Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel
Encyclopedia
Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel (Würzburg, 3 December 1750 – Würzburg, 12 October 1817)
German composer
and pianist in the 18th Century. He was educated at the University of Würzburg
and in 1778 he became chaplain and musician at the court in Mainz. He lived in Regensburg (1802–10), then in Aschaffenburg, and finally retired to Würzburg in 1815.
At first Sterkel was an organist
in Neumünster. In 1774 he was ordained a priest. He moved to Mainz
and became court chaplain, but toured Italy as a pianist, 1779–1782. After a visit to Italy
in 1782, where he met Padre Martini, he returned to Mainz, becoming music director to the court in 1793.
In 1793–1797 he was court Kapellmeister at Mainz; when the chapel was disbanded he went to Würzburg, Regensburg and later Aschaffenburg, where he served the Grand Duke of Frankfurt.
1810–1814: A prolific and successful composer he wrote mostly instrumental music, including symphonies and concertos, chamber works with keyboard solo, piano sonatas and piano duets.
Many of the sonatas have a lyricism and loose-knit structure pointing towards Franz Schubert
. Among his vocal works are an Italian opera (1782, Naples), Italian arias, songs and ensembles and German lieder. His works as well as his distinctive playing style (which impressed Beethoven in 1791) contributed to the development of a pianistic idiom.
German 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...
and pianist in the 18th Century. He was educated at the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
and in 1778 he became chaplain and musician at the court in Mainz. He lived in Regensburg (1802–10), then in Aschaffenburg, and finally retired to Würzburg in 1815.
At first Sterkel was an organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
in Neumünster. In 1774 he was ordained a priest. He moved to Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
and became court chaplain, but toured Italy as a pianist, 1779–1782. After a visit to 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...
in 1782, where he met Padre Martini, he returned to Mainz, becoming music director to the court in 1793.
In 1793–1797 he was court Kapellmeister at Mainz; when the chapel was disbanded he went to Würzburg, Regensburg and later Aschaffenburg, where he served the Grand Duke of Frankfurt.
1810–1814: A prolific and successful composer he wrote mostly instrumental music, including symphonies and concertos, chamber works with keyboard solo, piano sonatas and piano duets.
Many of the sonatas have a lyricism and loose-knit structure pointing towards Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
. Among his vocal works are an Italian opera (1782, Naples), Italian arias, songs and ensembles and German lieder. His works as well as his distinctive playing style (which impressed Beethoven in 1791) contributed to the development of a pianistic idiom.
Works
- opera Farnace (1782);
- 24 symphonies, two overtures for orchestra;
- six piano concertos;
- string quintet, piano quartet, six string trios;
- sonatas for piano solo and duet, piano pieces, variations;
- German songs, Italian canzonets; vocal duets.