A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lauterbach, Johann Christoph

LAUTERBACH, Johann Christoph, distinguished violinist, was born July 24, 1832, at Culmbach in Bavaria. His education he received at the school and gymnasium of Würzburg, where he also learnt music from Bratsch and Prof. Fröhlich. In 1850 he entered the Conservatoire at Brussels as pupil of De Beriot and Fétis, in 1851 received the gold medal, and during Leonard's absence took his place as Professor of the Violin. In 1853 he became Concertmeister and Professor of the Violin at the Conservatorium of Munich; in 1860, on the death of Lipinski, was appointed second Concertmeister of the royal band at Dresden, and in 1873 succeeded to the first place. Since 1861 he has also held the post of principal teacher of the violin in the Conservatorium of Dresden, with great and increasing renown. He has travelled much and always with success. He spent the seasons of 1864 and 65 in England, appearing at the Philharmonic on May 2 of the former, and May 15 of the latter year, and playing also at the Musical Union. In Paris he played at the last concert at the Tuileries before the war; and received from the Emperor Napoleon a gold snuff-box set with diamonds. He is decorated with many orders both of North and South Germany. In the summer of 1876 he met with a serious mountain accident in Switzerland, by which several of his companions were killed and he himself severely wounded. He has however completely recovered. Lauterbach's style unites the best peculiarities of the Belgian school, great polish and elegance, with the breadth of tone and earnestness of the Germans.

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