Eugene Rittich (15 August 1928 – June 18, 2006) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

musician who taught

horn Horn most often refers to: *Horn (acoustic), a conical or bell shaped aperture used to guide sound ** Horn (instrument), collective name for tube-shaped wind musical instruments *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various ...

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numb ...

conducting Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance, such as an orchestral or choral concert. It has been defined as "the art of directing the simultaneous performance of several players or singers by the use of gesture." The primary duti ...

and

ensemble Ensemble may refer to: Art * Architectural ensemble * ''Ensemble'' (album), Kendji Girac 2015 album * Ensemble (band), a project of Olivier Alary * Ensemble cast (drama, comedy) * Ensemble (musical theatre), also known as the chorus * ''En ...

master classes and seminars for over 30 years in Canada, the

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and

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. In addition to his seminars, Rittich's services as advisor, adjudicator and jury member for Arts Councils, Universities, Music Festivals, and Competitions throughout Canada and the U.S. had helped him to guide many young players into distinguished professional careers around the world. Eugene Rittich's long association with the

Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra The Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) is a high-level orchestral training programme for musicians aged 22 and under, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. TSYO alumni are found in most major performing organizations in Canada, and many have embar ...

, the National Youth Orchestra and the Faculty of Music at the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

was honored twice by the

International Horn Society The International Horn Society (IHS) is an international organization dedicated to players of the Brass instrument, horn founded in June 1970 with a goal to promote horn playing, education and fellowship. A community of over 3500 members from 55 ...

in awarding him their Punto Award ''"in recognition of distinguished contributions and service to the art of horn playing".'' Rittich designed a mute, which is today the basis for most modern horn mutes. The Rittich mute is described as having a colorful sound and very even response throughout the entire range of the horn, in contrast with earlier mutes which tended to be stuffy in the low range. Rittich was Principal horn with the

Toronto Symphony Orchestra The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1906, the TSO gave regular concerts at Massey Hall until 1982, and since then has performed at Roy Thomson Hall. The TSO also manages the Toronto ...

until 1974, when he was named co-principal with Fred Rizner. In 1986 he became Associate Principal to Principal horn Fred Rizner until his retirement in 1989. Before retiring in 1989 from his position as a Principal French Horn of the Toronto Symphony, Rittich had gained prominence as one of Canada's most distinguished horn players and teachers, giving performances and producing recordings with many of the world's great conductors and soloists. Numerous tours in Europe, Asia, and North America highlighted his 37-year playing career. Rittich died in Toronto after a lengthy battle with cancer in Princess Margaret Hospital.

References

1928 births 2006 deaths Canadian classical horn players 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century Canadian male musicians {{Brass-musician-stub