Franz Behr
Franz Behr (22 July 1837 – 15 February 1898) was a prolific, but minor, and now almost forgotten, German composer of songs and salon pieces for piano. Behr was popular at one time, and many of his works were published (his opus numbers reached at least 582, with Royal Gavotte). His works include names such as The Camp of the Gypsies (Im Zigeunerlager, Op. 424 No. 3), Will o' the wisp (Op. 309 No. 2), Valse des Elfes (Op. 497), Perciotta, serenade catalane, and Evening Chimes in the Mountains. He also wrote under the names G. Bachmann (Marche bulgare, Succès-mazurk, Collier de rubis, Paris-valse, Gavotte duchesse, Floréal mazurka) and Charles Godard (La Belle Fileuse, L'Angelus (Op. 65), Danse d'Etoiles - Valse (Op. 66)). At least one of his songs was translated into English by Helen Tretbar. However, the only piece of his that appears in the modern-day repertoire is Lachtäubchen, Scherzpolka in F major, Op. 303 (also known by its French title La rieuse, polka badine), and then only in the form of a transcription as a virtuoso piano piece, Polka de W.R., by Sergei Rachmaninoff. The tune was a favourite of Rachmaninoff's father Vassily (the "W. R." in the title refers to his father's initials in the German transliteration, Wassily Rachmaninoff), but it is not known whether Rachmaninoff knew its true author to be Behr, or whether he believed the melody was concocted by his father. Behr was given no mention in the published edition of Polka de W.R., and it was universally believed to be an original work of Rachmaninoff's until the late 20th century, when the true author of the melody was identified. The piece is now generally listed as being by "Behr/Rachmaninoff", or "Behr, arr. Rachmaninoff". |
Birth and Death Data: Born July 22, 1837, Died February 15, 1898
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1907 - 1927
Roles Represented in DAHR: composer
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | B-4496 | 10-in. | 5/16/1907 | Woodland echoes | Arthur Pryor's Band | Band | composer | |
Victor | B-11364 | 10-in. | 12/14/1911 | Evening on the sea | Neapolitan Trio | Instrumental trio | composer | |
Victor | BVE-30786 | 10-in. | 8/11/1926 | Serenade | Hazel Gertrude Kinscella | Piano solo, with orchestra (for instruction) | composer | |
Victor | B-30786 | 10-in. | 9/8/1924 | Serenade | Hazel Gertrude Kinscella | Piano solo, with orchestra (for instruction) | composer | |
Victor | BVE-38070 | 10-in. | 6/3/1927 | Camp of gypsies | Victor Orchestra | Orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | 90088 | 10-in. | February 1920 | Etude, opus 424, no. 3 | Columbia Miniature Orchestra | Orchestra | composer | |
Edison | 3378 | 10-in. | between 10/20/1914 and 10/29/1914 | Evening chimes in the mountains | Edison Concert Band | Band | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Behr, Franz," accessed September 3, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108410.
Behr, Franz. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108410.
"Behr, Franz." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 3 September 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Behr, Franz, 1837-1898 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no00035278
Wikidata: Franz Behr - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q92145
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/64273203
MusicBrainz: Franz Behr - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5bcc3e56-990c-40c4-a2fd-3020795b41c0
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