What is Hugo Wolf?
{{Infobox musical artist|Name=Hugo Wolf|caption=Photograph of Hugo Wolf|image=Hugo Wolf.jpg|Occupation=Composer}} '''Hugo Wolf''' (born Windischgraz (now Slovenj Gradec, [[Slovenia]]) 13 March 1860; died [[Vienna]], 22 February 1903) was an [[Austria]]n [[composer]] of [[Slovenia|Slovene]] origin. He is famous for his [[Lieder]] (German art songs). He found new ways of expressing [[poetry]] in music. He used the song forms that had been made by [[Schubert]] and [[Schumann]], but his [[harmony|harmonies]] bring something very new and personal to German song. He was particularly fond of the music of [[Richard Wagner]] and his [[tonal]] writing is influenced by him. He belongs to the late [[Romantic music|Romantic]] period. Although he wrote other kinds of music besides Lieder, the only other piece of his which is played regularly is his ''Italian Serenade''. At times Wolf worked very hard and composed a lot of music. At other times he felt unhappy and had [[Depression (illness)|depression]]. Towards the end of his life he went mad and had to go to an [[Psychiatric hospital|asylum]]. He died of [[syphilis]]. == Life == === Early life (1860 – 1887) === The town where Wolf was born is now called Slovenj Gradec in [[Slovenia]], but at that time it was part of the [[Austrian Empire]]. He was a [[child prodigy]]. When he was four he learned the [[piano]] and [[violin]] from his father. When he went to school he learned with Sebastian Weixler. Music was the only thing he was interested in at school. He changed schools but still did little work except for music. He went to Vienna to study at the [[Konservatorium Wien|Vienna Conservatory]]. His father did not want him to become a musician. He was made to leave the Conservatory because he did not obey their rules. Wolf said later that he left because he did not like the old-fashioned teaching. After eight months with his family, he returned to Vienna to teach music. He had a fiery temper which did not make him an ideal teacher. However, he found so