Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 4.djvu/832

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816
WEBER.
WHYTE.

help, did excellent work. Gottfried's influence gained for the young composer a hearing in Mannheim, and the artists and amateurs, carried away by the spirit and fire of their conductor, did much towards establishing Carl Maria's fame in their city. For a lengthy account of the relations, both lively and severe, between these distinguished men, their influence on each other's work, their pleasant wanderings in company with other choice spirits, singing their newest songs to the guitar as serenades; their establishment of a so-called secret society (with high aims) of Composer-literati, in which Gottfried adopted the pseudonym of Giusto; and of their merry meetings at the 'Drei Könige' or at Gottfried's house—the reader may be referred to Max v. Weber's life of his father (Carl Maria). When circumstances had parted them, constant correspondence showed the strength and quality of their mutual sympathy. Some of Gottfried's best songs had been inspired by this intercourse, and were no doubt exquisitely interpreted by his (second) wife, née v. Dusch. Besides these songs, strophic in form and sometimes provided with guitar accompaniment, Weber's compositions include three Masses, other sacred music, sonatas, and concerted pieces for various instruments. In the intervals of founding the Mannheim Conservatoire, superintending the Court Church musical services, and doing occasional duty as conductor at Mainz, the genial lawyer laid the basis of his reputation by a profound study of the theory of music, the result of which appeared in the 'Versuch einer geordneten Theorie' (about 1815), of which translations have since appeared in French, Danish and English (Warner, Boston, 1846, and J. Bishop, London, 1851); 'Allgemeine Musiklehre'; and other volumes, and articles published in 'Caecilia,' the musical periodical published by Schott in Mainz, and edited by Gottfried Weber from its beginning in 1824 until his death, September 21, 1839.[1] [See vol. i. 294.] Weber's examination of musical theories led to his work on time-measurements and the 'tempo-interpreter' [see vol. ii. 319a], and his study of acoustics to certain improvements or inventions in wind-instrument making. A full list of his writings and compositions is given in Mendel's Lexicon xi. 297.

WEBER'S LAST WALTZ. In the second bar of the musical example, the fourth note should be F, not D♭.

WEHLI, Karl. Add that he died Jan. 25, 1887.

WEINLIG, C. T. Line 8 of article, for he was followed by Hauptmann read he was followed by Pohlenz, who in September of the same year was succeeded by Hauptmann.

WEITZMANN, Karl Friedrich, a learned and excellent writer on musical subjects, born at Berlin, Aug. 10, 1808, was a pupil of Henning Klein, Spohr and Hauptmann. He rose by various posts and labours, till in 1848 he established himself as a teacher and writer in Berlin, where he resided till his death, Nov. 7, 1880. His publications are various:—'History of Harmony' (1849); 'The Diminished Seventh' (1854); 'History of the Chord of the Seventh' (do.) etc; but especially 'History of Clavier-playing and Literature' (1st ed. 1863, 2nd do. much enlarged, and with a history of the instrument itself, 1880), a very valuable and interesting work. For further details see Riemann's 'Musik Lexikon,' 1887.

[ G. ]

WELCH, J. B. Add date of death, July 1, 1887.

WELSH MUSIC. P. 441a, second musical example, the first bar-line should be between the second and third sets of triplets, not before the first set. P. 441b, note 2, for Ottomaro Luscinio read Othmar Luscinius.

WENNERBERG, Gunnar, a Swedish poet and composer, born 1817, in Lidköping, and educated at the Upsala university. For several years past he has been a member of the Swedish legislature. As a musician he was entirely self-taught, and he published his first composition 'Frihetssänger' (Songs of Freedom), in 1847. This was followed by several works of which the best known is 'Gluntarne' (recollections of student life in Upsala). He subsequently wrote an oratorio entitled 'The Birth of Christ'; and set the 'Psalms of David' in a simple and melodious form for soli and chorus with accompaniment. These Psalms are universally popular in Sweden, and they are sung both in North Germany and Scotland.

WESLEY, Charles. Add that he wrote a hymn on the death of Dr. Boyce, beginning, 'Father of Heroes, farewell.' P. 446b, in list of S. Wesley's compositions, for Antiphons read Motets, and add an asterisk (showing publication) to 'Omnia Vanitas.'

WESLEY, S. S., Mus. D. P. 447b, l. 30, for in April read April 19. Line 33, for at Exeter read in the old cemetery at Exeter.

WHITE, or WHYTE, Robert. See vol. iv. p. 451. Add that he died at Westminster between Nov. 7 and Nov. 11, 1574. The family seem to have been probably visited by the plague, which raged with great severity that year. White made his will on Nov. 7, 1574. In it he is styled 'Bacheler of Musicke and Master of the Queristers of the Cathedrall Churche of St. Peter in the Cittie of Westminster.' He directs that he shall be buried at St. Margaret's, Westminster 'nere vnto my children.' Amongst the bequests is one to his daughter Margery White of 'six syluer spones and a mazer wch was her late graundmothers,' and to his father, Robert White 'the some of three poundes … and all such his household stufe and goodes wch he did bringe unto me at or before his cominge to me.' He also mentions two other daughters, Anne and Prudence White, and his wife, Ellen, He also mentions some

  1. It appears that vol. xx. of July 1839 was followed only in 1842 by vol. xxi., the first edited by Dehn.