August Ferdinand Riccius (February 26, 1819, Bernstadt – June 4, 1886)

August Ferdinand Riccius was a German composer. The Bernstadt where Riccius was born is not the town of the same name in southern Germany, but Bernstadt am Eigen, a town in Lusatia, a region in eastern Germany bordering Poland and the Czech Republic. He showed musical talent early on, and by the age of nine, he was already playing the violin and flute in the local orchestra to which his amateur father belonged. He received instruction from a musician named Schönfeld, the local Kapellmeister, and began to play the piano and organ as well. In 1833, he moved to the nearby town of Zittau and attended the local gymnasium. Here, while studying literature, he joined the choral society and later became its conductor. In this town, he is said to have received performance instruction from a musician named Zimmerman. In 1840, Riccius entered Leipzig University, majoring in theology according to his parents' wishes. However, after three years of indecision between music and academics, he decided to become a musician, continuing his musical studies independently and earning a living as a music teacher. In 1849, Riccius was elected director of the local Euterpe Music Society (this society, founded in 1824, was a leading musical association in the city alongside the Gewandhaus concerts), and he led the orchestra until 1855. In that year, Riccius succeeded Julius Rietz (1812–1877) as conductor of the local Comödienhaus. In 1864, he served as conductor at the Hamburg Opera and was also active as a critic.

Due to his profession, much of Riccius's creative output is dedicated to vocal music (songs, scenes and arias, cantatas) and orchestral music (overtures for orchestra). His published piano works include the following:

• Works for Piano Four Hands:

• Capriccio in F minor, Op. 1
• Allegro appassionato, Op. 41

• Works for Piano Solo:

• 5 Easy Character Pieces, Op. 2
• Melancholische Sonate (Melancholic Sonata), Op. 16 (same title as Moscheles' Op. 49)
• 5 Melodische Stücke (5 Melodic Pieces), Op. 25
• 2 Charakterstücke (2 Character Pieces), Op. 33
• In freien Stunden – 12 Stücke (In Leisure Hours – 12 Pieces), Op. 38

References:

• François-Joseph Fétis, « Riccius (Auguste-Ferdinand) », Biographie universelle des musiciens et bibliographie générale de la musique, vol. 7, Paris, Firmin-Didot, 1878, p. 244-245.