Musicatlas
Music
According to William Newman, the only known compositions were three sonatas Opp. 1, 2 and 5, which were written between 1852 and 1857 and were very favourably reviewed by Von Bülow in a long revue published in 1858. The 3 sonatas were published by Breitkopf und Härtel. Op. 1 in E major consists of 3 movements, the last movement being tuneful and dancelike. Op. 2 in F sharp minor consists of 4 movements, the second being an exciting prestissimo Scherzo. Op. 5 in C minor was dedicated to his teacher, Robert Schumann. It is a longer and more ambitious work (27 pages as opposed to 19 pages each for Op. 1 & 2), and the sonata form in the first movement is more extended and worked out than in the earlier sonatas.
According to Newman, 2 other works were mentioned by Von Bülow, but are not named. So far as is known, Ritter is not mentioned in any dictionary, and nothing is known about other compositions, if any.
Life
All that is known about his life is that he was born (in Dresden?) in 1830. He studied with Robert Schumann in Dresden. Published 3 sonatas and one or two other works. He is thought to have moved to Venice in or after 1857 and nothing is known about the remainder of his life, nor where and when he died. Acquaintance with his sonatas as very early works, leaves one with some regrets that later development, if any, cannot be examined.