Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst

Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (8June 18128 – October 1865) was a Moravian-Jewish violinist, violist and composer. He was seen as the outstanding violinist of his time and one of Niccolò Paganini’s greatest successors. He contributed to polyphonic playing and discovered new ways to compose polyphonic violin music. His most famous, and technically difficult, compositions include the sixth of his Polyphonic Studies “Die letzte Rose”, and Grand Caprice on Schubert’s “Erlkönig”. Biography Ernst was born in Brno, Moravia on 8 June 1812. He began playing violin at the age of 9, and attended the Vienna Conservatory of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde from 1825, studying violin under Joseph Böhm and Joseph Mayseder, and composition under Ignaz von Seyfried. In 1828, Niccolò Paganini visited Vienna. Ernst heard him and was deeply impressed by his violin playing. It is said that Ernst then played for Paganini who predicted a brilliant career for him. Paganini gave 14 concerts in Vienna, and Ernst attended many of these to observe the master. In April 1829, Ernst left Vienna for Munich for an employment in the royal orchestra, but Paganini advised him to aim for something higher. After that, Ernst play