Ferdinand Kauer (1751-1831)
- Sonate Militaire pour le Clavecin ou Fortepiano ...
'La conquete d'Oczakow' (1788)
Performers: Erich Traxler (harpsichord)
Further info: Ferdinand Kauer (1751-1831)
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Austrian composer and conductor of Moravian birth. The son of a
schoolmaster, he received his early education in Znaim from the Jesuits,
later continuing his studies at Tyrnau in medicine, theology, and
philosophy. Around 1777 he moved to Vienna as a teacher of keyboard
while also working as a local church organist and with Artaria as a
proofreader. He studied composition with Anton Zimmermann and soon
obtained additional work as a violinist at the Leopoldstadt Theatre.
There he became assistant to Wenzel Müller, writing his first
Singspiels. During the 1790s he met with considerable success with the
Singspiels 'Das Faustrecht in Thüringen' and 'Die Löwenritter', both of
which were continued through several successful sequels. In 1810 he went
to Graz as Kapellmeister, but returned to Vienna until 1818, when he
was dismissed from his position. During the night of 28 February to 1
March 1830 he was among the victims of severe floods in the Leopoldstadt
when a sudden thaw caused the Danube to overflow its banks. He lost
almost all he possessed, including his musical scores, and died in utter
poverty little more than a year later. As a composer, his output
includes 19 Singspiels, 10 oratorios, 14 Masses, three Requiems, 30
symphonies (including one on Wellington’s Victory), seven concertos,
several small chamber works with strings, and numerous keyboard works.
He also brought out several theoretical works, including tutors for the
flute, piano, violin and cello and on thoroughbass, and a singing
manual, all published by Artaria between 1787 and 1794. Despite he has
been all but forgotten, he was frequently performed in various countries
(including Scandinavia) for many years, giving rise to numerous
imitations and sequels.
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