1814–1865. Austrian composer. in the Romantic Virtuosity tradition.

Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst was a Romantic-era violin virtuoso and composer, considered one of the greatest violinists of his time alongside Paganini. Known for technically demanding solo violin works, especially his polyphonic studies and operatic paraphrases. Relatively niche today despite historical significance.

Signature works: Six Polyphonic Studies for Solo Violin, Elegy in E-flat minor for Violin and Piano, Le Roi des aulnes (The Erlking) Fantasia for Solo Violin, Variations on 'The Last Rose of Summer' for Solo Violin, Grand Caprice on Schubert's Der Erlkönig.