Hans Sitt

Romanesca op. 13/1

Any violinist who hears the name Sitt nowadays will probably just think of the author of studies and exercises that have long been a familiar feature in instrumental lessons. Of course the Prague violinist, music teacher and composer Hans Sitt (1850-1922) made a significant impact on methods of violin teaching, but he also wrote a whole series of other works worth listening to: concertos for violin, viola and cello and chamber music for various combinations of instruments. Sitt studied the violin in Prague and was then appointed first as leader of the orchestra and then as musical director in Breslau (now called Wroclaw).After posts as director of music in Prague, Chemnitz - where he championed the work of Smetana - and Nice, he was eventually appointed professor of violin, orchestral playing and score reading at the Leipzig Conservatoire from 1884-1921. Besides this he also played viola in the Brodsky Quartet, organised concerts and was conductor of the Bach Society. The composers Franco Alfano - who completed Puccini's unfinished opera Turandot- and Frederick Delius studied with Sitt, as did the conductor Václav Talich. Three Album Leaves op. 13 were also composed during his time in Leipzig, published by Bosworth & Co in 1894. Romanesca, No. 1 in that collection, is a pretty, slightly melancholy piece of music with romantic appeal that draws out lyrical and expressive playing and is thus eminently suitable for tuition purposes and concert performances.