Jean Otto Eric Hugo Becker transitioned from the violin to the cello at the age of nine, setting the course for a career as a German cellist, composer, and educator. Throughout his life in the German Reich, he became a central figure in European chamber music, collaborating with figures such as Eugène Ysaÿe and Ferruccio Busoni.
Early Career and Training
Born in Strasbourg in 1863, Becker grew up in a musical environment. His father, Jean Becker, was a violinist who attempted to teach him the violin, but the younger Becker chose the cello. By the age of fifteen, he performed in a family-led string quartet. His technical development included studies with Alfredo Piatti and later with Friedrich Grützmacher in Dresden. Before settling into established positions, he served as a lead cellist in the Mannheim court orchestra.
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Becker held prominent roles within German musical institutions. In 1884, he joined the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra as a solo cellist. Shortly thereafter, he transitioned into teaching, serving as the principal cello instructor at the Frankfurt Hoch Conservatory. In 1909, he accepted a professorship at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, where he remained until 1929. His students included George Georgescu and Beatrice Harrison.
Chamber Music and Performance
Beyond his academic work, Becker toured extensively. Between 1914 and 1921, he performed as part of the Schnabel Trio alongside Artur Schnabel and Carl Flesch. Throughout his career, he maintained possession of two Stradivarius instruments: the 1700 Cristiani and a 1719 cello later named after him.
Composition and Final Years
Becker authored several works for the cello, including his Cello Concerto, Op. 10 in A major, which reached publication via Schott in 1902. Other compositions include Aus dem Leben des Waldschrat and the 1894 Liebesleben, Op. 7. He also wrote the pedagogical text Mechanik und Ästhetik des Violoncellospiels. He died in Harlaching on 30 July 1941.
Fast facts
- Born: 13 February 1863, Strasbourg
- Died: 30 July 1941, Harlaching
- Primary occupations: Cellist, composer, music educator
- Citizenship: German Reich
- Notable students: George Georgescu, Beatrice Harrison
- Cello Concerto: Op. 10 in A major
- Stradivarius instruments: 1700 Cristiani, 1719 Becker
Questions readers ask
Did Hugo Becker compose for the cello?
Yes, he composed several works including a Cello Concerto in A major and the suite Aus dem Leben des Waldschrat.
Which major institutions did he serve?
He worked for the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra, the Frankfurt Hoch Conservatory, and the Berlin University of the Arts.
Achievements
- Instruments: cello
- Genres: classical music
