Hans Sitt

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Hans Sitt (September 21, 1850, Prague – March 10, 1922, Leipzig), was a German violinist, teacher, and composer. During his lifetime, he was regarded as one of the foremost teachers of violin. Most of the orchestras and conservatories of Europe and North America then sported personnel who numbered among his students. He held the august position of Professor of Violin at the Leipzig Conservatory from 1883 on, and authored several important studies for that instrument, some of which are still used. Born in Prague, Sitt’s father was a prominent violin maker there. Hans’ musical talent manifested itself early and from all accounts, he could easily have enjoyed the typical career of a “wunderkind” had his parents chosen to exploit him, but they wisely refused this course. Instead, he was allowed to have a normal life and received a regular education at a gymnasium (high school) before being sent to the Prague Conservatory where he studied violin and composition. Subsequently, he pursued a successful solo career for a short time before being appointed concertmaster of the Breslau Opera Orchestra at age 17, the first of many such appointments. In addition, he was a conductor of repute holding positions with orchestras in France, Austria and Germany.

Besides his pedagogical works, Sitt wrote several pieces for violin and orchestra, including six concertos and a number of sonatas for various instruments. Sadly, the only chamber music of his we have are two piano trios which were composed during the 1880’s. While Sitt’s trios are not massive chamber works which attempt to “scale the heights” neither are they trivial. Sitt is a master of the genre. The writing for all three instruments leaves little to be desired, each is exploited to its best advantage.

Sitt is responsible for the best-known orchestration of Grieg's Norwegian Dances (originally for piano duet).