CLARKE, Jeremiah (c.1674-1707) - Suite in D Major

Jeremiah Clarke (c.1674-1707) - Suite in D Major

Performers: David Tasa (trumpet); Frankfurter Solisten; Vladislav Brunner (conductor)

Painting: Unknown artist (17th Century) - Windsor Castle from the South (c.1681)

Further info: Jeremiah Clarke (c.1674-1707)

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Jeremiah (Jeremy, Jérémie) Clarke [Clark, Clerk]

(c.1674 - London, 1 December 1707)

English composer and organist. Nothing is known of his origins. The earliest evidence was as a chorister at the Chapel Royal when James II was crowned in 1685. By 1692, he had been appointed organist at Winchester College, and on 6 June 1699, he was appointed vicar-choral at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He moved up to organist in January 1704. On 15 May 1704, Francis Pigott, organist at the Chapel Royal, died, and together with William Croft were sworn in as joint organists to replace him. It appears that he ended his own life, perhaps owing to an unhappy love affair, by shooting himself on 1 December 1707. As a composer, he wrote 22 anthems, 10 odes, 2 settings of the Te Deum, 2 suites for wind band, 2 suites for harpsichord, over 40 other short works for harpsichord, and the incidental music for 8 plays. He was a leading composer of the generation immediately junior to Purcell. He wrote the so-called Trumpet Voluntary, his best-known piece.

GEBAUER, François-René (1773-1845) - Quintette concertante

François-René Gebauer (1773-1845) - Quintette concertante des

'Trois Quintettes concertans pour flûte, clarinette, hautbois, cor et basson'

Performers: The Danzi Quintet

Drawing: Michael Angelo Hayes (1811-1880) - The Band of the 23rd Fusiliers (1838)

Further info: Works by Gebauer, Rossini and Reicha

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François René Gebauer [Guébauer, Guebauer]

(Versailles, 15 March 1773 - Paris, 28 July 1845)

French bassoonist and composer. He was a pupil of his brother Michel Joseph Gebauer (1763-1812) and of François Devienne. In 1788 he became a member of the band of the Swiss Guard in his native city. In 1790 he settled in Paris as a musician in the National Guard. After playing in theater orchestras, he joined the orchestra of the Opera about 1799, remaining in it until 1826. He also played in the Imperial chapel orchestra until 1830, and was a professor at the Conservatoire (1795-1802; 1824-1838). According to some sources, he was made an honorary professor in 1816. As a composer, his output include 13 bassoon concertos, eight symphonies concertantes and several chamber music. He also published a bassoon method (c.1820). His younger brothers, Pierre Paul Gebauer (1775-?) and Etienne Jean François Gebauer (1776-1823) were also musicians.

BENAYAS, Matías García (fl. 1690-1737) - Missa Defensor Alme Hispaniae

Matías García Benayas (fl. 1690-1737) - Missa Defensor Alme Hispaniae

Performers: Joaquín Barrеira (organ); Vox Stеllae; Luís Martínez (conductor)

Painting: Miguel Jacinto Meléndez (1679-1734) - San Agustín conjurando una plaga de langosta

Further info: Defensor Alme Hispaniae

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Matías García Benayas

(Palencia, ¿? - Tuy, 14 March 1737)

Spanish composer. Although his early biography remains obscure, archival evidence from 1690 suggests he held a musical post in Lugo before being appointed maestro de capilla at Mondoñedo Cathedral later that year. In February 1694, following a competitive examination process (oposiciones), he relocated to Tuy Cathedral to succeed Tomás Portillo, a position he held until his death. His tenure in Tuy was marked by his dual role as a priest and educator of the 'infantes del coro', though his health began to decline significantly after 1730. Academically, he is noted for his conservative liturgical style; his surviving output, primarily preserved in Tuy and Mondoñedo, consists of approximately 50 works characterized by traditional 'facistol' (choirbook) polyphony and the occasional use of cantus firmus. While his stylistic identity is occasionally obscured by issues of attribution within the cathedral archives, he remains a representative figure of the ecclesiastical musical tradition in Spain during the early 18th century. 

STEPAN, Josef Antonín (1726-1797) - Concerto per il Cembalo Concertato

Josef Antonín Štěpán (1726-1797) - CONCERTO (in Dis). | per il | Cembalo Concertato.

| due Violini. | due Corni in D. | e Basso.

Performers: Rudolf Zelenka (cembalo); Benduv Komorni orchester; Jiří Havlík (conductor)

Painting: Bernardo Bellotto (1721-1780) - University Square in Vienna

Further info: Czech Harpsichord Concertos

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Josef (Joseph, Giuseppe) Antonín (Anton, Antonio) Štěpán [Steffan, Steffani, Stepan, Stephan et al.]

(Kopidlno, bap. 14 March 1726 - Vienna, 12 April 1797)

Bohemian composer and keyboardist. Following early instruction from his father, a local cantor, he fled to Vienna to escape Prussian troops during the War of the Austrian Succession, eventually acquiring Count Schlick as his patron. He became a favorite pupil of Georg Christoph Wagenseil, under whose tutelage he achieved a reputation as one of the best keyboardists in Vienna. He was appointed as instructor to princesses Maria Carolina and Maria Antonia (later Marie Antoinette). In 1775 he was forced to retire due to failing eyesight, though he retained his salary. The remainder of his life was spent as a guest in the various salons of the city, where his Lieder (most of which were published) were popular. As a composer, his music conforms to the conventions of the style prevalent in Vienna of the period. These include two Masses (and a Requiem), seven hymns, numerous other smaller sacred works, one oratorio, 79 Lieder, 47 keyboard sonatas/divertimentos, 224 other individual works for the keyboard (including cadenzas), 12 symphonies, 45 concertos for the keyboard, seven piano trios, a violin sonata, and two piano quartets. His music remains largely unexplored.

WOHLMUTH, Johann (1643-1724) - Vesperae breves

Johann Wohlmuth (1643-1724) - Vesperae breves

Performers: Elocuеncia Barroca

Painting: Melchior Michael Steidl (1657-1727) - Musica

Further info: Johann Wohlmuth (1643-1724)

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Johann (Johannes, János) Wohlmuth

(Ruszt, 1643 - Ödenburg, 9 January 1724)

Austrian composer, organist, and pedagogue. After attending the Lutheran Gymnasium in Oedenburg (Sopron), he continued his studies in Breslau (Wrocław) in 1663 and subsequently spent three years at the University of Wittenberg. He served as rector and cantor in Rust by 1667 but fled to Regensburg in 1674 due to religious persecution, where he remained as a music teacher until 1685. Upon returning to Oedenburg, he was appointed music director at the Gymnasium and served as organist and Kapellmeister until 1720. His pedagogical career included teaching at primary schools from 1704 and providing private instruction to over 50 pupils, including the sons of Prince Paul Esterházy, until 1721. In 1689, he compiled a virginal book containing 56 pieces for his student Johann Jacob Starck. While Wohlmuth was a central figure in the musical life of Oedenburg, only a small portion of his compositions, primarily sacred works, is extant.