Richard Wüerst (1824-1881) was born in Berlin. He initially studied composition at the Prussian Academy of Arts with Carl Friedrich Rungenhagen and then at the Leipzig Conservatory with Felix Mendelssohn. He also studied violin with Ferdinand David. Wüerst taught at the conservatory of Theodor Kullak, which later became the Stern Conservatory, and he edited the Neue Berliner Musikzeitung from 1874 to 1875.
Among his many students was the composer Heinrich Hofmann. He composed several operas, three symphonies, a violin concerto, and various chamber works such as his Russian Suite, Op. 81 as well as three String Quartets, Op. 33, and a Piano Trio, Op. 5.
Unterm Balcon (under the balcony) was published shortly before his death in 1880, but was probably composed, judging from the style, several years before that. It bears no dedication. The work calls for a cello obligato. Wüerst originally composed it for six strings (2 violins, viola, cello, bass, and cello obligato); however, his publisher decided to call it a work for cello obligato and orchestra with a view toward increasing sales. This was misleading because none of the string voices are ever divided, and the wonderful intimacy is lost when performed in this fashion.
