Bruch Max

Max Bruch (January 6, 1838 – October 2, 1920) was a German Romantic composer, violinist, teacher, and conductor who wrote more than 200 works, including three violin concertos, the first of which has become a prominent staple of the standard violin repertoire.

Bruch was born in Cologne to Wilhelmine (née Almenräder), a singer, and August Carl Friedrich Bruch, an attorney who became vice president of the Cologne police. Max had a sister, Mathilde ("Till"). He received his early musical training under the composer and pianist Ferdinand Hiller, to whom Robert Schumann dedicated his Piano Concerto in A minor. The Bohemian composer and piano virtuoso Ignaz Moscheles recognized the aptitude of Bruch. At the age of nine, Bruch wrote his first composition, a song for his mother's birthday. From then on, music was his passion.

Bruch studied at the Cologne Conservatory from 1852 to 1854, where he was a student of Ferdinand Hiller. He then moved to Leipzig, where he studied with Moritz Hauptmann and Carl Reinecke. In 1858, he returned to Cologne, where he taught at the Conservatory and conducted the Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1865, he was appointed director of the Musikhochschule in Berlin. He held this position until 1880, when he was appointed conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. He returned to Berlin in 1883, where he remained until his death in 1920.

Bruch was a prolific composer, and his works include operas, symphonies, concertos, chamber music, choral music, and songs. He is best known for his violin concertos, the first of which, in G minor, Op. 26, is one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the violin repertoire. He also wrote a number of other well-known works, including the Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46, for violin and orchestra; the Kol Nidrei, Op. 47, for cello and orchestra; and the choral work Odysseus, Op. 57.

Bruch was a respected composer and conductor, and he was a major figure in the development of German music in the late 19th century. He was a strong advocate for the traditional forms of music, and he was opposed to the more radical trends of the time, such as Impressionism and Expressionism. His music is characterized by its melodic beauty, its formal clarity, and its emotional depth.

Bruch was a popular and successful composer during his lifetime, and his music continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences all over the world. He was a true original, and his music continues to inspire and challenge composers today.