Franz Anton Hoffmeister

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Franz Anton Hoffmeister after Nikolaus Lauer

Franz Anton Hoffmeister (baptized October 27, 1754 in Rottenburg am Neckar , then Upper Austria ; † February 9, 1812 in Vienna ) was a German composer and music publisher .

Life

As the eighth of a total of eleven children of his father Martin Hoffmeister and his wife Regina, née Nadler, Franz Anton grew up in Rottenburg until he was fourteen. Then he went to Vienna and became an organist after studying law and music. At the same time he worked as a publisher. In 1800 he and Ambrosius Kühnel founded the Bureau de musique in Leipzig , which still exists today as the CF Peters publishing house . In 1805 he left again and returned to Vienna.

In addition to his own compositions, he also published works by Pleyel, Vanhal , Wranitzky, Haydn , Mozart and Beethoven in his publishing house . Ludwig van Beethoven, whose famous Sonata Pathetique op. 13 Hoffmeister was the first to publish, once called him a “brother in the art of music”. His personal friend Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose piano quartet KV 478 was first published by him, valued him very much, repeatedly asked Hoffmeister for an advance payment and even dedicated a “Hoffmeister Quartet” KV 499 to him. Joseph Haydn, of whom he also published chamber music , was even allowed to have Hoffmeister call himself a “stingy character” in a letter to his partner.

Despite his work as a publisher and music dealer, Hoffmeister composed nine operas, including The King's Son of Ithaca with the text by Emanuel Schikaneder , almost seventy symphonies, 42 string quartets, many serenades, instrumental concerts and countless chamber music in all conceivable and some unusual formations, as well as some secular and sacred vocal compositions. The well-known Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in D major is still a compulsory piece for violists who want to play for a professional orchestra. In addition to the viola, Hoffmeister's music is now also in the standard repertoire of flutists and clarinetists and in many chamber music ensembles.

Overall, Franz Anton Hoffmeister can be seen as one of the most remarkable, skilful and productive composers of sophisticated, artistic light music of his time. His works were very well received by contemporary audiences. He was one of those good composers who provided the dense musical life of that time with literature whose style belonged to that of the " gallant ", " sensitive " epoch, the Rococo , and which was very widespread at the time.

Works (selection)

The 30-year-old Hoffmeister in Vienna, painted by Christian Ludwig Seehas
  • op. 5; 3 concertante duos op. 5 for violin and violoncello
  • op. 7; 3 duos for violin and viola
  • op. 19; 6 duos for violin and viola
  • op. 20; 6 quartets for violin, 2 violas and violoncello
  • op. 27; 2 quartets for flute and string trio
  • op. 30; 3 duos for 2 flutes
  • op. 31; 6 trios for 2 flutes and violoncello
  • op. 35 (?); 2 quintets for flute, violin, 2 violas and violoncello
  • op. 35 (?); Prelude ou Exercise for flute solo
  • op. 38; 3 duos for flute and oboe (or violin)
  • op. 49 (?); 6 duos for 2 flutes
  • op. 49 (?); Sonata in B flat major No. 2 for 2 flutes
  • op. 51; 6 duos for 2 flutes
  • 12 studies for viola solo
  • Sinfonia Concertante for clarinet, bassoon and orchestra in B flat major
  • Sinfonia Concertante for viola, double bass and orchestra in D major
  • Terzetto in D major for 3 flutes
  • Terzetto in D major for flute, viola and violoncello
  • Cassation in F major for violin or flute, oboe, viola, 2 horns and bassoon
  • Notturno in B flat major for flute, 2 horns and string trio
  • 3 concert duos for flute and viola
  • 3 easy trios for 2 violins and violoncello
  • 3 easy trios for flute, violin and violoncello
  • Concerto in D major for viola and orchestra
  • Concerto for double bass No. 1 in D major
  • Concerto for double bass No. 2 in D major
  • Concerto for double bass No. 3 in D major
  • Concerto in B flat major for clarinet and orchestra
  • Concerto in E flat major for 2 clarinets and orchestra
  • 3 concertos for horn (D major [1782], D flat major, E major)
  • 3 concerts for 2 horns
  • Concerto for 3 horns
  • Variations sur airs et thèmes d'Haydn et Mozart for flute solo
  • Variations Pour le Clavecin ou Forte-piano in E flat major, Vienna, approx. 1787/88

literature

Web links

Commons : Franz Anton Hoffmeister  - Collection of images, videos and audio files