About
Child prodigy who came under the influence of Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms at a young age. He was known for his contrapuntally complex pieces.
Before Fame
He studied with composer Wilhelm Mayer in Graz and Carl Reinecke in Leipzig.
Trivia
He held to the philosophy, "Music was born free; and to win freedom is its destiny," which had an impact on his students, including future 20th-century innovators Percy Grainger and Edgard Varèse.
Family Life
He was born into a musical family: his father Ferdinando was a clarinetist, and his mother Anna was a pianist.
Associated With
His composition Concert Piece for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 31a, won him the 1890 Anton Rubinstein Competition.
