Erich J. Wolff

Erich Jacques Wolff was born on 3 December 1874 in Vienna (then part of Austria-Hungary, now Austria). After completing his school education, he enrolled at the Conservatory of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. There he studied composition with Robert Fuchs and piano with Anton Door.
After completing his studies, Erich J. Wolff moved to Berlin, where he established himself as a freelance composer and pianist. As a composer, he attracted particular attention and critical acclaim for his songs. In addition, Wolff remained active as an accompanist and pianist and participated in concert life through performances of his own works and collaborations with singers such as Julia Culp, Elena Gerhardt, and Florence Easton.
Erich Jacques Wolff died unexpectedly on 20 March 1913 in New York, USA, from complications arising from a middle-ear infection.

The art song, represented by more than 150 works, stood at the centre of Wolff’s compositional output. In addition, he composed piano music for two and four hands, chamber music for violin and piano, three melodramas, a violin concerto, and the Phantastische Ballettpantomime in four acts.

In my possession is the autograph manuscript of the "Rapsodie" for piano op.7 No.4 by Erich J. Wolff. The work belongs to the "Quatre Morceaux" op.7 that were published by Schlesinger in 1905, now with the title "Valse Papillon" for the No.4.