Gesellschaft der Associierten
Encyclopedia
The Gesellschaft der Associierten was an association of music-loving noblemen centered in Vienna
and founded by Baron Gottfried van Swieten
in 1786. The society sponsored concerts, often reviving music from the past, and also commissioned new works.
and Handel. However, van Swieten was himself only a baron, and was originally a commoner (his father, Gerhard van Swieten, had been the personal physician of Empress Maria Theresa and had been elevated to the nobility during Gottfried's own lifetime). Thus van Swieten lacked the vast wealth held by the older nobility, who possessed great landed estates in the hinterlands of the Empire. By recruiting a group of fellow music-lovers from the upper nobility, van Swieten was able to fund concert productions that would have been beyond his personal means.
There were, according to Antonicek, actually two organizations that bore this name. The original, founded in 1786, was called the "Gesellschaft der associierten Cavaliers", "Society of Associated Noblemen". This was dissolved in 1792, perhaps in conjunction with Baron van Swieten's fall from political power (he lost his principal positions on December 5, 1791, the day his protegé Mozart died). In 1799, the society was refounded with the curious name "Gesellschaft der Associierten" ("Society of the Associated"). For both the earlier and the later incarnations of the group, van Swieten served as "Secretär", secretary.
The organization's concerts were first given in one of the palaces of the members or in the large hall of the Imperial Library, then in a public performance in the Burgtheater
or Jahn's Hall
.
The Gesellschaft der Associierten endured until 1808, five years after van Swieten's death. The task of sponsoring concerts was soon taken up again by the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
, founded 1812.
The name of the organization is translated in various ways into English, usually without distinguishing the two original versions. Timothy Bell renders it as "Society of Associated Cavaliers"; the translators of Deutsch (1965, 330) render it as "Society of Noblemen".
gave a list of the members, as follows.
Haydn biographer Albert Christoph Dies
, considered less reliable than Griesinger, adds a Count Marschall and a Baron von Spielmann. and omits various names given by Griesinger.
took on the task of conducting the Gesellschaft's concerts in 1788. In addition to having him conduct, the Gesellschaft commissioned Mozart to prepare four works by Handel
for performance according to contemporary taste:
The Gesellschaft's concerts were an important source of income for Mozart during this time, when he was experiencing severe financial worries.
's last three oratorios. These were his The Seven Last Words of Christ
(1795-1796), an oratorio reworking of an earlier orchestral piece; The Creation (1798); and The Seasons
(1801).
The Gesellschaft der Associierten provided financial guarantees needed for Haydn to undertake these long-term projects. They also awarded Haydn a substantial honorarium on completion of these works, and arranged for benefit performances from which the proceeds would be Haydn's. Dies (1810) reported that the Creation benefit yielded 9000 florins, a large sum, and that the Seasons benefit was "not so lucrative".
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...
and founded by Baron Gottfried van Swieten
Gottfried van Swieten
Gottfried, Freiherr van Swieten was a diplomat, librarian, and government official who served the Austrian Empire during the 18th century...
in 1786. The society sponsored concerts, often reviving music from the past, and also commissioned new works.
History
The founder, Gottfried van Swieten, had an extremely strong interest in music, particularly in the revival of music by great composers of the past such as J. S. BachJohann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and Handel. However, van Swieten was himself only a baron, and was originally a commoner (his father, Gerhard van Swieten, had been the personal physician of Empress Maria Theresa and had been elevated to the nobility during Gottfried's own lifetime). Thus van Swieten lacked the vast wealth held by the older nobility, who possessed great landed estates in the hinterlands of the Empire. By recruiting a group of fellow music-lovers from the upper nobility, van Swieten was able to fund concert productions that would have been beyond his personal means.
There were, according to Antonicek, actually two organizations that bore this name. The original, founded in 1786, was called the "Gesellschaft der associierten Cavaliers", "Society of Associated Noblemen". This was dissolved in 1792, perhaps in conjunction with Baron van Swieten's fall from political power (he lost his principal positions on December 5, 1791, the day his protegé Mozart died). In 1799, the society was refounded with the curious name "Gesellschaft der Associierten" ("Society of the Associated"). For both the earlier and the later incarnations of the group, van Swieten served as "Secretär", secretary.
The organization's concerts were first given in one of the palaces of the members or in the large hall of the Imperial Library, then in a public performance in the Burgtheater
Burgtheater
The Burgtheater , originally known as K.K. Theater an der Burg, then until 1918 as the K.K. Hofburgtheater, is the Austrian National Theatre in Vienna and one of the most important German language theatres in the world.The Burgtheater was created in 1741 and has become known as "die Burg" by the...
or Jahn's Hall
Jahn's Hall
Jahn's Hall was a concert hall in late 18th century Vienna. It was the property of a restaurateur/caterer named Ignaz Jahn, and seated "400 at the most". It is remembered as a performance venue for works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.-Ignaz Jahn:Jahn was born in Hungary in...
.
The Gesellschaft der Associierten endured until 1808, five years after van Swieten's death. The task of sponsoring concerts was soon taken up again by the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
The Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien , was founded in 1812 by Joseph von Sonnleithner, general secretary of the Court Theatre, Vienna, Austria. Its official charter, drafted in 1814, states that the purpose of the Society was to promote music in all its facets...
, founded 1812.
The name of the organization is translated in various ways into English, usually without distinguishing the two original versions. Timothy Bell renders it as "Society of Associated Cavaliers"; the translators of Deutsch (1965, 330) render it as "Society of Noblemen".
Membership
In his biography of Joseph Haydn (1810), Georg August GriesingerGeorg August Griesinger
Georg August von Griesinger was a tutor and diplomat resident in Vienna during the late 18th and 19th centuries. He is remembered for his friendships with the composers Joseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven, and for the biography he wrote of Haydn....
gave a list of the members, as follows.
- Princes
- Liechtenstein
- Esterházy
- SchwarzenbergKarl Philipp, Prince of SchwarzenbergKarl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg (or Charles Philip, Prince of Schwarzenberg (April 18, 1771 – October 15, 1820) was an Austrian field marshal.- Life :...
- Lobkowicz
- AuersbergPrincipality of AuerspergAuersperg was an Austrian princely family, which held estates in Austria and Thengen...
- Kinsky
- Lichnowsky
- Trautmannsdorf
- SinzendorfSinzendorfSinzendorf:* Philipp Ludwig von Sinzendorf , cardinal of the Catholic Church* Prosper Anton Josef von Sinzendorf , Austrian noble man and courtier, Counsellor and Chamberlain...
- Counts
- Czernin
- HarrachHarrachThe Harrach family is a Bohemian and Austro-German noble family. The Grafs von Harrach were among the most prominent families in the Habsburg Empire.-History:...
- ErdödyErdodyErdődy is the name of a Hungarian noble family in the Kingdom of Hungary . The Habsburg Monarchy granted them the title Graf / Gräfin....
; see also String Quartets, Op. 76 (Haydn)String Quartets, Op. 76 (Haydn)Joseph Haydn's string quartets, Op. 76 were composed in 1796 or 1797 and dedicated to the Hungarian Count Joseph Erdödy. The six quartets are the last complete set that Haydn composed... - ApponyiApponyiApponyi de Nagy-Appony is a Hungarian surname and noble family. It may refer, among others, to the following people:* György Apponyi de Nagy-Apponyi , Count, Hungarian chancellor...
- FriesFriesFries as surname refer to:* Fries, originally meant an ethnic minority in the Netherlands, see Frisians and Friesland* Elias Magnus Fries , botanist* Thore M...
; see Violin Sonata No. 5 (Beethoven)Violin Sonata No. 5 (Beethoven)The Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Opus 24, is a violin sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is often known as the "Spring" sonata , and was published in 1801...
Haydn biographer Albert Christoph Dies
Albert Christoph Dies
-As painter:He was born at Hanover , and began his studies there. For one year he studied in the academy of Düsseldorf, and then he started at the age of twenty with thirty ducats in his pocket for Rome, studying briefly on the way in Mannheim and Basel. In Rome he lived a frugal life till 1796;...
, considered less reliable than Griesinger, adds a Count Marschall and a Baron von Spielmann. and omits various names given by Griesinger.
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
took on the task of conducting the Gesellschaft's concerts in 1788. In addition to having him conduct, the Gesellschaft commissioned Mozart to prepare four works by Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
for performance according to contemporary taste:
- Acis and Galatea, performed in (approximately) November 1788 in Jahn's HallJahn's HallJahn's Hall was a concert hall in late 18th century Vienna. It was the property of a restaurateur/caterer named Ignaz Jahn, and seated "400 at the most". It is remembered as a performance venue for works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.-Ignaz Jahn:Jahn was born in Hungary in...
. - The oratorioOratorioAn oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
MessiahMessiah (Handel)Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
, for which Mozart wrote new parts for flutes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, and trombones, as well as more notes for the timpani (1789). - the Ode for St Cecilia’s Day (1790)
- Alexander’s FeastAlexander's Feast (Handel)Alexander's Feast is an ode with music by George Frideric Handel set to a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton. Hamilton adapted his libretto from John Dryden's ode Alexander's Feast, or the Power of Music which had been written to celebrate Saint Cecilia's Day...
(1790)
The Gesellschaft's concerts were an important source of income for Mozart during this time, when he was experiencing severe financial worries.
Haydn
The Gesellschaft sponsored the composition and premieres of Joseph HaydnJoseph 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...
's last three oratorios. These were his The Seven Last Words of Christ
The Seven Last Words of Christ
The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour On the Cross is an orchestral work by Joseph Haydn, commissioned in 1785 or 1786 for the Good Friday service at Cádiz Cathedral in Spain...
(1795-1796), an oratorio reworking of an earlier orchestral piece; The Creation (1798); and The Seasons
The Seasons (Haydn)
The Seasons is an oratorio by Joseph Haydn .-Composition, premiere, and reception:Haydn was led to write The Seasons by the great success of his previous oratorio The Creation , which had become very popular and was in the course of being performed all over Europe...
(1801).
The Gesellschaft der Associierten provided financial guarantees needed for Haydn to undertake these long-term projects. They also awarded Haydn a substantial honorarium on completion of these works, and arranged for benefit performances from which the proceeds would be Haydn's. Dies (1810) reported that the Creation benefit yielded 9000 florins, a large sum, and that the Seasons benefit was "not so lucrative".