Director of the conservatory at Leipzig; befriended with Mendelssohn and Schumann

Reinecke was the son of a music teacher at Hamburg. He studied violin, alto, piano and started composing at the age of 7. He was also a famous conductor. In 1860, he was appointed music direstor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, and professor of piano and composition at the Conservatory. He was very much influenced by Mendelssohn and Schumann since 1840. In 1888 he wrote a suite of 16 piano pieces, titled "Von der wiege bis zum Grabe" (From the Cradle to the Grave) Op. 202 (arranged for flute and piano by E. Köhler), which is totaly in the spirit of the two composers. Brahms’ star overshadowed him more and more since 1890. Then wind instruments took a greater place in his musical life — they were systematically avoided during the romantic era —, a developement that may largely be explained by his desire to avoid competing Brahms on his own turf. Then he composed an Octet for Winds in B flat, Op 216 (ca. 1892), a Sextet for Winds in B flat, Op. 271 (ca. 1905) and a flute concerto in D Major (1908). He retained an astonishing creating vitality till his death. in 1910.

(Contributed by Romain Talon <romain.talon@wanadoo.fr>.)