Hans Sitt Program Notes and Sheet Music

Hans Sitt (21 September 1850 – 10 March 1922) was a Bohemian violinist, violist, 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.

From 1884 to 1921 Sitt held the august position of Professor of Violin at the Leipzig Conservatory, and authored several important studies for violin and viola, some of which are still used. He was conductor of the Leipzig Bach Society (Bach-Verein Leipzig) from 1885 to 1903. Sitt played the viola in the Brodsky Quartet of Leipzig from 1883 to 1895 along with Hugo Becker, Julius Klengel, and founder Adolph Brodsky. Besides his pedagogical works, Sitt wrote several pieces for violin and orchestra, including six concertos and a number of sonatas for various instruments.

Sitt was born in Prague, Bohemia (now Czech Republic), on 21 September 1850. He studied violin with his father, Anton Sitt, and with Moritz Mildner at the Prague Conservatory. In 1867, he won the first prize in the violin competition at the Vienna Conservatory.

After graduating from the Vienna Conservatory, Sitt toured Europe as a violinist. He then settled in Leipzig, where he taught violin at the Conservatory and played viola in the Brodsky Quartet. In 1885, he was appointed conductor of the Leipzig Bach Society.

Sitt was a prolific composer. He wrote over 100 works, including six violin concertos, a viola concerto, a cello concerto, a number of sonatas for various instruments, and orchestral and chamber music. He also wrote a number of pedagogical works, including studies for violin and viola.

Sitt died in Leipzig on 10 March 1922. He was 71 years old.