Fritz (Friedrich) Wahle
born Vienna, August 4, 1859; died Baden, July 22, 1918
Documents associated with this person:
Austrian violinist and violin teacher, second violinist of the Winkler String Quartet (1885–95), and a member of the Vienna Court Opera orchestra.
Wahle and Schenker
Wahle figures in Schenker's diary as early as 1903, as a member of the “Gärtner Quartet” (OJ 6/4, [23], February 16, 1903), and again in 1906, when he is mentioned together with Eduard Gärtner (p. 21) and 1907 (p. 35: "Evening: played with Fritz, etc. and [Moriz] Violin at the Rudolfinerhaus.") and p. 37 ("After quartet at Eduard Gärtner's, Kapellmeister Kunwald, Fritz, and Floriz in the coffee-house: discussion of Brahms's epigonism."). Schenker arranged for Wahle to receive a copy of each of his publications between 1903 and 1913, including both editions of Ein Beitrag zur Ornamentik. Each one of these was duly acknowledged in long letters of gratitude, in which Wahle expressed his admiration of Schenker: for his enthusiasm, his insight into music, his seriousness of purpose, and his courage. Although none of these letters contains great insights into music, collectively they convey the impression of a thoughtful musician with an agreeable sense of humor. Wahle addresses Schenker with “Du,” a sign that they were on close terms; only one other corresponding friend, Moriz Violin, is known to have done the same.
Until the autumn of 1906, Wahle was living with his brother Richard Wahle, university professor of philosophy, at Vienna I, Währingerstraße 22. Thereafter he lived at Vienna I, Börsegasse 7.
Schenker offers an encomium on his death: Fritz Wahle has died! Even if in the specific sense of the word he is not to be ranked highly as a musician, he was driven by yearning for the highest standards, namely toward the example of [Joseph] Joachim, and that and his unusual literary education (fondness for Jean Paul [Richter]) gave him a particular stamp as a man, yes, something that can be called personality. On the basis of this he was able to enliven and stimulate every social gathering he attended. I myself stood in his debt for years of most happy experiences, for felicitous music-making, for memories of our delightful adventures and ultimately for my acquaintance with his brother, the university professor, to whom my sister in particular owes a great deal. (diary, pp. 923-924, July 24, 1918)
Correspondence with Schenker
Thirteen items of correspondence from Wahle to Schenker are preserved as OJ 15/6 (1903-1913).
Source
- OEML “Wahle, Fritz (Friedrich)”
Contributor2
- Ian Bent and William Drabkin