Today is the birthday of Woldemar Borgiel (1828-1897). Woldemar is not to be confused with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named from the “Harry Potter” series. Rather, he was the half-brother of Clara Schumann.

His mother had been unhappily married to Clara’s father, Friedrich Wieck, who, judging from his role as the inflexible impediment to his daughter’s marriage to Robert Schumann, must have been a barrel of laughs.

Woldemar, who was nine years younger than Clara, benefited from his brother-in-law’s advocacy. Schumann and Mendelssohn used their influence to gain him entrance into the Leipzig Conservatory. There, he studied with Ignaz Moscheles, Niels Wilhelm Gade and Julius Rietz.

It was the Schumanns who arranged for the publication of some of Woldemar’s early works, including his Piano Trio No. 1. He would hold positions at several conservatories, the most prestigious of which was the Hochschule für Musik Berlin, where he taught for a good deal of his life. He also assisted Brahms as co-editor of complete editions of Schumann’s and Chopin’s works.

Woldemar was not a prolific composer, but he was a reliable one. There is nothing to fear from saying his name.

Bargiel’s Adagio for Cello and Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg47SjRFVmo