Ferdinand Kauer
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand August Kauer was an Austrian
composer
and pianist
.
) near Znaim
in South Moravia
. He studied in Znaim, Tyrnau
, and Vienna
, and later settled in Vienna around 1777. In 1781 he joined Karl von Marinelli
's newly formed company at Vienna as leader and conductor of the orchestra. From 1782 he also composed music for the theatre, including Singspiel
e, opera
s, and incidental music and songs, mostly to texts by the house poet Karl Friedrich Hensler. Their first major success was Das Faustrecht in Thüringen (The Law of the Jungle in Thüringen, 1796–1797), which was eclipsed two years later by the success of Das Donauweibchen (1798).
He was Kapellmeister
of the Theater in der Leopoldstadt
and Theater in der Josefstadt
in Vienna and also in Graz
. He directed the Leopoldstadt
Theater Music School and by the 1790s had become known for his popular Singspiel
e. In addition to his successful stage works he composed several tutorial methods for violin
, flute
, piano
and singing
(c. 1790). A tragic flood in 1830 destroyed all Kauer's possessions, including most of his scores. He continued to work as the second viola
payer at the Theater in der Leopoldstadt orchestra until his death in Vienna a year later.
in 1803–1807 as Lesta, dneprovskaya rusalka and its three sequels with Russian text and additional music by the naturalised Russian immigrant Catterino Cavos
who originally hailed from Venice
, and Stepan Davydov
(1777–1825).
Das Donauweibchen was the first opera staged in Finland
on December 3, 1826 in Viipuri
by Schultz’s company. It was not unusual for travelling companies to make an excursion from the nearby Saint Petersburg
to Viipuri, Finland being an autonomous Grand Duchy
in the Russian Empire
at the time.
Kauer also wrote 200 masses
, many pieces of chamber music
, incidental music
(including Das Faustrecht in Thüringen). His "12 Neue Ungarische Tänze" reflect the influence of roaming Gypsy orchestras upon many composers of this era. In his "Sei variazioni" (c. 1810) Kauer introduced the xylophone
into western classical music, and from that time this instrument has been adopted as a regular element of the orchestra. It is unfortunate that his music is rarely performed in modern times. His music has been shown to be highly imaginative, tuneful, and worthy of further study.
Ferdinand Kauer’s keyboard "Sonata militaire" was mistakenly attributed to Joseph Haydn
as Sonata D major, Hob. XVI: D1.
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
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
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Biography
Kauer was born in Klein-Thaya (today DyjákovičkyDyjákovičky
Dyjákovičky is a village and municipality in Znojmo District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic.The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 448 ....
) near Znaim
Znojmo
Znojmo is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, near the border with Lower Austria, connected to Vienna by railway and road . The royal city of Znojmo was founded shortly before 1226 by King Ottokar I on the plains in front of Znojmo Castle...
in South Moravia
South Moravian Region
South Moravian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia, with exception of Jobova Lhota, that belongs to Bohemia. Its capital is Brno the 2nd largest city of the Czech Republic. The region is famous for its wine...
. He studied in Znaim, Tyrnau
Tyrnau
Tyrnau is a town in the district of Graz-Umgebung in Styria in Austria....
, and 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...
, and later settled in Vienna around 1777. In 1781 he joined Karl von Marinelli
Karl von Marinelli
Karl Edler von Marinelli was an actor, theatre manager and playwright....
's newly formed company at Vienna as leader and conductor of the orchestra. From 1782 he also composed music for the theatre, including Singspiel
Singspiel
A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...
e, 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 incidental music and songs, mostly to texts by the house poet Karl Friedrich Hensler. Their first major success was Das Faustrecht in Thüringen (The Law of the Jungle in Thüringen, 1796–1797), which was eclipsed two years later by the success of Das Donauweibchen (1798).
He was Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
of the Theater in der Leopoldstadt
Theater in der Leopoldstadt
The Theater in der Leopoldstadt was an opera house in Vienna, founded in 1781 by Karl von Marinelli, following the Schauspielfreiheit by Joseph II in 1776...
and Theater in der Josefstadt
Theater in der Josefstadt
The Theater in der Josefstadt is a theater in Vienna in the eighth district of Josefstadt. It was founded in 1788 and is the oldest still performing theater in Vienna...
in Vienna and also in Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
. He directed the Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt is the 2nd municipal District of Vienna . There are inhabitants over . It is situated in the heart of the city and, together with Brigittenau , forms a large island surrounded by the Danube Canal and, to the north, the Danube. It is named after Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor...
Theater Music School and by the 1790s had become known for his popular Singspiel
Singspiel
A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...
e. In addition to his successful stage works he composed several tutorial methods for violin
Violin
The 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....
, flute
Flute
The 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...
, piano
Piano
The 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...
and singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(c. 1790). A tragic flood in 1830 destroyed all Kauer's possessions, including most of his scores. He continued to work as the second viola
Viola
The 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...
payer at the Theater in der Leopoldstadt orchestra until his death in Vienna a year later.
Legacy
He wrote about 200 operas and Singspiele. The romantic opera Das Donauweibchen (1798) was one of the most popular operas of the early 19th century. It was staged in RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 1803–1807 as Lesta, dneprovskaya rusalka and its three sequels with Russian text and additional music by the naturalised Russian immigrant Catterino Cavos
Catterino Cavos
Catterino Albertovich Cavos , born Catarino Camillo Cavos, was an Italian composer, organist and conductor settled in Russia...
who originally hailed from Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, and Stepan Davydov
Stepan Davydov
-Biography:When the principal choirboy of the Imperial Court Capella, he drew the attention of the Empress Catherine II, who consigned him to the care of the Italian composer Giuseppe Sarti ....
(1777–1825).
Das Donauweibchen was the first opera staged in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
on December 3, 1826 in Viipuri
Vyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
by Schultz’s company. It was not unusual for travelling companies to make an excursion from the nearby Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
to Viipuri, Finland being an autonomous Grand Duchy
Grand duchy
A grand duchy, sometimes referred to as a grand dukedom, is a territory whose head of state is a monarch, either a grand duke or grand duchess.Today Luxembourg is the only remaining grand duchy...
in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
at the time.
Kauer also wrote 200 masses
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
, many pieces of chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, incidental music
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
(including Das Faustrecht in Thüringen). His "12 Neue Ungarische Tänze" reflect the influence of roaming Gypsy orchestras upon many composers of this era. In his "Sei variazioni" (c. 1810) Kauer introduced the xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
into western classical music, and from that time this instrument has been adopted as a regular element of the orchestra. It is unfortunate that his music is rarely performed in modern times. His music has been shown to be highly imaginative, tuneful, and worthy of further study.
Selected works
| Title | Genre | Subdivisions | Libretto | Première date | Theatre (in Vienna) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Der Streit zwischen dem Zauberer Scionco und der Fee Galantina, oder Kasperl bleibt Kasperl | comedy with machines and music | 3 acts | February 3, 1784 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt Theater in der Leopoldstadt The Theater in der Leopoldstadt was an opera house in Vienna, founded in 1781 by Karl von Marinelli, following the Schauspielfreiheit by Joseph II in 1776... |
|
| Der unschuldige Betrug | Kinder-Operette | 1 act | L Huber | June 22, 1790 | |
| Bastien und Bastienne | Operette | after French work | August 18, 1790 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt | |
| Die Serenade, oder Der gefoppte Alte | Singspiel Singspiel A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera... |
2 acts | June 4, 1792 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt | |
| Das Faustrecht in Thüringen part 1 | Schauspiel | 4 acts | Karl Friedrich Hensler | April 7, 1796 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Das Faustrecht in Thüringen part 2 | Schauspiel | 4 acts | Karl Friedrich Hensler | June 28, 1796 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Das Faustrecht in Thüringen part 3 | Schauspiel | 4 acts | Karl Friedrich Hensler | January 17, 1797 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Das Donauweibchen part 1 | romantisch-komisches Volksmärchen | 3 acts | Karl Friedrich Hensler | January 11, 1798 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Das Donauweibchen part 2 | romantisch-komisches Volksmärchen | 3 acts | Karl Friedrich Hensler | February 13, 1798 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Die Löwenritter | Schauspiel | 4 acts | Karl Friedrich Hensler | Theater in der Leopoldstadt | |
| Das Sternenmädchen im Meidlinger Walde | romantisch-komisches Volksmärchen | 3 acts | L Huber | October 20, 1801 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Telemach Prinz von Ithaca | travestirtes Singspiel | 3 acts | Karl Friedrich Hensler | April 29, 1801 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Philibert und Kasperl, oder Weiber sind getreuer als Männer | Zauberoper | 3 acts | Karl Friedrich Hensler | February 7, 1804 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Faschingswehen | Lustspiel | 3 acts | J F Kringsteiner | March 4, 1805 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Die Kreutzerkomödie | Posse Posse mit Gesang Posse mit Gesang is a form of popular German-language music drama, that developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Early examples are sometimes called 'Possenspil' or 'Possenspiel'... |
3 acts | J F Kringsteiner | June 21, 1805 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Der travestierte Telemach | Karikatur | 3 acts | Joachim Perinet | August 29, 1805 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Heinrich der Stolze, Herzog von Sachsen | Schauspiel | 3 acts | J A Gleich | October 5, 1806 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Orpheus und Euridice, oder So geht es im Olympus zu | mythologische Karikatur | 2 acts | K Meisl | February 20, 1813 | Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Antonius und Cleopatra | Posse | 1 act | M F Perth, after August von Kotzebue August von Kotzebue August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue was a German dramatist.One of Kotzebue's books was burned during the Wartburg festival in 1817. He was murdered in 1819 by Karl Ludwig Sand, a militant member of the Burschenschaften... |
February 25, 1814 | Theater in der Josefstadt Theater in der Josefstadt The Theater in der Josefstadt is a theater in Vienna in the eighth district of Josefstadt. It was founded in 1788 and is the oldest still performing theater in Vienna... |
| Die Musikanten am Hohen Markt | Posse | 3 acts | J A Gleich | March 28, 1815 | Theater in der Josefstadt |
Ferdinand Kauer’s keyboard "Sonata militaire" was mistakenly attributed to 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...
as Sonata D major, Hob. XVI: D1.
External links
- Italian Opera Articles: Kauer
- Lorelea (Russian)
- Operone
- List of stage works at the Opern Project of the University of CologneUniversity of CologneThe University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...