Presents
Adolf Weidig
Credo in Memoriam for String Quartet, Op.53
Adolf Weidig (1867-1931) was born in the city of Hamburg, where he studied violin, piano and composition at the conservatory there. Among his teachers was Hugo Riemann, the famous theory teacher and musicologist. During this time, he served as a violinist in the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra. His string quartet of 1888 won first prize from the Frankfurt Mozart Foundation and provided a four year scholarship which he used to study with Joseph Rheinberger at the Royal Conservatory in Munich. He then returned to Hamburg to take up a position with the Hamburg Philharmonic but subsequently decided in 1892 to emigrate to the city of Chicago in the United States. There, he obtained a position as a violinist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and also performed as a violist in a leading string quartet. In 1893, he obtained at teaching position at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and became its director in 1907, a position he held until his death. Besides performing and teaching, he continued to compose, writing 3 string quartets, a string quintet, a piano trio and several sonatas as well as orchestra works and songs.
His Credo in Memoriam for string quartet was published in 1922. It is in one movement and appears to be a statement of faith as Weidig quotes the first line of the Apostle's Creed, "Credo in unum Deum" (I believe in one god). The tempo marking to this beautiful music is Andante. As one might expect, the mood is elegic.
All of the instruments are equally treated. It is a work well-suited for a tribute to a lost friend or loved one, but can also be serve as a shorter and evocative program choice for a concert. It is not at all hard to play and can be warmly recommended to amateurs looking for a concert piece as it presents no technical problems.
Parts: $11.95
