Wilhelm Hill


Johann Wilhelm Hill was a German pianist and composer.

Life and work

Wilhelm Hill was born in Fulda. He began studying piano and violin with his father at 6 years old. He devoted himself tirelessly to composing at age 14. From May 1854 Hill lived in Frankfurt am Main, where he was pupil of Heinrich Henkel and Johann Christian Hauff. He gave his first public piano performance in Fulda the following year, and performed in Frankfurt in January 1858.
In the 1880s, Hill taught at Lindner Institute and Julius Stockhausen's Vocal School. His opera Alona was awarded second prize in the competition for the opening of the new Frankfurt Opera House in 1882. He married Maria Möhring in 1887 and soon after contracted an eye disease which affected his ability to teach and compose.
He composed two operas, a piano concerto, chamber music, piano compositions, choral and vocal works including numerous songs. Hill gained popularity through the song "Das Herz am Rhein", which was sung frequently by his friend, baritone Karl Hill. The song soon appeared in various vocal and instrumental arrangements and became standard repertoire for vocalists and musicians of the time.
Hill died in Homburg, Saarland. He and his wife are buried in Frankfurt Hauptfriedhof.

Selected works

Opera

Alona, Romantic Opera in 3 acts ; libretto by Otto PrechtlerJolanthe; based on King René's Daughter by Henrik Hertz

Concertante

  • Concerto in C minor for piano and orchestra

Chamber music

  • Piano Trio No. 1 in D major, Op. 12 Notturno, Scherzo und Romanze for viola and piano, Op. 18
  • Sonata in E minor for violin and piano, Op. 20 2 Romanzen for viola or cello and piano, Op. 22
  • 2 Sonatinas for violin and piano, Op. 28
  • Piano Trio No. 2 in G major, Op. 43
  • Piano Quartet in E major, Op. 44
  • String Quartet in D major, Op. 45

Piano

Grande valse brilliante in E major, Op. 4 2 Klavierstücke, Op. 7 Große Polonaise in C minor, Op. 9 Valse-Caprice Romanze und Scherzo, Op. 15 6 Etüden, Op. 16 3 Sonatinen , Op. 27 Jugenderinnerungen for piano 4-hands, Op. 31 6 Characterstücke, Op. 32 4 Albumblätter, Op. 33 Impromptu-Valse, Op. 34 Polonaise, Op. 35 Rondo capriccioso, Op. 36 Gavotte in F minor, Op. 47 Idyllen: Tonbilder aus dem Taunus, Op. 48 Tarantella for piano 4-hands, Op. 50 Capriccio in B major, Op. 52 2 Intermezzi, Op. 53 Introduction und Allegro appassionato, Op. 54 Präludium und Fuge, Op. 55 Gavotte mignonne, Op. 59

Choral

Hurrah, Germania! for 4-part male chorus a cappella 6 Gesänge for 4-part male chorus a cappella, Op. 56 Horch, die Vesperhymne klingt: „Horch, wie über's Wasser hallend“ for male chorus a cappella, Op. 60

Vocal

Vergißmeinnicht for voice and piano 6 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 3 3 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 10 2 Balladen for alto and piano, Op. 11 Das Herz am Rhein for voice and piano ; words by Heinrich DippelDas Mädchen von Kola: „Mädchen von Kola, du schläfst“ for voice and piano, Op. 13 2 Lieder for soprano and piano, Op. 14 ; words by Emanuel Geibel4 Gesänge for alto and piano, Op. 17 6 Lieder im Volkston for 2 voices and piano, Op. 19 Des Sängers Abschied for voice and piano, Op. 21 Thränen, Song Cycle for alto and piano, Op. 23 ; words by Adelbert von Chamisso6 Gesänge for voice and piano, Op. 26
  • „O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst“ for baritone and piano ; words by Ferdinand FreiligrathSchwäbisches Liebesliedchen: „Sag', gold'ger Schatz“ for voice and piano Der Äsra: „Täglich ging die schöne Sultanstochter“ for voice and piano, Op. 29 ; words from a poem,, by Heinrich Heine6 Gesänge for medium voice and piano, Op. 37 4 Duetten for 2 female voices and piano, Op. 38 2 ländliche Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 39 ; words by Emanuel Geibel5 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 40 6 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 41 2 Mosellieder for voice and piano, Op. 58 4 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 61 Mein Moselland: „Du meine Wiege, o Moselland“ for voice and piano, Op. 62 Herzenstausch: „Du sagst, mein liebes Mütterlein“ for voice and piano 6 Gedichte for voice and piano, Op. 65