Robert Franz

Robert Franz Julius Knauth (28 June 1815 – 24 October 1892) was a German composer, mainly of . Biography Franz was born in Halle, Germany, the son of Christoph Franz Knauth. In 1847, Christoph Knauth adopted his middle name Franz as his new surname, and his son followed suit. He suffered in early life from the hostility of his parents to a musical career. He was twenty years old when his father’s opposition was overcome and he was allowed to live in Dessau to study organ playing under Friedrich Schneider. The two years of study under that famous teacher were advantageous chiefly in making him uncommonly intimate with the works of Bach and Händel, his knowledge of which is shown in his editions of the former’s St Matthew Passion, Magnificat and ten cantatas, and the latter’s Messiah and L’Allegro, although some of these editions have long been controversial among musicians. In 1843 he published his first book of songs, which was followed by about fifty further books, containing in all about 250 songs. In his native Halle he filled various public offices, including city organist and conductor of the Singakademie and the Symphony. He also served as royal music-director and music maste