1829–1908 · Germany · Romantic
Jacques Blumenthal, a pianist and composer from Germany, was born in Hamburg in 1829 and died in 1908. He lived in London, served as pianist to Queen Victoria and taught in fashionable society. The short piano pieces and songs he wrote were quite popular.
Jacques Blumenthal was born in Hamburg in October 1829 and was named Jakob at birth. He took up music young. He studied with Simon Sechter, Carl Maria von Bocklet and Friedrich Wilhelm Grund.
He studied music in Hamburg and in Vienna.
Blumenthal then studied at the Paris Conservatoire. His mentors there were Henri Herz and Fromental Halévy.
Blumenthal moved to London in 1848 and became pianist to Queen Victoria.
The appointment made him much sought after as a teacher among London's fashionable circles, and he did very well. One of his pupils was the composer Jane Roeckel.
Blumenthal also wrote a number of works. The short piano pieces and songs he wrote were quite popular, while his larger works were less successful.
He wrote brilliant salon pieces for piano, a few chamber works and many songs.
Blumenthal died on 17 May 1908 at his house on Cheyne Walk, in Chelsea. After his death the copyrights to his music went, through his widow, to the Royal Society of Musicians.
Blumenthal's short piano pieces and songs were the most popular part of his output. He wrote salon pieces, a few chamber works and many songs.
His Opus 1 is the caprice "La Source", published in Paris in 1849. "Trois Mazurkas", Op. 20, appeared there in 1851. Later came the barcarolle "Le Gondolier du Lido", Op. 40, "Chant du cigne", Op. 51, and the waltz "L'Étoile du soir", Op. 52, published in Paris in 1859. "La Petite Russie", Op. 61, was issued in London in 1862.
Among his songs are "The Requital", published in London in 1864, "The Days are Past" and "Looking Beyond". His piano piece "Les Deux Anges" (level "Intermediate+") is available on the site.