Ernst Eichner
Encyclopedia
Ernst Dietrich Adolph Eichner (born February 15, 1740 in Bad Arolsen
, died 1777 in Potsdam
) was a German composer.
. His father provided him his primary musical education. He became widely known as a virtuoso bassoon
ist throughout Europe as a result. In 1762 he entered into the service of Duke Christian IV of Zweibrücken as a violinst. In 1768, he became the concertmaster of the court orchestra, the Mannheim Orchestra, where he remained until 1772. He was highly respected by his contemporaries, and achieved international recognition as an accomplished composer, bassoonist, and concertmaster during his lifetime. Eichner, however, died young and was quickly forgotten. To musicologists, he is known as a representative of the Mannheim School
. His 31 symphonies and 20 concertos comprise the main body of his works, but he also composed chamber music including Six Flute Quartets, Opus 4. In 1772 his compositions were published almost simultaneously in Paris
, London
, and Amsterdam
. Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart
praised Eichner's works in 1784 for their gracious charm and "melting sweetness". His Harp Concerto in D Major, Opus 9 (movements: Allegro, Andante, and Tempo di Minoetto), is performed to this day.
Eichner's compositions are currently being studied and performed in the Scarsdale High School
Symphonic Orchestra, led by Amédée D. Williams.
Chamber music
Bad Arolsen
Bad Arolsen is a small town in northern Hesse, Germany, in Waldeck-Frankenberg district. From 1655 until 1918 it served as the residence town of the Princes of Waldeck-Pyrmont and then until 1929 as the capital of the Waldeck Free State...
, died 1777 in Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
) was a German composer.
Biography
Eichner was born to Johann Andreas Eichner (1694–1768), a court musician to the court of WaldeckWaldeck (state)
Waldeck was a sovereign principality in the German Empire and German Confederation and, until 1929, a constituent state of the Weimar Republic. It comprised territories in present-day Hesse and Lower Saxony, ....
. His father provided him his primary musical education. He became widely known as a virtuoso bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
ist throughout Europe as a result. In 1762 he entered into the service of Duke Christian IV of Zweibrücken as a violinst. In 1768, he became the concertmaster of the court orchestra, the Mannheim Orchestra, where he remained until 1772. He was highly respected by his contemporaries, and achieved international recognition as an accomplished composer, bassoonist, and concertmaster during his lifetime. Eichner, however, died young and was quickly forgotten. To musicologists, he is known as a representative of the Mannheim School
Mannheim school
Mannheim school refers to both the orchestral techniques pioneered by the court orchestra of Mannheim in the latter half of the 18th century as well as the group of composers who wrote such music for the orchestra of Mannheim and others.-History:...
. His 31 symphonies and 20 concertos comprise the main body of his works, but he also composed chamber music including Six Flute Quartets, Opus 4. In 1772 his compositions were published almost simultaneously 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...
, 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...
, and Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart
Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart
Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart , was a German poet, born at Obersontheim in Swabia.He entered the university of Erlangen in 1758 as a student of theology. He led a dissolute life, and after two years' stay was summoned home by his parents...
praised Eichner's works in 1784 for their gracious charm and "melting sweetness". His Harp Concerto in D Major, Opus 9 (movements: Allegro, Andante, and Tempo di Minoetto), is performed to this day.
Eichner's compositions are currently being studied and performed in the Scarsdale High School
Scarsdale High School
Scarsdale High School is a public high school in Scarsdale, New York, a coterminous town and village in Westchester County, New York. The school was founded in 1917...
Symphonic Orchestra, led by Amédée D. Williams.
Selected works
Concertante- Concerto for harpsichord, string orchestra and 2 horns, Op.6 (published 1775)
- Concerto in D major for harp and orchestra, Op.9
Chamber music
- Sechs Quartette (6 Quartets) for flute, violin, viola and cello, Op.4
- Sechs Duette (6 Duets) for violin and viola, Op.10
- Sechs Quartette (6 Quartets) for violin, viola, cello and double bass, Op.12
External Links
- Ernst Eichner in the catalog of the German Music Archive
- Literature about Ernst Eichner in the catalog of the German National Library
- Reviews of Il Giardellino on Classic Today