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Raff in 1856
Raff in 1856

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raff in the 1870s
Raff in the 1870s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raff in later life
Raff in later life

 

 

Books

Catalogue of music composed by Joachim Raff
This new definitive catalogue of Raff's compositions has been published by the Joachim Raff Society. It is now available in convenient as a download in PDF format for trouble-free viewing and printing. It has been compiled by Mark Thomas from the only extant catalogue of Raff’s works – the Chronologish-systematisches Verzeichnis der Werke Joachim Raff’s published in 1888. Combining the original's movement-by-movement thoroughness with up to date information, Raff's 300+ original compositions, arrangements and transcriptions are catalogued in a comprehensive, clear and attractive manner, making it a reference work which is a pleasure to use.

Vergessene Symphonik? ( Forgotten Symphonists?)
In his book "Forgotten Symphonists? Studies on Joachim Raff, Carl Reinecke and the Imitation question" Matthias Weigandt discusses in fascinating detail Raff's symphonies nos.4,5 and 9, together with Reinecke's 1st. symphony. The book reviews the art of the symphony between 1850 and 1890 and in particular addresses the accusation of a lack of originality in Raff's symphonic music. This work has proved so popular that it is now offered at a new, lower price! In German.

Joseph Joachim Raff (1822-1882)
In his monograph "Joseph Joachim Raff (1822-1882)" Markus Römer offers a succinct outline of Raff's life with copious extracts from the writings of Raff's contemporaries. There is a short review of Raff's approach to composing and an extensive bibliography and literary reference. In German.

The program symphonies of Joseph Joachim Raff
Carol Bevier's extensive dissertation describes all Raff's programmatic symphonies in detail together with a fascinating review of Raff's life and general compositional style.

Edward MacDowell, Arthur P Schmidt and the Shakespeare Overtures of Joachim Raff
E Douglas Bomberger's article in Notes v54 (September 1997) traces the fascinating exchange of letters between MacDowell and Raff's widow and daughter to arrange publication of Raff's Shakespeare Overtures.

Franz Liszt. The Weimar Years 1848-1861
In the second volume of his authoritative three volume life of Liszt, Alan Walker makes extensive reference to Raff's life with Liszt in Weimar and devotes a whole chapter to "The Raff Case" - discussing to what extent Raff shared authorship of Liszt's Symphonic Poems and Piano Concertos.

Analecta Lisztiana I: Liszt & His World
This book, publishing the proceedings of an International Liszt Conferance, contains an extensive paper by James Deaville entitled "A Daily Dairy of the Weimar Dream: Joachim Raff's Unpublished Letters to Doris Genast 1852-1856". Raff's previously unpublished letters to his fiancée throw light on his later years in Weimar, his attitude towards Liszt and generally chronicle Liszt's circle there.

Maria Stuart, opus 172: A song cycle by Joseph Joachim Raff based on the poetry of Mary Queen of Scots
Molly Johnson's well researched and readable monograph describes the background and composition of one of Raff's best known vocal works. Each song is analysed with copius musical examples.

Amanuensis or Author? The Liszt-Raff Collaboration Revisited
Paul A Bertagnolli's fascinating article traces the process by which Raff's original orchestration of Liszt's symphonic poem "Prometheus" was transformed by Liszt into the work we know today. Through copius reference to the surviving manuscripts, Bertagnolli seeks to prove that Raff had no lasting influence on Liszt's compositional process.

More reading
Most of these publications have extensive bibliographies listing original source material - for a summary of the major sources see the Historical sources page.

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