Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst

Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst
Lithograph by Josef Kriehuber, 1840
Background information
Born
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst

(1812-06-08)8 June 1812
OriginBrno, Moravia
Died8 October 1865(1865-10-08) (aged 53)
GenresClassical
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Violin
  • viola
  • piano

Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (8 June 1812 – 8 October 1865) was a Moravian-Jewish violinist, violist and composer. He was seen as the outstanding violinist of his time and one of Niccolò Paganini's greatest successors. He contributed to polyphonic playing and discovered new ways to compose polyphonic violin music. His most famous, and technically difficult, compositions include the sixth of his Polyphonic Studies "Die letzte Rose", and Grand Caprice on Schubert's "Erlkönig".