Anton Urspruch

Full biography Anton Urspruch

Anton Urspruch was a German composer, pianist, and pedagogue who lived from February 17, 1850, to January 11, 1907. He studied music with leading composers of his time, including Hans von Bülow, Franz Liszt, and Joachim Raff. Urspruch's musical output includes only a few major works since he passed away at the early age of 56. He composed a piano concerto, a symphony, chamber music, songs, and piano pieces, and his compositions are primarily characterized by their Romantic style.

Urspruch was mainly known in his day as a music educator and administrator. He served as the music director of the Frankfurt Conservatory, where he taught piano, theory, composition, and history, from 1887 until his death in 1907. Some of his most notable pupils included Frederic Lamond and Paul Hindemith. During his tenure as the music director, Urspruch worked to modernize the curriculum to better reflect the changing musical landscape of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.

Although Urspruch's name may not be as well-known as some of his contemporaries today, his contributions to music education and composition are significant. He was an important member of the Frankfurt musical community, and his work in shaping the curriculum at the conservatory had long-lasting effects on music education in Germany. Additionally, his compositions serve as a testament to his skill and creativity as a composer in the late-Romantic era.