lively interest in his talent. After having played with much success at Vienna in 1815 he travelled for several years in Italy, giving concerts in most of the principal towns. On his return to Vienna in 1819 he was appointed professor of the violin at the Conservatorium, which post he occupied till 1848. In 1821 he became a member of the imperial band, and retired in 1868. From 1823 to 1825 he travelled in Germany and France, earning applause everywhere for the soundness of his tone, his irreproachable technique, and his healthy musical style. But it is as a teacher that Boehm's name has won a permanent place in the history of modern violin-playing. For 50 years he resided at Vienna—(where he died, March 23, 1876 [App. p.549 "Mar. 28"])—devoting his powers to the instruction of his numerous pupils, among whom it will suffice to name Ernst, Joachim, L. Straus, Helmesberger, and Singer. In fact all the excellent violinists who during the last thirty years have come from Vienna were pupils either of Boehm or Mayseder, or both. These two masters appear to have supplemented each other by the different bent of their talents: Mayseder excelling chiefly by brilliant technique, while breadth of tone and thorough musical style were the prominent features of Boehm's playing.
He has published a number of compositions for the violin, polonaises, variations, a concertino, also a string-quartet, which however are of no importance.