Hans Sitt

Hans Sitt.

Jan Hanuš Sitt, known as Hans Sitt, (21 September 1850, Prague – 10 March 1922, Leipzig), was a Bohemian-German violinist, violist, teacher, and composer. During his lifetime, he was regarded as one of the foremost teachers of violin. Most of the orchestras and conservatories of Europe and North America then sported personnel who numbered among his students.

Born in Prague, Sitt's father was a prominent violin maker there. Hans' musical talent manifested itself early and from all accounts, he could easily have enjoyed the typical career of a “wunderkind” had his parents chosen to exploit him, but they wisely refused this course. Instead, he was allowed to have a normal life and received a regular education at a gymnasium (high school) before being sent to the Prague Conservatory where he studied violin and composition. Subsequently, he pursued a successful solo career for a short time before being appointed concertmaster of the Breslau Opera Orchestra at age 17, the first of many such appointments. In addition, he was a conductor of repute holding positions with orchestras in France, Austria and Germany.

Sitt held the august position of Professor of Violin at the Leipzig Conservatory from 1883 on, and authored several important studies for that instrument, some of which are still used. From 1883 to 1895, Sitt played the viola in the Brodsky Quartet of Leipzig along with Hugo Becker, Julius Klengel, and founder Adolph Brodsky.

Besides his pedagogical works, Sitt wrote several pieces for violin and orchestra, including six concertos and a number of sonatas for various instruments. Sadly, the only chamber music of his we have are two piano trios which were composed during the 1880s. While Sitt’s trios are not massive chamber works which attempt to “scale the heights” neither are they trivial. Sitt is a master of the genre. The writing for all three instruments leaves little to be desired, each is exploited to its best advantage.

Sitt is responsible for the best-known orchestration of Edvard Grieg's Norwegian Dances, Op.35, an 1881 work for piano duet.

Selected works

Orchestral

• Nocturne und Scherzo for orchestra, Op.6
• Ouverture zu A. Leschivo's "Don Juan d'Austria" for orchestra, Op.20 (c.1884, performed 1891)
• Wiegenlied und Gavotte for string orchestra, Op.48 (1892); also for violin and piano

Concertante

• Nocturne in F major for violin and orchestra (1883)
• Concerto No.1 in D minor for violin and orchestra, Op.11 (1884)
• Concerto No.2 in A minor for violin and orchestra, Op.21 (published 1890)
• Concertino No.1 in A minor for violin and orchestra, Op.28 (1888)
• Polonaise for violin and orchestra (or piano), Op.29 (published 1885)
• Concertino No.2 in E minor for violin (in the first 3 positions) and orchestra, Op.31 (published 1889)
• Concerto No.1 in A minor for cello and orchestra, Op.34 (1890)
• Concerto No.2 in D minor for cello and orchestra, Op.38 (c.1890)
• Concertstück (Concert Piece) in G minor for viola and orchestra, Op.46 (published c.1890)
• Concertino No.3 in D minor for violin (in the first 5 positions) and orchestra, Op.65 (published 1896)
• Concerto in A minor for viola and orchestra, Op.68 (published 1900)
• Concertino in A Minor for violin (in the first 5 positions) and orchestra, Op.70 (1898)
• Concertino in A minor for violin (in the first position) and orchestra, Op.93 (1906)
• Romance in G minor for viola and orchestra, Op.72 (1900)
• Concerto No.3 in D minor for violin and orchestra, Op.111 (1912)
• Konzertstück: Allegro appassionato, Romanze und Tarantelle for violin or viola and orchestra (or piano), Op.119 (1916)

Chamber music

• Piano Trio No.1 in G major, Op.63 No.1 (composed 1880s)
• Piano Trio No.2 in B♭ major, Op.63 No.2
• Rêverie for horn and piano, Op.75 No.2 (published 1902); original for viola and piano

Violin

• Gretchen: Paraphrase aus Liszt's Faust-Symphonie for violin and piano (c.1880)
• Namenlose Blätter for violin and piano, Op.10
• Romanesca in B minor, Melodie and Gondoliera for violin and piano, Op.13 (published 1894)
• Drei Stücke (3 Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.14 (1885)
• Romanze for cello (or violin) and piano (or organ), Op.17 (1884)
• Cavatine und Barcarole for violin and piano, Op.25 (1887)
• Aus der Jugendzeit, 12 Pieces for violin (in the first position) and piano, Op.26 (1885)
• Lose Blätter (Loose Album Leaves), 10 Pieces for violin (in the first 3 positions) and piano, Op.37b (1880s); original version for piano solo
• Sechs Fantasiestücke (6 Fantasy Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.40
• Violin-Duette, sechs leichte instructive Duette (Violin Duets, 6 Easy Instructive Duets) for 2 violins, Op.42
• Wiegenlied und Gavotte for violin and piano, Op.48 (1892); also for string orchestra
• Polonaise No.2 in A major for violin and piano, Op.49 (published 1893)
• Romanze und Mazurka for violin and piano, Op.52 (1892)
• 3 Berceuses for violin and piano, Op.56
• Drei Sonatinen (3 Sonatinas) (in C major, A minor, and D major) for violin and piano, Op.62 (1895)
• Barcarolle und Canzonetta for violin and piano, Op.64 (1894); also for cello and piano
• Drei Fantasien in progressiver Reihenfolge (3 Fantasias in Progressive Sequence) for violin and piano, Op.66
• Romanze, Nocturne, Scherzo-Tarantelle for violin and piano, Op.71 (1898)
• Zwanzig kleine Vortragsstücke (20 Short Concert Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.73 (1900)
• Drei kleine Fantasien über Weihnachtslieder (3 Short Fantasies on Christmas Carols) for violin and piano, Op.74 (published 1903)
• Zwölf Melodische Vortragsstücke (12 Melodic Concert Pieces) for violin (in the first position) and piano, Op.78 (1902)
• Bunte Blätter, 12 Easy Pieces for violin (in the first position) and piano, Op.84 (1904)
• Zwei Stücke (Two Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.87 (1905)
• Drei Stücke (3 Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.89

1. Albumblatt (Album Leaf) in G major
2. Langsamer Waltzer (Slow Waltz) in A major
3. Marsch (March) in C major

• Drei Duette in der ersten Lage für Anfänger (3 Duets in the First Position for Beginniners) for 2 violins, Op.91 (1905)
• Suite (Präludium, Menuet, Arioso, Intermezzo, Introduction und Gavotte) for violin and piano (1905)
• Drei instruktive Vortragsstücke (3 Instructive Concert Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.94 (1906)

1. Romanze
2. Bagatelle
3. Polonaise in D major

• Mosaik: Zwölf kleine Vortragsstücke (Mosaic: 12 Short Concert Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.95 (1906)
• Sechs lyrische Stücke (6 Lyrical Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.96 (1907)
• Drei Stücke (3 Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.97 (1907)

1. Romanze in A major
2. Barkarole in G minor
3. Mazurka in D minor

• Drei Stücke (3 Pieces) for violin and piano, Op.102
• Schüler-Konzertino No.1 in der ersten Lage (Student's Concertino No.1 in the First Position) in C major for violin and piano, Op.104 (1909)
• Schüler-Konzertino No.2 in den ersten 3 Lagen (Student's Concertino No.2 in the First 3 Positions) in A minor for violin and piano, Op.108 (1909)
• Drei Sonatinen (3 Sonatinas) for violin and piano, Op.109 (1910)
• Schüler-Konzertino No.3 in den ersten 5 Lagen (Student's Concertino No.3 in the First 5 Positions) in D minor for violin and piano, Op.110 (1911)
• Gavotte for violin and piano, Op.113 No.3 (1912)
• Drei kleine leichte Duette in der 1.-3. Lage (3 Short Easy Duets in the First 3 Positions) for 2 violins, Op.117 (1913)
• Drei kleine leichte Duette in der 1.-3. Lage (3 Short Easy Duets in the First 3 Positions) for 2 violins, Op.118 (1913)
• Concertino for 2 violins (in the first 3 positions) and piano, Op.133 (1920)

Viola

• 6 Albumblätter (6 Album Leaves) for viola and piano, Op.39 (published 1891)
• 3 Fantasiestücke (3 Fantasy Pieces) for viola and piano, Op.58 (1894?)
• 3 Stücke (3 Pieces) for viola and piano, Op.75 (1901)
• Gavotte und Mazurka for viola and piano, Op.132 (1919)
• Romanze for viola and piano, Op.102 No.1 (1909); original from Drei Stücke (3 Pieces) for violin and piano; transcription by the composer

Cello

• Romanze for cello (or violin) and piano (or organ), Op.17 (1884)
• Scherzo in A minor for cello and piano, Op.35 (published c.1880)
• Drei Stücke (3Pieces) for cello and piano, Op.33 (1889)
• Kleine Stücke for cello and piano, Op.45
• Barcarolle und Canzonetta for cello and piano, Op.64 (1894); also for violin and piano
• Serenade for cello and piano (published 1914)

Pedagogical works

• Nachtrag zu Henry Schradieck's Tonleiterstudien (Supplement to Henry Schradieck's Scale Studies) for violin (1887)
• Zwölf Etüden für Violine (12 Studies for Violin), Op.30
• 100 Etüden als Unterrichtsmaterial zu jeder Violinschule zu gebrauchen (100 Studies for Use as a Supplement to Any Violin Method) for violin, Op.32 (published 1895)

Book I – 20 Etüden in der 1. Lage (20 Studies in the First Position)

Book II – 20 Etüden in der 2., 3., 4. und 5. Lage (20 Studies in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Positions)

Book III – 20 Etüden, Lagenwechsel (20 Studies in Changing Positions)

Book IV – 20 Etüden in der 6. und 7. Lage (20 Studies in the 6th and 7th Positions)

Book V – 20 Etüden, Doppelgriffe (20 Studies in Double Stopping)

• Tonleiterstudien für Violine in Doppelgriffen (Scale Studies for Violin in Double Stopping), Op.41
• Praktische Bratschen-Schule (Practical Viola School) (1891)
• Zwanzig Etüden zur Ausbildung in der linken Hand (20 Studies for the Left Hand) for violin, Op.51 (1892)
• 20 Studien für Violine für vorgerücktere Schüler (20 Studies for Violin for More Advanced Pupils), Op.69 (1899)
• 24 Etüden für Violine in 24 verschiedenen Tonarten als Vorstudien zu Rode's Capricen zu benutzen (24 Studies for Violin in Different Keys: Preparatory Studies to Rode's Caprices), Op. 80 (1902)
• Zwanzig Etüden für Anfänger in der ersten Lage (20 Studies for Beginners in the First Position) for violin, Op.90 (1904)
• Technische Studien für Violine (Technical Studies for Violin), Op.92 (1905)
• Fünfzig tägliche Übungen zur Ausbildung der linken Hand (50 Daily Exercises for the Left Hand) for violin, Op.98 (1907)
• Dur und Moll: 28 leichte melodische Etüden für Violine (erste Lage) zur Befestigung der Intonation in allen Tonarten (Major and Minor: 28 Easy Melodic Studies for Violin (First Position) for Reinforcement of Intonation in All Keys), Op.107 (1909)
• Fünfzehn Etüden (15 Studies) for viola, Op.116 (1913)
• 40 besondere Übungen in den ersten 5 Lagen (40 Special Studies in the First 5 Positions) for violin, Op.134 (published 1921)
• Schule der Geläufigkeit und Fingerfertigkeit: 60 besondere Übungen zur Ausbildung der linken Hand (School of Velocity: 60 Special Studies for Agility of the Left Hand), Op.135 (published 1921)

Piano

• Dornröschen Polka (Sleeping Beauty Polka) for piano, Op.8 (c.1880)
• Namenlose Blätter (Untitled Album Leaves), 10 Pieces for piano, Op.10 (published 1902)
• Petite Sérénade for piano, Op.33
• Lose Blätter (Loose Album Leaves), 10 Pieces for piano, Op.37 (1880s); also for violin and piano

Vocal

• Zwei Lieder (2 Songs) for voice and piano, Op.18 (c.1880)
• Fünf Lieder (5 Songs) for voice and piano, Op.36 (c.1900)
• Weihnachtslied (Christmas Song) for voice and piano (1897); words by Julius Sturm
• An Graf Zeppelin for voice (or unison chorus) and piano

Choral

• Zu Strassburg auf der langen Brück’, Swiss Folk Song (1890s)
• Festhymne for male chorus and orchestra, Op.55; words by Fritz Lange (1873–1933)
• Sandmännchen: rheinisches Volkslied for male chorus (c.1900)
• Drei Lieder für Männerchor (3 Songs for Male Chorus), Op.60 (published c.1900); words by Georg von Örtzen, Gustav Kastropp and Rudolf Baumbach
• Drei Lieder für gemischten Chor (3 Songs for Mixed Chorus), Op.76 (1901)
• Drei Lieder für Männerchor (3 Songs for Male Chorus), Op.77 (published 1901); words by Julius Gersdorff
• Drei Männerchore (3 Male Choruses), Op.82 (1902); words by August Naaf, Felix Dahn and Rudolf Dietz
• Vergebliche Flucht for male chorus, Op.83 (1902); words by Julius Sturm
• Böhmische Volkslieder für gemischten Chor (Bohemian Folk Songs for Mixed Chorus) (1901)
• Böhmische Volkslieder für Männerchor (Bohemian Folk Songs for Male Chorus) (1901)
• Böhmische Volkslieder für Frauenchor (Bohemian Folk Songs for Female Chorus) (1901)
• Die Krone im Rhein for male chorus, Op.85 (1903); words by Ernst von Estouches
• Du mit Strahlen mich begleitend for male chorus, Op.86 No.1 (1904); words by Friedrich Rückert
• Frommes Wunder for male chorus, Op.86 No.3 (1904); words by Fritz Karstedt
• Heimkehr for male chorus (1904); words by Otto Roquette

External links

• Hans Sitt Piano Trio No.1 Soundbites & Information.
• Hans Sitt Piano Trio No.2 Soundbite & Information.
• Free scores by Hans Sitt at the International Music Score Library Project
• The Mutopia Project has compositions by Hans Sitt