Ries, Franz Anton
Ries Ferdinand, baptised 29 November 1784 Bonn, †13 January 1838 Frankfurt am Main, German composer and pianist, son of Franz Anton. Initially, he was taught to play the violin and piano by his father and to play the cello by B.H. Romberg. In 1801, after short studies with P. Winter in Munich, he went to Vienna, where he studied composition with J.G. Albrechtsberger and played the piano with Beethoven, for whom he also served as copyist and secretary. Thanks to Beethoven’s support, Ries also obtained employment as a pianist and teacher in the houses of the Viennese aristocracy (including Father C. Lichnowski). In 1804, he made his debut as a concert pianist, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor with his own cadenza in Vienna. In 1806–08, he stayed in Paris, then returned to Vienna, but he did not get any job there; he also fell out with Beethoven for some time. From 1809 to 1813, he toured Europe; he gave concerts with great success, including in Hamburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and also in St. Petersburg, where he performed with B.H. Romberg. In 1813–24, he lived in London, and from 1814, he appeared regularly in events Philharmonic Concerts organised by J.P. Salomon, highly rated by London critics. During these concerts, he promoted Beethoven’s music (he also represented his interests in contacts with English publishers); his compositions were also frequently performed. In 1814, he married an Englishwoman, Harriet Mangean. High income and the inheritance he received provided him with financial independence, so in 1824, he returned to his native Rhineland, settling in Bad Godesberg near Bonn, from where after three years, he moved to Frankfurt am Main. There he worked until the end of his life (apart from his stay in Aachen in 1834–36, where he was the head of the city orchestra and the Singakademie) as a conductor (including Cäcilienverein) and organizer of the Niederrheinische Musikfeste.
Ries’ compositions show the strong influence of Beethoven. His abundant legacy is dominated by chamber and piano works, in which he leaned towards forms typical of “salon” music; these compositions gained considerable popularity throughout Europe, they were performed by, among others, young F. Chopin. Ries is the co-author of one of the first biographies of Beethoven, which is of great source value.
Literature: C. Hill The Music of Ferdinand Ries. A Thematic Catalogue, Armidale 1977; Ferdinand Ries. Briefe und Dokumente, published by C. Hill, Bonn 1982; C. Hill Ferdinand Ries. A Study and Addenda, Armidale 1982.
Instrumental:
8 symphonies
5 overtures, including Don Carlos Op. 94, Die Braut von Messina Op. 162, Overture and March Op. 172
Violin Concerto Op. 24
Concerto for 2 horns and orchestra
for piano and orchestra:
8 piano concertos
Concertino for piano and orchestra
3 cycles of variations for piano and orchestra, including Swedish National Airs Op. 52 and on theme Rule Britannia Op. 116
2 rondos for piano and orchestra
Polonaise Op. 174 for piano and orchestra
Octet Op. 128 for piano and orchestra
Septet Op. 25 for piano and orchestra (also version for piano quintet)
4 sextets for piano and orchestra
6 string quintets, including Souvenir d’Italie Op. 183
piano quintet and other chamber pieces for 5 instruments
3 piano quartets
26 string quartets
6 flute quartets
6 piano trios
3 string trios
for violin and piano:
28 sonatas for violin and piano
Variations Op. 111 for violin and piano
for cello and piano:
4 sonatas for cello and piano
Variations Op. 72 for cello and piano
Rondo Op. 113 for cello and piano
for flute and piano:
5 sonatas for flute and piano
Divertimento Op. 62 for flute and piano
Rondo Op. 85 No. 2 for flute and piano
Nocturne Op. 89 for flute and piano
Polonaise Op. 119 for flute and piano
2 Fantasies Op. 134 for flute and piano
Variations Op. 152 for flute and piano
Sonata Op. 29, for clarinet/violin and piano
for horn/cello and piano:
Sonata Op. 34 for horn/cello and piano
Rondo Op. 113 No. 2 for horn/cello and piano
piano:
14 sonatas for piano
around 40 rondos for piano
49 cycles of variations for piano
15 fantasies for piano
22 waltzes for piano
4 marches for piano
dances, etudes and other small pieces for piano
for piano for 4 hands:
3 sonatas for piano for 4 hands
11 cycles of variations for piano for 4 hands
5 polonaises for piano for 4 hands
11 marches for piano for 4 hands
Grande Introduction and Rondo Op. 135 for 2 pianos
Vocal-instrumental:
songs, including:
6 songs Op. 32, text J.W. Goethe
4 songs Op. 179, text G. Byron
oratories:
Der Sieg des Glaubens Op. 157
Die Könige in Israel Op. 186
Requiem for choir and orchestra
choir pieces
motets
***
Ifigenie auf Aulis, scene for soprano and orchestra
Scenic:
operas:
Die Räuberbraut, libretto G. Döring by C.W. Häsera, staged in Frankfurt am Main 1828
The Sorceress, libretto E. Fitzball, staged in London 1831, German version Liska, oder die Hexe von Gyliensteen, staged in Cologne 1832
Eine Nacht auf dem Libanon, libretto C.M. Heigel, fragment staged in Paris 1837
Works:
Biographische Notizen über L. van Beethoven, with F.G. Wegeler, Koblenz 1838, reprint Hildesheim 1972