Carl Tausig

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Carl Tausig or Karl Tausig (November 4, 1841 - July 17, 1871) was a Polish pianist and composer.

He was born in Warsaw to Jewish parents, and had his first piano lessons from his father. He subsequently met Franz Liszt in Weimar, and studied and travelled with him. At the age of 16 he met Richard Wagner, of whom he became a devoted follower. Wagner enjoyed patronising him (as is evident from Wagner's autobiography, 'My Life') despite his Jewish background. Tausig made piano arrangements of many of Wagner's operas. He also introduced to Wagner his friend Peter Cornelius, another Wagner adept.

Tausig settled in Germany and opened a piano school in Berlin in 1865 which, however, closed soon afterwards. He toured throughout Europe, becoming known for his exemplary technique. He died in Leipzig from typhoid at the age of 29.

His output as composer is quite small and little explored today. As well as entirely original works, he arranged for piano music of a number of composers, and wrote a number of pedagogic works (works for teaching and practice). Among the more famous transcriptions is one of J. S. Bach's Toccata in D minor, BWV 565.