Richard Wetz

Short bio Richard Wetz

Birthday: 1875

Died: 1935

Genre: Classical

Period: Modern

Full biography Richard Wetz

Richard Wetz was a German composer who lived from February 26, 1875, to January 16, 1935. He was a late Romantic composer and perhaps best known for his symphonies. Wetz began his musical studies in earnest in 1899 when he went to Munich to study with Ludwig Thuille. He also wrote monographs about models Anton Bruckner and Franz Liszt , two composers who would have a significant influence on his own music.

Wetz's music is often compared to that of Brahms and Bruckner. He composed at least two symphonies and a requiem , among other works. His Symphony No. 2 is considered a true rarity, and his Symphony No. 3 and Gesang des Lebens (Song of Life) are also highly regarded.

Wetz's music is often characterized as provincial, as he was comfortable writing music in the accepted German forms of his time. However, his works also show signs of the coming chromatics and more expressive writing that would become prevalent in the 20th century.

Despite his talent and prolific output, Wetz suffered unjust neglect in the years following his death, as his music fell out of favor with the changing musical styles and tastes of the time. Nevertheless, recordings of his works are still available and continue to be appreciated by enthusiasts of the Romantic era.

Compositions featuring Richard Wetz

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Passacaglia & Fugue for organ in D minor ("Weltersteinspielung")	15:23 min	Keyboard	1930
2	Ein Weihnachtsoratorium, for 2 voices, chorus & orchestra, Op. 53	69:52 min	Choral	1927
3	Symphony No. 3 in B flat major, Op. 48	48:10 min	Symphony	1920
4	Traumsommernacht, for women's choir & orchestra, Op. 14	5:45 min	Choral	1904
5	Gesang des Lebens, for chorus & orchestra Op. 29	8:57 min	Choral	-
6	Hyperion, for baritone, chorus & orchestra, Op. 32	16:04 min	Choral	-
7	Requiem in B minor, Op. 50	60:01 min	Vocal Music	-
8	Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op 40	62:40 min	Symphony	-
9	Symphony No. 2, Op. 47	43:11 min		-
10	Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 57	30:19 min	Concerto	-

Albums featuring Richard Wetz

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Richard Wetz - Ulf Wallin, Cracow Philharmonic Orchestra, Roland Bader, Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Werner Andreas Albert, Orkiestra Filharmonii Im. Karola Szymanowskiego w Krakowie – Complete Symphonies & Violin Concerto(4×CD, Album, Stereo,	2019	cpo
2	Richard Wetz - Zumbült · Sólyom-Nagy · Dombergchor Erfurt · Philharmonischer Chor Erfurt · Thüringisches Kammerorchester Weimar · George Alexander Albrecht – Ein Weihnachtsoratorium(CD, Album, Numbered)	2011	cpo
3	Richard Wetz – Marietta Zumbült, Mario Hoff, Dombergchor Erfurt, Philharmonischer Chor Weimar, Thüringisches Kammerorchester Weimar, George Alexander Albrecht – Requiem(CD, Album)	2005	cpo
4	Richard Wetz – Ulf Wallin, Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Werner Andreas Albert – Violin Concerto • Traumsommernacht • Hyperion(CD, Album)	2004	cpo
5	Richard Wetz - Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Werner Andreas Albert – Symphony No. 3 • Gesang Des Lebens(CD, Album)	2002	cpo
6	Richard Wetz - Symphonisches Orchester Berlin · Erich Peter (2) – Symphony No.3 In B Flat Major, Op. 48(CD, Album)	2001	Sterling (2)
7	Richard Wetz - Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Werner Andreas Albert – Symphony No 2 • Kleist Overture(CD, Album, Stereo)	2000	cpo
8	Richard Wetz - Cracow Philharmonic Orchestra, Roland Bader – Symphony No 1(CD, Album)	1995	cpo
9	Wetz - Bialas, Denhoff / Mannheimer Streichquartett – Streichquartette Des 20. Jahrhunderts(CD, )	1993	MDG
10	Richard Wetz, Berliner Sinfonie Orchester, Erich Peter – 3. Sinfonie B-Dur Op. 48(LP, Stereo)	1984	deutsche harmonia mundi Digital