Henry Schradieck
1846-1918

Schradieck was born in Hamburg. After less than two years of study with his father, he made his public debut as a violinist at the age of five. In 1854 he entered Brussels Conservatory, where he earned a premier prix in 1858. He then went to Leipzig to study with the famous Ferdinand David, after which he earned his first solo engagement in Bremen in 1864. The following year he was appointed professor of violin at Moscow Conservatory but returned to Germany only three years later to become concertmaster of the Hamburg Philharmonic Society Orchestra. In 1874 he returned to Leipzig to become concertmaster of the Gewandhaus Orchestra and to teach in the Conservatory. He came to the United States in 1883 to become professor of violin at the College of Music of Cincinnati. He remained here until 1889, when he returned to his former position in Hamburg. In 1898 he permanently returned to the United States and was engaged in various teaching positions in New York and Philadelphia until his death. His pedagogical works are still widely used by violinists. His systematic stress on fingering techniques ensured his importance in the founding of modern violin teaching methods. While he was primarily known as a violinist and teacher, Schradieck was also a composer. This apparently a little-known fact, as none of the biographical sources mention it. Nevertheless, the little Romance for violin and piano in the collection of the Gorno Memorial Music Library attests to the fact that he did devote some time to creative work. The date of its composition is unknown.