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18CJohann Georg Albrechtsberger
(1736-1809)
mp3 and brief sketch by J.M. Schlitz
MP3: Albrechtsberger: Trombone Concerto in Bb: 1st Mvt.
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Johann Georg Albrechtsberger (1736-1809)
=================================
~ WORKS ~
~ WRITINGS ~
Gründliche
Anweisung zur Komposition... mit einem Anhnge von der Beschaffenheit und
Anwendung aller... musikalischen Instrumente (Leipzig, 1790)
Kurzgefasste Methode den Generalbass
zu erlernen (Vienna, c1791)
Answeichungen von C-dur und C-moll in
die Übrigen Dur-und Moll-Töne (manuscript, 1793)
Anfangsgründe zur Klavierkunste
(in manuscript; also published as Clavierschule für Anfänger (Vienna,
c1800)
Kurze Regeln des reinsten Satzes als
Anhang zu dessen gründlicher Generalbass- und Harmonielehre (manuscript, held
in Wgm)
(1736-1809)
mp3 and brief sketch by J.M. Schlitz
MP3: Albrechtsberger: Trombone Concerto in Bb: 1st Mvt.
................................................................................................................................
Today Albrechtsberger is most
oft-cited as Beethoven's teacher, or as a prolific author of music theory
and treatises. His most often performed work is his trombone concerto, perhaps
the most common concerto encountered in trombone recitals. Among his own
contemporaries, however, he was known as the greatest organist of his time
and the most sought after composition teacher in Europe. As the Kapellmeister
of St. Stephen's Cathedral, he also held the highest post of any church music
composer in Austria.
It is ironic, then, that the bulk of his compositions have never achieved similar fame. Perhaps it is because he continued writing in a Galant idiom well after the Classicist style had already become the norm; in some of his vocal and late chamber music (1772 onwards), he had even continued writing in a highly complex fugal style, reminiscent of the High Baroque.
As a young choir boy Albrechtsberger learned organ from Leopold Pittner and composition from G.M. Monn, Marian Gurtler, and Joseph Weiss. After 1759 he held posts as organist in various locales. It was during these years that Albrechtsberger was most venturesome - he wrote very modern pieces for unusual instrumentations, including the aforementioned trombone concerto (1769), and 2 concertos for trump (Jew's harp) with mandora accompaniment (the mandora was a type of bass lute sometimes used for continuo during the German Baroque). Some of his works from this period call for such effects as "con sordino" (muted) and scordatura (alternate violin string tunings). In 1791, with Mozart's help, he was appointed assistant Kapellmeister to Leopold Hoffman, upon whose death he became Kapellmeister in 1793, a post which he retained until his death in 1809.
It is ironic, then, that the bulk of his compositions have never achieved similar fame. Perhaps it is because he continued writing in a Galant idiom well after the Classicist style had already become the norm; in some of his vocal and late chamber music (1772 onwards), he had even continued writing in a highly complex fugal style, reminiscent of the High Baroque.
As a young choir boy Albrechtsberger learned organ from Leopold Pittner and composition from G.M. Monn, Marian Gurtler, and Joseph Weiss. After 1759 he held posts as organist in various locales. It was during these years that Albrechtsberger was most venturesome - he wrote very modern pieces for unusual instrumentations, including the aforementioned trombone concerto (1769), and 2 concertos for trump (Jew's harp) with mandora accompaniment (the mandora was a type of bass lute sometimes used for continuo during the German Baroque). Some of his works from this period call for such effects as "con sordino" (muted) and scordatura (alternate violin string tunings). In 1791, with Mozart's help, he was appointed assistant Kapellmeister to Leopold Hoffman, upon whose death he became Kapellmeister in 1793, a post which he retained until his death in 1809.
=================================
Johann Georg Albrechtsberger (1736-1809)
=================================
~ WORKS ~
Oratorios, Cantatas, much other
church music; 3 symphonies (in F and C, 1768; in D, 1772), organ concerto
(1762), trombone concerto (1769), 2 trump (i.e. jew's harp) concertos (1769,
1771, both with mandora instead of orchestra), harp concerto (1773), chamber
works for 2-8 strings, fugues for keyboard.
~ WRITINGS ~
Gründliche
Anweisung zur Komposition... mit einem Anhnge von der Beschaffenheit und
Anwendung aller... musikalischen Instrumente (Leipzig, 1790)
Kurzgefasste Methode den Generalbass
zu erlernen (Vienna, c1791)
Answeichungen von C-dur und C-moll in
die Übrigen Dur-und Moll-Töne (manuscript, 1793)
Anfangsgründe zur Klavierkunste
(in manuscript; also published as Clavierschule für Anfänger (Vienna,
c1800)
Kurze Regeln des reinsten Satzes als
Anhang zu dessen gründlicher Generalbass- und Harmonielehre (manuscript, held
in Wgm)