Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Théodore Weckerlin or Wekerlin (Gebweiler, 9 November 1821 – 20 May 1910) was an Alsatian
French composer and music publisher.
at the Paris Conservatory. In 1847, he brought out his heroic symphony Roland. In 1853, Weckerlin was most successful in the production of a one-act comic opera, L'organiste dans l'embarras. In 1869, he was appointed assistant librarian to the Conservatory.
In 1863, he produced his comic opera Die dreifach Hochzeit im Bäsethal, and in 1879 Der verhäxt Herbst. These were both in Alsatian dialect. In 1877, he brought out the one-act opera Après Fontenoy. In 1876, he became Félicien David's successor as librarian at the Conservatory and published in 1885 a biographical catalogue. Later he became librarian of the Société des Compositeurs. He gained great renown as a composer of choral works. He married the daughter of the prima donna of Rossini's late Paris operas Madame Laure Cinti-Damoreau
.
Weckerlin is best remembered for his piano arrangements of traditional French songs, notably the bergerette
, a particular kind of pastoral
air
, originally for voice accompanied by harpsichord, harp or guitar. His major work, Bergerettes, romances et chansons du XVIII siécle, was published in 1860.
It is record that "He died in Trottberg" but an obituary on his death in 1910 ran:
Writings
His Histoire de l'instrumentation depuis le seizième siècle jusqu'à l'époque actuelle won the gold medal of the Académie in 1875.
Alsatian
Alsatian may refer to:* Alsatian, a person from the Alsace region of France or a speaker of the Alsatian language* Alsatian language, the language or dialect of the Alsace region of northeast France...
French composer and music publisher.
Biography
He was born at Gebweiler, Alsace. In 1844, he began his musical career, studying singing with Ponchard and composition with Fromental HalévyFromental Halévy
Jacques-François-Fromental-Élie Halévy, usually known as Fromental Halévy , was a French composer. He is known today largely for his opera La Juive.-Early career:...
at the Paris Conservatory. In 1847, he brought out his heroic symphony Roland. In 1853, Weckerlin was most successful in the production of a one-act comic opera, L'organiste dans l'embarras. In 1869, he was appointed assistant librarian to the Conservatory.
In 1863, he produced his comic opera Die dreifach Hochzeit im Bäsethal, and in 1879 Der verhäxt Herbst. These were both in Alsatian dialect. In 1877, he brought out the one-act opera Après Fontenoy. In 1876, he became Félicien David's successor as librarian at the Conservatory and published in 1885 a biographical catalogue. Later he became librarian of the Société des Compositeurs. He gained great renown as a composer of choral works. He married the daughter of the prima donna of Rossini's late Paris operas Madame Laure Cinti-Damoreau
Laure Cinti-Damoreau
Laura Cinti-Damoreau was a French soprano particularly associated with Rossini roles.- Life and career :...
.
Weckerlin is best remembered for his piano arrangements of traditional French songs, notably the bergerette
Bergerette
A bergerette, or shepherdess' air, is a form of early rustic French song.The bergerette, developed by Burgundian composers is a virelai with only is single stanza. It is one of the "fixed forms" of early French song and related to the rondeau. Examples include Josquin's Bergerette savoyene included...
, a particular kind of pastoral
Pastoral
The adjective pastoral refers to the lifestyle of pastoralists, such as shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasturage. It also refers to a genre in literature, art or music that depicts such shepherd life in an...
air
Air (music)
Air , a variant of the musical song form, is the name of various song-like vocal or instrumental compositions.-English lute ayres:...
, originally for voice accompanied by harpsichord, harp or guitar. His major work, Bergerettes, romances et chansons du XVIII siécle, was published in 1860.
It is record that "He died in Trottberg" but an obituary on his death in 1910 ran:
Works
Among his works are:- oratorio, Le jugement dernier
- cantatas, L'Aurore and Paix, charité, grandeur (1866)
- “ode-symphonie” Les poèmes de la mer, for solo, chorus, and orchestra (1860)
- L'Inde (1873); and La fête d'Alexandre, in the same year.
Writings
His Histoire de l'instrumentation depuis le seizième siècle jusqu'à l'époque actuelle won the gold medal of the Académie in 1875.
Recordings
- Notable recordings of Weckerlin's arrangements were made by the soprano Mady MespléMady MespléMady Mesplé is a French opera singer, the leading high coloratura soprano of her generation in France, sometimes heralded as the successor to Mado Robin.-Biography:...
for EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in the 1970s. - La Laitière de TrianonTrianonTrianon may refer to:* Le Grand Trianon, a palace near Versailles, France* Le Petit Trianon, a château near Versailles, France* Le Trianon , a theatre and concert hall at 80, boulevard de Rochechouart in Paris...
Joan Rogers, Yann Beuron. Opera RaraOpera RaraOpera Rara is a British record label, founded in the early 1970s by Americans Patric Schmid and Don White to promote concerts of rare and/or forgotten operas by Giacomo Meyerbeer and Donizetti and such other "bel canto" composers as Giovanni Pacini, Saverio Mercadante, and Federico Ricci.The...
245.