HILLER, FtatinNANn (1811-85). An end. neat German pianist. conductor, and composer, born at, Frankfurt. From early boyhood he wai a student of music, his concert tkbut taking place at ten years of age, followed two years later by the production of his first composition. llis first teachers were Hofmann for the violin, .11oys Schmitt for the pianoforte. and Vollweiler for harmony and counterpoint. Later (1825) lie be came a pupil of Hummel at Weimar. For seven years (1828-35) he was engaged as teacher of composition at. Choron's School of Music, Bari., but eventually gave up his position so that he might better equip himself as a pianist and com poser. Ile returned to Frankfort the following year (1836). and devoted himself to composition. Ili; abilities were recognized, and although but twcnty-live, he was asked to act as conductor I if the l'acilienverein during the illness of Schelble. Ile had by this time attracted the notice of Ros sini and lentlelssolin, the former assisting him to launch hi; first Romilda was failure). at 'Milan, and the latter obtaining for him the entrl-e to the Gewandhaus, and atfonling an Opportunity for the public presentation of hi; oratorio Die Zerstorung Jerusalems (18I0). After a year of study in Church music at, ].nine. lie returned to Leipzig, and during the season of 1843-44 conducted the Gewandhaus concerts. By this time his position in the musieal world was established, and honors and appointments were showered upon him. He became municipal
kapellmeister of Dusseldorf in 1847. and in 15511 received a similar appointment at Cologne, in wide!' latter city he founded the well-known Cologne Conservatory. Ile was conductor at the Italian Opera in Paris during the season of 1852-53. Alcanwhile lie had increased his repti tati.m and prestige by his conductorship of the (;iirzenieli concert: and the Lower Rhine music festivals. lie was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Fine .\rts, Berlin. in 1819, and in 18138 received the title of doctor from the Uni versity of Bonn. As a composer Hiller ranks high, not for the magnitude and depth of his work, hut for its poetry. elegance, and rhythmic. melody. His compositions include operas (six), none of them of more than local significance; six cantatas. one or two of which have been popular in England. and one (The Lorelei) occasionally heard in America. Other works comprise pieces in every form and variety of composition. Ile was also a very successful lecturer and a forceful writer, his contributions to reviews and news papers haying been since colleted in honk form. Ile also published among others: 31 asikallselles and Pc rsonluches (1871;) ; Irk hbren •it (18811) : Gaelhes musikalischu s Lrhl n (1S:+0) ; and E•iancrungsblattcr (1554). Ile died at Co logne.