David Petersen (composer)

David Petersen (* around 1650 in Lübeck , † 1737 in Amsterdam ) was a composer and violinist from northern Germany .

Title page of the Speelstukken

Life

Petersen became known in music history for his "Speelstukken" for violin and bc , which were published in Amsterdam in 1683.

He was born to a wealthy family and married in Amsterdam in 1679. At the time of his marriage he stated that he was 28 years old and a businessman.

With today's known facts from the Lübeck of his time, assumptions can be made about Petersen's training as a musician. The work of Franz Tunder and Dietrich Buxtehude , eminent musicians in his hometown, with their evening music , which still takes place weekly , will certainly have influenced Petersen. In the second third of the 16th century, the virtuoso violinist Nicolaus Bleyer worked in Lübeck , who had several students. It is conceivable that Petersen's teacher came from his environment. In addition, a lively cultural exchange took place between the cities of the Hanseatic League, the places where masters such as Johann Schop , Johann Valentin Meder and Nathanael Schnittelbach worked .

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The "Speelstukken" testify to the violinic and compositional qualities of their creator. They are very reminiscent of the works of Johann Jakob Walther , Westhoff and Biber . Above all, Petersen must have known the "Scherzi" for solo violin and Bc Walthers from 1676 well, as his works are very similar in large passages and various themes have been adopted.

Despite the originality and quality of the “Speelstucken”, only a few works by Petersen were published in the period that followed, including the 24 songs “Zedeen Harpgezangen, met Zangkunst verrykt by David Peetersen” for a voice and Bc (Amsterdam, 1694) Texts by his friend, the legal scholar and poet Abraham Alewijn , who was also the godfather of his youngest daughter. In addition, the song collection “Boertige en Ernstige Minnezangen” (1705).

Discography

• David Petersen, (9) Speelstukken , The Rare Fruits Council, soloist Manfredo Kraemer , Astrée, 1998

Web links

• Sheet music and audio files by David Petersen (composer) in the International Music Score Library Project