Adalbert Gyrowetz
Encyclopedia
Vojtěch Matyáš Jírovec (February 20, 1763 in České Budějovice
(Budweis) – March 19, 1850 in Vienna
) was a Bohemia
n composer
.
master in Budweis
' cathedral, and Adalbert first studied with him. Adalbert then travelled to Prague
, where he studied law but continued to learn music.
At around this time he was in the employment of Count Franz von Fünfkirchen in Brno
, whose employees were all musicians. Here he started composing, among other things, symphonies, of which he was eventually to write over 60. In 1785 he moved to Vienna
, where he met Mozart, who performed one of Jírovec's symphonies in the same year.
From 1786 to around 1793, he travelled throughout Europe. He spent some time in Paris
, where he established that some symphonies that had been published as the work of Joseph Haydn
were in fact his work. He spent three years in Italy
, meeting Goethe
in Rome
and studying with Nicola Sala
in Naples
. In 1791, he met Haydn, whom he idolized, in London
. While in London, Johann Peter Salomon
commissioned symphonies from Gyrowetz to be performed at his Hannover Square Room Concerts.
He was a prolific composer. His opera
s and singspiel
e numbered over 30. They include Semiramide (1791), Der Augenarzt (1811), and Robert, oder Die Prüfung.
Ceské Budejovice
České Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences...
(Budweis) – March 19, 1850 in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
) was a Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
n composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Biography
His father was the choirChoir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
master in Budweis
Ceské Budejovice
České Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences...
' cathedral, and Adalbert first studied with him. Adalbert then travelled to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he studied law but continued to learn music.
At around this time he was in the employment of Count Franz von Fünfkirchen in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, whose employees were all musicians. Here he started composing, among other things, symphonies, of which he was eventually to write over 60. In 1785 he moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where he met Mozart, who performed one of Jírovec's symphonies in the same year.
From 1786 to around 1793, he travelled throughout Europe. He spent some time in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he established that some symphonies that had been published as the work of Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
were in fact his work. He spent three years in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, meeting Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and studying with Nicola Sala
Nicola Sala
Nicola Sala was an Italian composer and music theorist born in Tocco Caudio and died in Naples. He was chapel-master and professor at Naples, having devoted himself to the collection of the finest models of printed music...
in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. In 1791, he met Haydn, whom he idolized, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. While in London, Johann Peter Salomon
Johann Peter Salomon
Johann Peter Salomon was a German violinist, composer, conductor and musical impresario.-Life:...
commissioned symphonies from Gyrowetz to be performed at his Hannover Square Room Concerts.
He was a prolific composer. His opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s and singspiel
Singspiel
A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...
e numbered over 30. They include Semiramide (1791), Der Augenarzt (1811), and Robert, oder Die Prüfung.
Selected works
- Operas
- Semiramis (1791 - lost)
- Selico (1804 Vienna )
- Mirana, die Königin der Amazonen (1806 Vienna)
- Agnes Sorel (1806 Vienna)
- Ida, die büssende (1807)
- Die Junggesellen-Wirtschaft (1807 Vienna)
- Emericke (1807 Vienna)
- Die Pagen des Herzogs von Vendôme (1808 Vienna)
- Der Sammtrock (1809 Vienna)
- Der betrogene Betrüger (1810 Vienna)
- Das zugemauerte Fenster (1810 Vienna)
- Der Augenarzt (1811 Vienna)
- Federica ed Adolfo (1812 Vienna)
- Das Winterquartier in America (1812 Vienna)
- Robert, oder Die Prüfung (1815 Vienna)
- Helene (1816 Vienna)
- Die beiden Eremiten (1816)
- Der Gemahl von ungefähr (1816 Vienna)
- Die beiden Savoyarden (1817)
- Il finto Stanislao (1818 Milano)
- Aladin (1819 Vienna)
- Das Ständchen (1823 Vienna)
- Des Kaisers Genesung (1826 Vienna)
- Der blinde Harfner (1827 Vienna)
- Der Geburtstag (1828 Vienna)
- Der dreizehnte Mantel (1829 Vienna)
- Felix und Adele (1831 Vienna)
- Hans Sachs im vorgerückten Alter (1834 DresdenDresdenDresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
)
- Over 60 symphonies, including:
- Symphony in E-flat major, Op. 6, No. 2
- Symphony in F major, Op. 6, No. 3
- Symphony in D major, Op. 12, No. 1
- Three FluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
QuartetQuartetIn music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
s, Op. 11 (1795)- No. 1 in D major
- No. 2 in G major
- No. 3 in C major
- About 60 string quartets, including:
- Six String Quartets, Op. 17
- Three String Quartets, Op. 25a
- Three String Quartets, Op. 44
- No. 1 in G major
- No. 2 in B-flat major
- No. 3 in A-flat major
- Three String Quartets, Op. 30
- Three String Quartets, Op. 56
- 30 Trios, including:
- Three Piano Trios, op. 10
- Three Piano Trios, op. 18
- Piano TrioPiano trioA piano trio is a group of piano and two other instruments, usually a violin and a cello, or a piece of music written for such a group. It is one of the most common forms found in classical chamber music...
, Op. 22 - Three Piano Trios, op. 15
- Three Trios for piano, violin or flute, and cello, op. 12
- Three Piano Trios, op. 41
- Trio (clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, cello, and pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
), Op. 43 - Nocturne no. 9 for Piano Trio, op. 41 (1800)
- Divertimento for Piano Trio, op. 50
- 40 violin sonatas
- 3 quintets, including:
- Quintet in C major (2 violins, 2 violas, and cello) Op.45
- Much other miscellaneous chamber music, including:
- Quartet G minor (flute, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, and celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
), Op. 19, No. 2 - Third Nightmusic (flute, violin, viola, and cello), Op. 26
- Quintet in E minor for flute, violin, violas, violoncello, op. 39 (1800)
- Quartet G minor (flute, violin
External links
- The Michael Haydn Project Information on the lesser-known composers of the Classical Era