A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Brückler, Hugo

by W. Barclay Squire

BRÜCKLER, Hugo, born at Dresden Feb. 18, 1845, received his first musical instruction from his schoolmaster, C. Sahr. When about ten years old he entered the Evangelical Choristers' Institution at Dresden, where he received instruction in singing and the pianoforte from the court organist, Dr. Johann Schneider. Upon leaving the institution he devoted himself entirely to music, and after taking violin lessons from Herr Haase of Dessau, who was then living in Dresden, in his sixteenth year entered the Dresden Conservatorium of Music, where he diligently pursued his violin studies under Herr Franz Schubert. Brückler's growing inclination for singing and pianoforte caused him, about eighteen months later, to give up the violin, in order to devote himself entirely to the study of pianoforte-playing, singing, and composition. After receiving instruction from Carl Krebs (pianoforte), Julius Rietz (composition), and others, as well as making experiments in different branches of music, and diligently studying full scores and literature, Brückler left the Conservatorium and began to compose industriously, at the same time giving private music lessons. In the latter years of his life he still studied singing with great success under the well-known master Herr Thiele, but continually increasing ill-health compelled him to abandon this passionately loved study. Rapid consumption brought the amiable and modest artist severe suffering, and ended his life at the age of 26, Oct. 7, 1871. The only compositions of Brückler's which have been published are songs; they are as follows:—op. 1, five songs from Scheffel's Trompeter von Säkkingen (Leipzig, Kahnt), op. 2, nine songs from the same poem, and seven songs from his posthumous works, selected and edited by Adolf Jensen (Dresden, Hoffarth).

[ W. B. S. ]