HUMPERDINCK, ENGELRERT (18.14-1. A German composer, critic, and teach er, horn in Sieghurg. near Bonn. He was study ing, to become an architect at Cologne. when he came under the influence of Hiller (q.v.). and was persuaded to devote himself to music. Few of his native contemporaries have been more for innate or successful in securing recognition for their work and talents. At the age of twenty six he was an intimate friend of the Wagner family at Bayreuth, and for the two or three .)ears immediately preceding the great master's death was his especial protege; besides which lie was the instructor of Siegfried Wagner, and was selected because of his intimate knowledge of the composer's ideas, to write the pianoforte arrange ments of Wagner's music dramas, and to assist in the preparation of Parsifal for the public stage. Ile is better known throughout Europe generally, and America in particular, for his opera Hansa und tel (1893)), which gatned for him a world-wide reputation. In 1902 an English dramatic version of Die Klinigskinder (1896) was given in England and America tinder the title of The Children of the King, in which was retained the incidental music of the original German version. Ilmnperdinek was
educated largely at the Cologne Conservatory. He won the Mendelssohn prize in 1878. and the neyerbeer prize in 1880. His principal teach ing appointments were at the Barcelona (Spain) Conservatory ( 1885-86) ; Cologne I 1S87 -8s Frankfort, in which city he W011 the 'Mozart scholarship and also acted as concertmaster at the opera (1890-96). Other important composi tions in addition to those already mentioned are: Dornroschca (1893) ; Die sic!), n Geislein, a •hildren's fairy story (1896) ; Symphony in C (1896) ; and incidental music to Der Richter von Zalamea (1896). During his stay in Frank fort he served as musical critic on the staff of the Frankfurter Zeitung, front which he retired in 1896, when he took up his residence at Bop pard. His manner is somewhat Wagnerian. but his music is nevertheless strikingly original and pure. He is particularly happy in his musical treatment of folk-lore and Miry in 1900 was called to Berlin as member of the Acad emy of Fine Art: and teacher of composition.