Jan Hanuš Sitt, known professionally as Hans Sitt, served as a foundational figure in European music education at the turn of the 20th century. Born in Prague in 1850, the violinist and conductor bridged the nineteenth and twentieth centuries through a career that saw him transition from a touring soloist to an influential professor at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig.
Early Career and Training
The son of the Hungarian-born violin maker Anton Sitt the Elder, he received his initial musical training at the Prague Conservatory between 1861 and 1867. His instructors included violinists Moritz Mildner and Antonín Bennewitz, alongside composition teachers Josef Krejčí and Johann Friedrich Kittl. Following his formal studies, he launched a solo career before securing the position of concertmaster for the Breslau Opera Orchestra in 1867. He subsequently performed as concertmaster in Chemnitz from 1873 to 1880, while also building a reputation as a conductor across France, Austria, and Germany.
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Sitt held the position of Professor of Violin at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig from 1884 until 1921. During this tenure, he gained recognition as a premier educator, drawing students from conservatories across Europe and North America. Notable pupils included composers Frederick Delius, Franco Alfano, and Pablo Sorozábal, as well as the conductor Václav Talich. Beyond his classroom duties, he served as the conductor of the Bach-Verein Leipzig from 1885 to 1903 and played viola in the Brodsky Quartet between 1883 and 1895.
Compositions and Orchestration
His output as a composer was extensive, focusing heavily on works for violin and orchestra, including six concertos and various sonatas. He also composed two piano trios during the 1880s and several pedagogical studies for violin and viola. Among his diverse credits, he is specifically noted for creating the orchestration of Edvard Grieg's Norwegian Dances, Op. 35. His catalogue remains defined by technically progressive concertinos, such as his Op. 31, Op. 65, and Op. 70, which were designed for students at varying stages of proficiency.
Fast facts
- Born: 1850, Prague
- Died: 1922, Leipzig
- Citizenship: Cisleithania
- Primary Employer: University of Music and Theatre Leipzig (1884-1921)
- Instruments: Violin, Viola
- Notable Students: Frederick Delius, Václav Talich
Questions readers ask
What major roles did Hans Sitt hold in Leipzig?
He served as the Professor of Violin at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig and as the conductor of the Leipzig Bach Society.
Which major work by Edvard Grieg did Sitt orchestrate?
He was responsible for the orchestration of Grieg's Norwegian Dances, Op. 35.
Achievements
- Instruments: violin and viola
- Genres: classical music
