Louis Liebe

Friedrich Eduard Ludwig (Louis) Liebe (26 November 1819 – 4 July 1900) was a German composer and musical teacher.^[1][2][3] By 1863, he had published more than 50 works as a composer, including pieces for piano, violin, voice, and male choirs, many of which appeared in France and England.^[4] His most popular works included Harmony (words by Adaien Linden of Metz) and a cantata for mixed choir with orchestral accompaniment (words by Emile Drescher).^[4] He won a prize in Mannheim for Muttersprache for male choirs, as well as prizes in Paris for several a capella pieces and a fugue for organ, among other compositions.^[4]

Early life and education

Liebe was born in Magdeburg, where his father worked for the higher regional court.^[1] He studied music in Kassel and was a pupil of Louis Spohr.^[1][5]

Career

From 1842 to 1844, Liebe taught at the Sallmann'schen Schule in Kassel.^[2] In 1844, he lived in Koblenz briefly and moved to Mainz later that year.^[1]

From 1845 or 1846 to 1850, Liebe was the musical director at Worms.^[1][2] While at Worms, one of his pupils was Friedrich Gernsheim, who went on to become a composer and musical director at Saarbrücken.^[6][5][4]

From 1850 to 1867, Liebe lived in Strasbourg.^[2] He was director of the Association of Choral Societies of Alsace and was a music teacher.^[4] During this period, he toured Paris, Zürich, Chur, and London.^[2]

From 1883 to 1886, Liebe was based in Kostanz, where he conducted the Bodan singing society.^[2]

Personal life and death

Liebe married in Mainz in October 1847.^[1] He died in 1900 in Chur.^[2]

Further reading

• Neue Berliner Musikzeitung hrsgg. v. Gustav Bock, 6. Jg., Nr. 37 v. 1852-09-22, S. 295, Sp. 1: "Louis Liebe (1819–1900), Musikdirektor in Straßburg; „Louis Liebe, welchem vor Kurzem der Preis für die beste Composition als Männer-Quartett des Gedichtes: ‚Muttersprache‘ von Max von Schenkendorf, von einer Gesellschaft in Mannheim zuerkannt worden war, ist eben wieder als Sieger bei einer Preisbewerbung hervorgegangen.“ (in „Nanzi“; sic Nancy)...
• www.Jung-Stilling-Forschung.de