Philipp Jakob Rittler

Philipp Jakob Rittler (* 1637, † 19th February 1690 in Olomouc ) was a Roman Catholic priest and composer of the Baroque .

Life

The exact origin of Philipp Jakob Rittler is not known, he may have come from Silesia. From 1655 he studied at the Jesuit high school in Opava . Here he met Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber and Pavel Josef Vejvanovský , who also received their school education in Opava, and Vejvanovský had a lifelong friendship. Rittler is mentioned 1669–1673 as a priest and court conductor of Prince Johann Seyfried von Eggenberg in Eggenberg Palace in Graz. It is assumed that he continued his theology and music studies in Graz, which he began in Troppau. He spoke and wrote fluently in German and Czech.

In 1675 he became chaplain at the court of the bishop of Olomouc Karl Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn in Kremsier . In 1678 Rittler was appointed cathedral vicar and choirmaster of St. Wenceslas Cathedral in Olomouc by the cathedral chapter , a position he held until the end of his life.

Before Rittler entered the service of the Bishop of Olomouc in 1675, he composed mainly secular instrumental music, from his time in Kremsier and then in Olomouc he turned to sacred music. The demanding solo parts of his compositions indicate that he had very good musicians at the bishop's court, and that he himself may have mastered the violin very well. His work takes up the European music trends of the time.

Work (selection)

• Missa Harmonia Genethliaca (for the Bishop's birthday in 1674)
• 2 × Missa Carolina
• Missa Nativitatis .
• Requiem Claudiae Imperatricis , (Requiem for the deceased second wife of Emperor Leopold I. Archduchess Claudia Felizitas of Austria-Tyrol )
• Te Deum laudamus (composed on the occasion of the birth of Prince Joseph in 1678 and the peace with the French king in 1679)
• Ave regina coelorum (motet)

Instrumental

• Sonata à 6 “Alone God in the Higher Be Honor” for 2 violins, clarino, 3 trombones & basso continuo
• 5 sonatas for 2 violins, 3 violas & basso ontinuo, 1663
• 3 sonatas a 5, around 1663
• Sonata, for 2 violins, 4 violas, violone and organ, 1663
• Sonatas, 2 violins, 2 violas, violone and organ 1665
• Sonatas, for 2 violins, 3 violas and organ, 1666
• Sonatas, for 2 violins, 3 violas and organ 1669
• Sonata à 17 , for 2 violins, 3 violas, 6 trumpets, 4 trombones, violone, timpani and organ, around 1670
• Aria villanesca , violin, 3 violas, bassoon, 3 recorders, harpsichord and violone, around 1670
• Balleti, violin, 3 violas, 2 trumpets, violone and harpsichord, 1675
• Sonata S. Caroli , for 2 violins, 3 violas, 6 trumpets, 3 trombones, violone, timpani and harpsichord, 1675
• Sonata for 2 violins, 3 violas, 6 trumpets, 3 trombones, violone, harpsichord, 1676
• Ciaccona , 2 trumpets, violin, 3 violas, violone and harpsichord, 1678

literature

• Jiří Sehnal: Philipp Jakob Rittler - a forgotten conductor of the Olomouc Cathedral , in: Muzikološki zbornik 17/1, 1981, s. 132-146;

Individual evidence

1. ^ Jiří Sehnal:  Rittler, Philipp Jakob. In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).