Tributes to the Memory of Hans Engelmann

From Contemporary Composers

There never has been in America such a prolific and melodious composer as the late Hans Engelmann. some years past, when our native writers began to show what they could do, the first item they seemed studiously to avoid was melody. To speak from my personal experience I attended all the yearly meetings of the National and State Music Teachers' Associations to hear the works of American composers performed, the impression was that all the old forms should be thrown over board, and that no such commonplace as tune and rhythm should be employed. Those of us who have watched the outcome of the effort well know when it ended. Some composers have at once reached the hearts of the people by the simplicity of their melodies, others by the constant performance of them and the popularity of certain artists. In the last finality what one needs to express his deepest feelings is not technique, or scientific contrapuntal examples and exercises, written by learned doctors or professors of music, but real inspirational melody; no matter who wrote it, whether it be a Schubert, Schumann or Engelmann. I have used and played many of Hans Engelmann's writings. About two years ago I purchased several of them for a large publishing house, and one of the numbers being too difficult, we asked him for an easier arrangement, or something of a different style. It was only a few days until we received quite a bundle of new pieces and were requested to take our choice. The musical world has been uplifted and made to feel more keenly the tender and sympathetic qualities of the art in the works of Hans Engelmann. Time and use will put the stamp of approval on those writings of his which are to last, but among them will be "Melody of Love", and "When the Lights are Low". -- W. D. Armstrong

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In my estimation Hans Engelmann was one of the great, modern melodists, one of the few composers who never had to seek for a theme, for his supply of that rare product was inexhaustible, his gift in this respect was almost ethereal. None but a Child of Inspiration could have penned such melodies as he has left to the music - loving world. Truly a magnificent monument.

I am proud to have know him both as a fried and a musician, and deeply regret his early demise. I predict that posterity will be familiar with the name of Hans Engelmann. -- Geo. L. Spaulding

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I did not know Mr. Engelmann very well personally having met him possibly only a few times to my knowledge. You know that a blind person may be in the society of his fellows many times and yet not know it unless they make themselves known to him. Therefore I might have often been in the presence of Engelmann and yet not have known it because he did not address me. What I can say of him is simply that he had a very lovable disposition, quiet and easy of manner. I remember the last time I met him was in your establishment several years ago. He put him arm around my waist as though he had known me for years and addressed me as "Mein lieber Geibel". I always found his compositions, even the simplest, written with perfect exactness as to harmonic construction, and his flow of melody was really quite great. -- Adam Geibel

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Engelmann's works will live as long as the stars in the heavens shine upon this beautiful earth of ours. He died just as the twilight came to kiss the rose good night, leaving thousands of friends, and countless thousands more to be won, through the charm of his lovely melodies. -- H. W. Petrie

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I was very much grieved to learn of the death of Hans Engelmann. We will miss him and the hopes of anticipating his new compositions. We have scores of his beautiful melodies left us, and we should all dig into his extensive writings and find numerous gems that the public know little of. We all know him for his Melody of Love, little thinking that he has written dozens of "Melodies of Love". Let us do him honor and investigate his writings, as they are the living part of this beloved countryman. -- Thurlow Lieruance

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The death of any creative musician of talent is to be regretted. The fact that he may have left to posterity something to advance the cause of art - however humble the contribution - is compensated in part for the silencing of his pen. This I believe Engelmann has done so that regret is tempered by appreciation. -- Wilson G. Smith

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I learn with deep regret of the death of genial Hans Engelmann. He was in every sense a true musician and he had, if I may use the expression, a wonderful anticipation of harmony. Engelmann's soul was bathed in music. He death is a distinct loss. -- Tod B. Galloway

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While Hans Engelmann has passed beyond our mortal vision, yet he still lives in the beautiful melodies which flowed so spontaneously from his prolific mind, the rich legacy he left to future generations of music students, brightening the pathway of many a beginner, and leading them onward to greater heights in the realm of tone. -- Frederick A. Franklin

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In the passing of Hans Engelmann the world has lost a benefactor, for while Engelmann maynot, perhaps, be classed among the "great" composers, the significant fact remains that the product of his genius found instantaneous and wide spread acceptance at the hands of thousands of music lovers. The present writer knew Mr. Engelmann personally, and can bear witness that he was of a sunny, cheerful disposition. His modesty was as marked as his talent. -- Joseph W. Lerman

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Through the death of Hans Engelmann the teaching world has met with a great loss. His pleasing and melodious compositions have awakened in many a fondness for music which otherwise would have lain dormant. It is to be greatly lamented that his useful and creative career should have been closed so early. He was a composer with an inexhaustible fund of melody whom it will be difficult to replace. -- Hobart D. Hewitt

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I read of the passing of Hans Engelmann in the July Etude with genuine regret and a sense of loss. Young, earnest, industrious, splendidly equipped for his work, cut off before he had reached the prime of life - such is the story.

He was, of course, best known through his piano compositions; and his fame will be found to be peculiarly lasting in that it rests with the army of piano students who, weary of the round of scales and etudes, have learned to welcome the Engelmann type of piece as the pleasant part of the practice period. In this work Mr. Engelmann was pre-eminent and it is difficult to believe that the hand that penned "The Melody of Love" will write no more.

Let us not forget Hans Engelmann. -- George Dudley Martin

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Carefull arranging, and grading the compositions of Hans Engelmann according to their difficulty of execution, their ever tuneful originality reminds me of the beautiful musical allegory of the Tiny Little Rill; "Trickling from the tip top of the tall mountain, it goes on its mission of mercy; joins in the merry song of the rivulet; dancing a duet over moss covered rocks; playing hide and seek among pretty white pebbles, till they reach the evergreen plain below; there a trio is sung with the voice of the brooklet, as it murmurs through the meadows where the wild flowers grow; thirsty cattle politely bow their heads in gratitude for the cool, freshing drink furnished them by the babbling brook, as it hurries on to the river and thence into the might choral ocean. The genial rays of the tropic sun kiss the waters up into fleecy clouds, which the south wind waft back up to the old mountain peak where they fall in gentle tear drops of rain, singing their song of Sweet Home Again."

True lovers of music, and lovers of true music will gratefully keep the memory of Hans Engelmann ever green. -- Frank L Bristow

The Etude Magazine August 1914