A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Faisst, Emmanuel

FAISST, Emmanuel Gottlob Friedrich, born Oct. 13, 1823, at Esslingen in Würtemberg, was sent to the seminary at Schönthal in 1836, and in 1840 to Tübingen, in order to study theology; but his musical talents, which had previously shown themselves in the direction of great proficiency on the organ, were too strong, and, although he received no direct musical instruction worth mentioning, he had made such progress in composition by 1844 that when he went to Berlin and shewed his productions to Mendelssohn, that master advised him to work by himself rather than attach himself to any teacher. In 1846 he appeared in public as an organ-player in many German towns, and finally took up his abode in Stuttgart. Here in 1847 he founded an organ school and a society for the study of church music. He undertook the direction of several choral societies, and in 1857 took a prominent part in the foundation of the Conservatorium, to tho management of which he was appointed two years later. Some time before this the University of Tübingen bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, in recognition of the value of his 'Beiträge zum Geschichte der Claviersonate,' an important contribution to the musical periodical 'Cäcilia,' and the title of Professor was given him a few years afterwards. In 1865 he was appointed organist of the Stiftskirche, and received a prize for his choral work 'Gesang im Grünen,' at the choral festival in Dresden. His setting of Schiller's 'Macht des Gesanges' was equally successful in the following year with the Schlesische Sängerbund. His compositions are almost entirely confined to church music and choral compositions. A cantata 'Des Sängers Wiederkehr' was recently performed. Several quartets for male voices, and organ pieces have been published collectively, and the Lebert and Stark 'Pianoforteschule' contains a double fugue by him. With the latter he published in 1880 an 'Elementar-und-Chorgesangschule,' which has considerable value.

[ M. ]