Johann Heinrich Gottlieb Streitwolf

Johann Heinrich Gottlieb Streitwolf (born November 7, 1779 in Göttingen , † February 14, 1837 in Göttingen) was a German woodwind instrument maker and composer. He was the inventor of two instruments for military music: chromatic bass horn (1820) and bass clarinet in bassoon form (1828).

Life

After leaving school, Gottlieb was apprenticed to the town musician Johann Michael Jäger (1739-1819) until 1797. He then earned his living teaching the guitar, played as a cellist in the Academic Orchestra of the University of Göttingen and composed. In 1801 he married Johanne Marie Dorothee Kayser. They had four children: two sons (pastor and organist) two daughters (teachers) In 1803 he was enrolled in the subject of “fine arts” at Göttingen University. In 1809 he started building woodwind instruments. The workshop was initially in his wife's parents' house (a family of wigmakers), and later in Kurzen Strasse 4. In 1821 he had to give up his work as a cellist in the academic orchestra due to a chest problem. He now devoted himself increasingly to the construction of instruments. Over the years, however, his illness worsened and he died in 1837 at the age of only 57.

plant

Gottlieb Streitwolf initially only built transverse flutes, but later also all other woodwind instruments: oboe, English horn, clarinet, bassoon. He primarily supplied military bands and soon realized that the instruments of the lower register in particular had to be improved. In 1820 he invented the chromatic bass horn (also built a double basset horn) and in 1828 the bass clarinet in the form of a bassoon. But the clarinet was also given different trill keys so that the Spohr concerts could be played. Gottlieb Streitwolf was considered a thinking artist who was constantly striving for improvement. Even when he picked up a toy, he had to penetrate and improve upon it with his contemplation. His son (the organist) continued the workshop until 1861. Even today, well over 50 of his instruments are kept in various museums around the world.

Compositions

• op.5: 2 trios for flute, guitar, cello (1804)
• op. 6: 9 songs with guitar and flute (Bonn, Beethovenhaus, Inv.No. 90423)
• op. 8: 15 dances for 2 guitars and flute ad. libitum (Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Library and Zurich, Central Library)
• op.10: 8 songs (arias), some with varied accompaniment of the guitar and an arbitrary flute (approx. 1808, Düsseldorf, Goethemuseum Inv.Nr. 1402)
• op.11: 9 songs with accompaniment of guitar and flute (Bonn, Beethovenhaus, Inv.No. 90339)
• without op .: 12 songs with accompaniment of guitar and flute (Munich, Bavarian State Library)
• without op .: Singing beautifies life , arranged by Vincenzo Righini and Gottlieb Streitwolf (Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek)

Literature (selection)

• W. Fricke: Johann Heinrich Gottlieb Streitwolf , in: New Nekrolog der Deutschen , 15th year 1837, 1st part, pp. 234–238 ( digitized version )
• Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung , 39th year 1837, p. 262
• Curt Sachs: Handbook of Musical Instruments . Leipzig 1930
• Günter Hart: Göttingen musical instrument maker of the 18th and 19th centuries (Göttingen City Archives, Sig. B 498)
• Albert Rice: From the Clarinet D`Amour to the Contra Bass. A History of Large Size Clarinets (1740-1860)
• Niall O'Loughlin: The new grove Dictionary of Musicals Instruments . Vol. 3, p. 463 f.
• Johan van Kalker: The history of the clarinets , p. 177 f.

Web links

• RISM