Johann Adam (c. 1705 – 13 November 1779) was a German violist and composer of the Baroque era.
Life
editLittle is known about Johann Adam's early years and his birth year is an estimate. In 1733, he was listed as a Jagdpfeiffer at the Royal court in Dresden.[1] In 1737[2] he was transferred to the Hofkapelle as a violist with a yearly salary of 400 thaler.[3] From around 1740,[1] he was also well known as a composer of ballet music which was played during operas, particularly those of Hasse,[2] and from 1763 to 1769, he was employed as the director and composer of the Elector's French Theater.[1] In 1775, Charles Burney said of him: "Mr. Adam, a veteran musicien, one of the few remaining performers in the celebrated opera-band, under the direction of Signor Hasse, has established himself a great reputation by his composition of the music to the dances performed at this opera in its most flourishing state".[4]
Works
editMany of Adam's compositions have been lost. Below is a list of his known works which are listed in RISM.[5] As well as these, there are several movements of ballet music inserted into operas which also survive.
- Oboe Concerto in B-flat major
- Oboe Concerto in G major (also attributed to Bernasconi as a Flute Concerto)
- Flute Concerto in D major
- Flute Concerto in G major (previously attributed to Quantz as QV5: Anh.22)
- Harpsichord Concerto in F major
- Concerto for 2 flutes in G major
- Concerto for 2 flutes in C major
- Sinfonia in G major for strings (without violas) and continuo
- Sinfonia in D major for strings and continuo
- Sinfonia in F major for strings and continuo (also attributed to Giovanni Battista Sammartini as JenS D36]]; also in a version for strings, 2 flutes, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and continuo
- Jagd Sinfonia in D major for strings,2 horns and continuo
- Sinfonia in D major for strings, 2 horns, bassoon and continuo
- Partita in B-flat major for strings (without violas), 2 oboes and continuo
- Partita in E-flat major for strings, 2 oboes and continuo
- Sonata for 2 flutes in G major
- Ballet Music La Tempête (only flute parts surviving)
- Sacred Cantata Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (composed 1735 or before)
- Polonaise Fackel-Tanz for 2 oboes, 2 horns, 2 violins and continuo
- Recueil d'airs à danser execute's sur le Théâtre du Roi à Dresde accommode's pour le clavecin (Published Leipzig: Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, 1756)
Among his missing works are a Flute Concerto in C major,[6] 3 Oboe Concertos,[6] a Minuet from 1769,[6] a Sinfonia in F major,[6][7] a Bassoon Concerto,[7] and a Trio for violin or flute and harp.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c Van Boer, Bertil H. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Music of the Classical Period. Scarecrow Press. p. 23. ISBN 9780810871830.
- ^ a b Fürstenau, Moritz (1861). Zur Geschichte der Musik und des Theaters am Hofe der Kurfürsten von Sachse (in German). Dresden, R. Kuntze. pp. 226–227.
- ^ Eitner, Robert (1900). "Biographisch-bibliographisches Quellen-Lexikon der Musiker und Musikgelehrten der christlichen Zeitrechnung bis zur Mitte des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts Biographisch-bibliographisches Quellen-Lexikon der Musiker und Musikgelehrten der christlichen Zeitrechnung bis zur Mitte des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts, Band 1" (in German). Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. p. 38.
- ^ Burney, Charles (1775). The Present State Of Music In Germany, The Netherlands, And United Provinces, Volume 2. p. 71.
- ^ "Entry in the Répertoire International des Sources Musicales".
- ^ a b c d Brook, Barry S; Breitkopf & Härtel (1966). The Breitkopf thematic catalogue; the six parts and sixteen supplements, 1762-1787. New York, Dover Publications.
- ^ a b c Ringmacher, Christian Ulrich (1773). Catalogo de' Soli, Duetti, Trii, Quadri... Berlin, Ringmacher.