Karl Schreinzer

Karl Michael Schreinzer was born on 16 October 1884 in Iglau (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, today called Jihlava in the Czech Republic). He studied double bass under Franz Simandl at the Vienna Conservatory.
From 1904 to 1908 he served as a musician in the Austro-Hungarian Navy, completing his military service as part of a naval band. After returning to civilian life, he began his professional orchestral career.
From 1908 to 1913 Schreinzer was employed as a double bassist at the Vienna Volksoper. In 1913 he was appointed principal double bassist at the Vienna Court Opera, a position associated with the Vienna Philharmonic, where he remained active as an orchestral musician. From 1928 to 1945 he additionally worked as an archivist for the Vienna Philharmonic and began assembling what became known as the “Schreinzer Collection,” consisting of historical musical instruments and extensive collections of violin fittings, including more than 3,000 violin pegs and over 1,000 bridges from string instruments.
From 1938 to 1950 he taught as professor of double bass at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
Karl Schreinzer died on 1 March 1960 in Vienna (Austria).

In my possession are two autograph manuscripts of arrangements by Karl Schreinzer. As a double bassist, his adaptations naturally include the double bass in the instrumental setting. The manuscripts comprise the following works:

• The songs "Wiegenlied" and "Sapphische Ode" by Johannes Brahms, originally written for voice and piano, here arranged for double bass and piano. This arrangement dates from 1910.
• In addition, there is an arrangement of Johann Strauss II’s orchestral work "Perpetuum mobile" Op. 257, scored for violin, double bass, and piano. This version was composed in 1912.