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Christian Kalkbrenner

January 03, 2023

Christian Kalkbrenner (Hann. Münden, September 22, 1755 – Paris, August 10, 1806[1]) was a German Kapellmeister,[2] violinist, organ and keyboard player, and composer. Almost an exact contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, he was a prolific composer in many fields and a force in the musical world. He rose to high honours at the courts of the Prussian Kings. For unknown reasons, Kalkbrenner left his position as Kapellmeister to Prince Henry of Prussia and went first to Naples and later on to Paris. He was the father of Friedrich Wilhelm Kalkbrenner, one of the great piano virtuosos of the first half of the 19th century.

Biography

Christian Kalkbrenner was born in Münden, Germany. Münden, nowadays called Hann. Münden, an old town with a historic inner city, is situated 17 kilometres north-east of Kassel. Kalkbrenner had his first musical education from his father who was town musician (Stadtmusikus) in the Hessian town of Kassel. Kalkbrenner learned to play violin and organ. In violin he was taught by Carl Rodewald; his organ teacher was Johannes Becker (born 1726), the Hessian court organist.[3] By the time he was seventeen Kalkbrenner sang in the choir of the French opera house of Kassel where he also played the violin.

In 1777 he dedicated a symphony to Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel. In 1784 Kalkbrenner was received into the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna by virtue of a four-part mass he had mailed to the society. This was a very high honour and suggests the high quality of Kalkbrenner’s compositions. Mozart had been received into the same society on 9 October 1770 only after a lengthy examination in which he was aided by Padre Martini. In the same year Kalkbrenner married the socially well connected widow of an army captain who had died as a soldier in the United States.[4]

In 1788 or 1789,[5] some time after the death of landgrave Frederic II of Hesse, Kalkbrenner was named Kapellmeister of Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt, Queen of Prussia. From 1790, Kalkbrenner served Prince Henry of Prussia at Rheinsberg castle in the same capacity. Henry of Prussia was the younger brother of Frederick II of Prussia.

In 1796 Kalkbrenner renounced all of his positions at the Rheinsberg court and left Germany for good. It is not clear why Kalkbrenner did this. Certainly this was a major step that required careful consideration. The Rheinsberg castle, situated about 100 kilometres to the north-west of Berlin, was something of a backwater in the late 18th century. The means of the court theatre, where Kalkbrenner staged his operas, were limited, the surroundings provincial, and the budget restricted. Nevertheless, this was a secure position with one of the major German princes, an enlightened philosopher-sovereign whom Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben recommended to Alexander Hamilton as a candidate for the American Presidency. Henry’s portrait as drawn by an eminent biographer of his older brother Frederick the Great is not unflattering:[6][7]

"Like Frederick he (Prince Henry of Prussia) was a man of many and varied talents, cultivated, musical and intelligent. Like Frederick he established at Rheinsberg a brilliant court, rivalling the king’s own. Like Frederick he was enchanted by France and things French – and, being without final responsibility, could indulge a prejudice in that direction without risk of it becoming mistaken for a policy.... Small in stature he was both charming and vain; and had a most attractive wife...whom he later deserted, caring little for her as a woman."

In 1796 the Kalkbrenner family surfaced in Italy where they stayed for two years.[8] Naples was home to the famous Teatro di San Carlo, then one of the largest opera houses in the world, seating 3,300. This was still the great age of the Neapolitan Opera. Other German composers like Johann Adolph Hasse, Johann Christian Bach, and particularly Christoph Willibald Gluck had successfully preceded Kalkbrenner to Naples and there is reason to believe that he hoped to establish himself as a composer of Neapolitan operas there. However, no proof has yet established that he composed or staged an opera in Naples.

In 1799 Kalkbrenner made his way to Paris where he managed to become Maître des Chœurs et des Écoles at the Paris Opera. In 1803 he rearranged Mozart’s Don Giovanni for the Paris Opera interpolating pieces he composed himself.[9] Together with Ludwig Wenzel Lachnith, a Bohemian horn player and composer, he produced a number of infamous pasticcios for the Paris Opera. These were operas cobbled together using music from different composers, among them Mozart and Joseph Haydn. Jointly with Lachnith, Kalkbrenner staged Les Mystères d'Isis, (a botch that was justly parodied as Les Misères d'ici), a travesty of Mozart’s Magic Flute, at the Paris Opera.

Kalkbrenner, having served at German courts where the court language was French, was probably bilingual or at least completely fluent in French. It is somewhat surprising, though, that Kalkbrenner attained this much coveted position in revolutionary France after spending most of his life at courts that were distinctly hostile to the French Revolution. Kalkbrenner died unexpectedly in 1806 in Paris. His death seems to have come as a great blow to his son who subsequently withdrew from the concert life and music in general for several years.

Historical assessment

Christian Kalkbrenner was a very talented all-round musician and a good composer, well versed in all music matters. He must also have been a shrewd courtier who knew how to advance in the tight knit aristocratic society of the latter 18th century, where observing the etiquette and being on good terms with the right and influential people, most of them aristocrats, was what mattered most. Coming from a humble background (as the family name clearly suggests [10]) and with Jewish roots, he rose within a relatively short time to one of the preeminent positions in 18th century musical Germany. Having spent his whole life at smaller European courts that were decidedly hostile towards the French Revolution, he nevertheless managed within a few years to attain a respected position in post-revolutionary France. He was the father and first teacher of Friedrich Wilhelm Kalkbrenner, one of the most famous and influential pianists and piano teachers in the first half of the 19th century.

Works

Today there is little information on Kalkbrenner’s works. Marmontel maintains that it was large.[11]

Operas

  • Démocrite, opera buffa, 3 acts, Rheinsberg 1792
  • La Femme et le secret, opera, Rheinsberg
  • Lanassa, grand opéra, Rheinsberg
  • La Veuve du Malabar, opera, Rheinsberg
  • La Descente des Français en Angleterre, opera in one act, (Italy?) 1798
  • Olympie (Guillard), grand opéra in 3 acts, Paris 1798
  • Scène de Pygmalion, scène avec orchestre, Paris 1799
  • Scène tirée des poésies d'Ossian, Paris 1800

Other works

  • 2 symphonies
  • piano concerto
  • piano sonatas
  • oratorios, masses.
  • Theorie der Tonkunst (1789)
  • Kurzer Abriss der Geschichte der Tonkunst (1792).

Notes and references

  1. ^ Killy, Vierhaus, 413
  2. ^ The meaning of "Kapellmeister" underwent some changes over time. In the 18th century a "Kapellmeister" was much more than what the humble word suggests today. The modern equivalent would be "music director." In the 18th and early 19th century a Kapellmeister (in Germany, Austria, Bohemia) had to conduct the orchestra (until 1810 mostly from the piano), to compose for it, to (re)orchestrate pieces, to hire singers, to rehearse with orchestra and singers, and to teach. On top of that he very often did what today is done by the manager of an orchestra. Until the early 19th century the German word for orchestra was "Kapelle," and in this meaning it survives until today in proper names such as in Staatskapelle Dresden. Today "Kapelle" either means preferably a brass band ("Blaskapelle") or a seven to 15 fifteen piece (dance) orchestra. The Berlin Philharmonic in modern German could not be called a "Kapelle" – unless jokingly of course.
  3. ^ (Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Allgemeine Enzyklopädie der Musik., 1949-1987), Entry: "Christian Kalkbrenner“.
  4. ^ (Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Allgemeine Enzyklopädie der Musik., 1949-1987), Entry: "Christian Kalkbrenner“.
  5. ^ Nicholas (2006) says in 1788, Marmontel (1878), p. 98, in 1789.
  6. ^ Fraser (2000), 250-251
  7. ^ Historians usually assume he was homosexual, though there is no direct source for this.
  8. ^ Marmontel (1878), 99, says he stayed for only one year and left Italy because of a war.
  9. ^ Nicholas (2006) attributes this to Kalkbrenner's inflated self-worth, but the rearranging of baroque and classical works was common practice until the late 19th century. Robert Franz, Felix Mottel and a host of lesser names added trombone and clarinet voices to compositions from Bach to Gluck.
  10. ^ "Kalkbrenner" means "lime burner"
  11. ^ Marmontel (1878), 99, writes: Plusieurs ouvrages lyriques, cantates, oratorios, écrits sur l’histoire de la musique, forment l’œuvre relativement considérable du père de F. Kalkbrenner. Translation: "Several lyrical works (operas), cantatas, oratorios and articles on musical history, make up the fairly considerable work of the father of F(riedrich) Kalkbrenner."

Sources

  • Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Allgemeine Enzyklopädie der Musik. (Ungekürzte elektronische Ausgabe der ersten Auflage). (1949–1987). München: Bärenreiter.
  • Fraser, David. Frederick the Great. London: Penguin, 2000. ISBN 0-88064-261-0
  • Marmontel, Antoine Francois. Les Pianistes Célèbres. Paris: Imprimerie Centrale des Chemins de Fer A. Chaix et Cie, 1878.
  • Nicholas, Jeremy. Booklet of Hyperion CD recording of Kalkbrenner Piano Concertos No. 1, Op. 61 and No. 2, Op. 127. Published by Hyperion Records Ltd., Booklet Editor, Tim Parry. London, 2006. ASIN B000GPI26S
  • Schenk, Erich. Mozart - Eine Biographie (Mozart - A Biography). Munich: Goldmann. No year given, probably 1978 (Original Edition Vienna, Amalthea, 1955). ISBN 3-442-33102-1
  • Walther Killy, Rudolf Vierhaus. Deutsche Biographische Enzyklopäde (German Biographic Encyclopaedia). Bd. (Vol.) 5. K-G. 10 Bde. (Vols.) Munich: KG Saur, 1999. ISBN 3-598-23186-5

External sources

  • Fiche sur http://www.operone.de

January 03, 2023
christian, kalkbrenner, hann, münden, september, 1755, paris, august, 1806, german, kapellmeister, violinist, organ, keyboard, player, composer, almost, exact, contemporary, wolfgang, amadeus, mozart, prolific, composer, many, fields, force, musical, world, ro. Christian Kalkbrenner Hann Munden September 22 1755 Paris August 10 1806 1 was a German Kapellmeister 2 violinist organ and keyboard player and composer Almost an exact contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart he was a prolific composer in many fields and a force in the musical world He rose to high honours at the courts of the Prussian Kings For unknown reasons Kalkbrenner left his position as Kapellmeister to Prince Henry of Prussia and went first to Naples and later on to Paris He was the father of Friedrich Wilhelm Kalkbrenner one of the great piano virtuosos of the first half of the 19th century Contents 1 Biography 2 Historical assessment 3 Works 3 1 Operas 3 2 Other works 4 Notes and references 5 Sources 6 External sourcesBiography EditChristian Kalkbrenner was born in Munden Germany Munden nowadays called Hann Munden an old town with a historic inner city is situated 17 kilometres north east of Kassel Kalkbrenner had his first musical education from his father who was town musician Stadtmusikus in the Hessian town of Kassel Kalkbrenner learned to play violin and organ In violin he was taught by Carl Rodewald his organ teacher was Johannes Becker born 1726 the Hessian court organist 3 By the time he was seventeen Kalkbrenner sang in the choir of the French opera house of Kassel where he also played the violin In 1777 he dedicated a symphony to Frederick II Landgrave of Hesse Cassel In 1784 Kalkbrenner was received into the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna by virtue of a four part mass he had mailed to the society This was a very high honour and suggests the high quality of Kalkbrenner s compositions Mozart had been received into the same society on 9 October 1770 only after a lengthy examination in which he was aided by Padre Martini In the same year Kalkbrenner married the socially well connected widow of an army captain who had died as a soldier in the United States 4 In 1788 or 1789 5 some time after the death of landgrave Frederic II of Hesse Kalkbrenner was named Kapellmeister of Frederika Louisa of Hesse Darmstadt Queen of Prussia From 1790 Kalkbrenner served Prince Henry of Prussia at Rheinsberg castle in the same capacity Henry of Prussia was the younger brother of Frederick II of Prussia In 1796 Kalkbrenner renounced all of his positions at the Rheinsberg court and left Germany for good It is not clear why Kalkbrenner did this Certainly this was a major step that required careful consideration The Rheinsberg castle situated about 100 kilometres to the north west of Berlin was something of a backwater in the late 18th century The means of the court theatre where Kalkbrenner staged his operas were limited the surroundings provincial and the budget restricted Nevertheless this was a secure position with one of the major German princes an enlightened philosopher sovereign whom Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben recommended to Alexander Hamilton as a candidate for the American Presidency Henry s portrait as drawn by an eminent biographer of his older brother Frederick the Great is not unflattering 6 7 Like Frederick he Prince Henry of Prussia was a man of many and varied talents cultivated musical and intelligent Like Frederick he established at Rheinsberg a brilliant court rivalling the king s own Like Frederick he was enchanted by France and things French and being without final responsibility could indulge a prejudice in that direction without risk of it becoming mistaken for a policy Small in stature he was both charming and vain and had a most attractive wife whom he later deserted caring little for her as a woman In 1796 the Kalkbrenner family surfaced in Italy where they stayed for two years 8 Naples was home to the famous Teatro di San Carlo then one of the largest opera houses in the world seating 3 300 This was still the great age of the Neapolitan Opera Other German composers like Johann Adolph Hasse Johann Christian Bach and particularly Christoph Willibald Gluck had successfully preceded Kalkbrenner to Naples and there is reason to believe that he hoped to establish himself as a composer of Neapolitan operas there However no proof has yet established that he composed or staged an opera in Naples In 1799 Kalkbrenner made his way to Paris where he managed to become Maitre des Chœurs et des Ecoles at the Paris Opera In 1803 he rearranged Mozart s Don Giovanni for the Paris Opera interpolating pieces he composed himself 9 Together with Ludwig Wenzel Lachnith a Bohemian horn player and composer he produced a number of infamous pasticcios for the Paris Opera These were operas cobbled together using music from different composers among them Mozart and Joseph Haydn Jointly with Lachnith Kalkbrenner staged Les Mysteres d Isis a botch that was justly parodied as Les Miseres d ici a travesty of Mozart s Magic Flute at the Paris Opera Kalkbrenner having served at German courts where the court language was French was probably bilingual or at least completely fluent in French It is somewhat surprising though that Kalkbrenner attained this much coveted position in revolutionary France after spending most of his life at courts that were distinctly hostile to the French Revolution Kalkbrenner died unexpectedly in 1806 in Paris His death seems to have come as a great blow to his son who subsequently withdrew from the concert life and music in general for several years Historical assessment EditChristian Kalkbrenner was a very talented all round musician and a good composer well versed in all music matters He must also have been a shrewd courtier who knew how to advance in the tight knit aristocratic society of the latter 18th century where observing the etiquette and being on good terms with the right and influential people most of them aristocrats was what mattered most Coming from a humble background as the family name clearly suggests 10 and with Jewish roots he rose within a relatively short time to one of the preeminent positions in 18th century musical Germany Having spent his whole life at smaller European courts that were decidedly hostile towards the French Revolution he nevertheless managed within a few years to attain a respected position in post revolutionary France He was the father and first teacher of Friedrich Wilhelm Kalkbrenner one of the most famous and influential pianists and piano teachers in the first half of the 19th century Works EditToday there is little information on Kalkbrenner s works Marmontel maintains that it was large 11 Operas Edit Democrite opera buffa 3 acts Rheinsberg 1792 La Femme et le secret opera Rheinsberg Lanassa grand opera Rheinsberg La Veuve du Malabar opera Rheinsberg La Descente des Francais en Angleterre opera in one act Italy 1798 Olympie Guillard grand opera in 3 acts Paris 1798 Scene de Pygmalion scene avec orchestre Paris 1799 Scene tiree des poesies d Ossian Paris 1800Other works Edit 2 symphonies piano concerto piano sonatas oratorios masses Theorie der Tonkunst 1789 Kurzer Abriss der Geschichte der Tonkunst 1792 Notes and references Edit Killy Vierhaus 413 The meaning of Kapellmeister underwent some changes over time In the 18th century a Kapellmeister was much more than what the humble word suggests today The modern equivalent would be music director In the 18th and early 19th century a Kapellmeister in Germany Austria Bohemia had to conduct the orchestra until 1810 mostly from the piano to compose for it to re orchestrate pieces to hire singers to rehearse with orchestra and singers and to teach On top of that he very often did what today is done by the manager of an orchestra Until the early 19th century the German word for orchestra was Kapelle and in this meaning it survives until today in proper names such as in Staatskapelle Dresden Today Kapelle either means preferably a brass band Blaskapelle or a seven to 15 fifteen piece dance orchestra The Berlin Philharmonic in modern German could not be called a Kapelle unless jokingly of course Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart Allgemeine Enzyklopadie der Musik 1949 1987 Entry Christian Kalkbrenner Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart Allgemeine Enzyklopadie der Musik 1949 1987 Entry Christian Kalkbrenner Nicholas 2006 says in 1788 Marmontel 1878 p 98 in 1789 Fraser 2000 250 251 Historians usually assume he was homosexual though there is no direct source for this Marmontel 1878 99 says he stayed for only one year and left Italy because of a war Nicholas 2006 attributes this to Kalkbrenner s inflated self worth but the rearranging of baroque and classical works was common practice until the late 19th century Robert Franz Felix Mottel and a host of lesser names added trombone and clarinet voices to compositions from Bach to Gluck Kalkbrenner means lime burner Marmontel 1878 99 writes Plusieurs ouvrages lyriques cantates oratorios ecrits sur l histoire de la musique forment l œuvre relativement considerable du pere de F Kalkbrenner Translation Several lyrical works operas cantatas oratorios and articles on musical history make up the fairly considerable work of the father of F riedrich Kalkbrenner Sources EditDie Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart Allgemeine Enzyklopadie der Musik Ungekurzte elektronische Ausgabe der ersten Auflage 1949 1987 Munchen Barenreiter Fraser David Frederick the Great London Penguin 2000 ISBN 0 88064 261 0 Marmontel Antoine Francois Les Pianistes Celebres Paris Imprimerie Centrale des Chemins de Fer A Chaix et Cie 1878 Nicholas Jeremy Booklet of Hyperion CD recording of Kalkbrenner Piano Concertos No 1 Op 61 and No 2 Op 127 Published by Hyperion Records Ltd Booklet Editor Tim Parry London 2006 ASIN B000GPI26S Schenk Erich Mozart Eine Biographie Mozart A Biography Munich Goldmann No year given probably 1978 Original Edition Vienna Amalthea 1955 ISBN 3 442 33102 1 Walther Killy Rudolf Vierhaus Deutsche Biographische Enzyklopade German Biographic Encyclopaedia Bd Vol 5 K G 10 Bde Vols Munich KG Saur 1999 ISBN 3 598 23186 5External sources EditFiche sur http www operone de Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Christian Kalkbrenner amp oldid 1096068974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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