Gustav Dannreuther

Gustav Dannreuther (July 21, 1853 – December 19, 1923) was an American violinist, instructor, chamber musician, and conductor. Dannreuther may best be remembered by connoisseurs of chamber music, particularly those of Boston and New York City, for his numerous string quartet concerts (three per season in New York City, accompanied by distinguished artists) and an associated appreciation of string quartet music. In 1846, Abraham, Sophie, and Edward moved from Strasbourg to Cincinnati into a German community. By 1861, Abraham's business went under and he died not long after, leaving his wife and three children in poverty. He was among the violinists in the debut concert of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the Symphony Hall in 1881.

1891 Beethoven String QuartetIn 1883, Dannreuther formed the Beethoven Club with Carl Meisel (violin), Wulf Fries (cello), and C.N. Allen (viola). The following year, he and Nellie moved to New York City part time and he formed the Beethoven String Quartet, inspired by Boston's Mendelssohn Quintette Club. Between 1895 and 1910 alone, they performed 14 times at Carnegie Hall and officially disbanded in 1917. He conducted the school's orchestra between 1908 and 1914. Not long after, the couple stumbled upon the nearby town of Lee, where they eventually settled, though it is unknown if the incident with their neighbor in Lanesborough influenced the decision to move. Dannreuther became an avid hiker and had climbed Mount Greylock 17 times by 1909, potentially making him eligible to join the Appalachian Mountain Club. Nellie eventually settled in Lee full-time and commuted to the city for her weekly classes, while Gustav stayed primarily in the city and visited Lee when he could. Gustav and Nellie had three children: Dr. Walter Taylor (1885–1960), Martin Taylor (1889–1973), and Gustav Jr. (1891–?). Martin married Alice Evans in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1917. Gustav Jr.'s wife Lena "Betty" Armstrong, a descendant of John Armstrong, died in 1938.

Nellie and Gustav had two granddaughters: Martin's daughter Susan (c. 1921–2020), a music teacher; and Gustav Jr.'s daughter Helen Louise. Louise had one son, Edward "Ned" Livingston Coster III. Dannreuther had four nephews (John Scheibly, and Hubert Edward, Tristan, and Wolfram Dannreuther) and four nieces (Julia Thonnsen, Adele Gier, and Elsie Shriefer, and Isolde Dannreuther).