Wenzel Müller
Encyclopedia
Wenzel Müller was an Austrian
composer
and conductor
.
Müller was born in Turnau
. He studied with Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
and performed as a theatre musician in his youth. In 1786 he became Kapellmeister
at the Theater in der Leopoldstadt
in Leopoldstadt
, Vienna
. After a short spell at the German theatre in Prague
from 1807 until 1813 he returned to Leopoldstadt where he worked until 1830. Under his leadership, the theatre became one of the most important venues in Viennese musical life. He died in Baden bei Wien
.
He was a popular and prolific composer producing more than 250 works. Although he wrote several popular stage works (mostly Singspiel
e), his vocal art songs are his enduring legacy. Often possessing witty music and lyrics or expressing a great deal of tenderness, Müller's songs were immensely popular and some of the works he wrote with Ferdinand Raimund
remain in the Viennese repertory.
His opera Die Schwestern von Prag provided the theme for Beethoven's "Kakadu Variations
" for piano trio, Opus 121a.
He is said to have composed what is falsely known as Mozart
's "Twelfth Mass", the Missa in G major K Anh.232 (C1.04).
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 conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Müller was born in Turnau
Turnov
Turnov is a town on the Jizera river in the northern Czech Republic. It has about 14,500 inhabitants and lies in the southern part of Liberec Region. It is a traditional center for gemstone polishing, glass craftmanship and arts....
. He studied with Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
----August Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf was an Austrian composer, violinist and silvologist.-1739-1764:...
and performed as a theatre musician in his youth. In 1786 he became 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...
at 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...
in 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...
, 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...
. After a short spell at the German theatre in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
from 1807 until 1813 he returned to Leopoldstadt where he worked until 1830. Under his leadership, the theatre became one of the most important venues in Viennese musical life. He died in Baden bei Wien
Baden bei Wien
-Points of interest:The town offers several parks and a picturesque surrounding, of which the most frequented is the Helenental valley. Not far from Baden, the valley is crossed by a widespread aqueduct of the Vienna waterworks...
.
He was a popular and prolific composer producing more than 250 works. Although he wrote several popular stage works (mostly Singspiel
Singspiel
A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...
e), his vocal art songs are his enduring legacy. Often possessing witty music and lyrics or expressing a great deal of tenderness, Müller's songs were immensely popular and some of the works he wrote with Ferdinand Raimund
Ferdinand Raimund
Ferdinand Raimund was an Austrian actor and dramatist.- Life and work :...
remain in the Viennese repertory.
His opera Die Schwestern von Prag provided the theme for Beethoven's "Kakadu Variations
Kakadu Variations
"Kakadu Variations" is the nickname given to Ludwig van Beethoven's variations for piano trio on the theme "Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu" by Wenzel Müller. The variations were published in 1824 as Opus 121a, the last of Beethoven's piano trios to be published...
" for piano trio, Opus 121a.
He is said to have composed what is falsely known as Mozart
Wolfgang 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...
's "Twelfth Mass", the Missa in G major K Anh.232 (C1.04).
Works
| Title | Genre | Subdivisions | Libretto | Première date | Place, theatre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlekin auf dem Parade Beth oder Nach dem Schlimmen folgt das Gute | große Pantomime | Anton Baumann | 1784; 14 May 1790 | Brno Brno Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District... ; 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... , 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... |
|
| Das Sonnenfest der Braminen | heroisch-komisches Singspiel Singspiel A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera... |
2 acts | Carl Friedrich Hensler | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt | |
| Kaspar der Fagottist oder Die Zauberzither | Singspiel | 3 acts | Joachim Perinet | 8 June 1791 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Das neue Sonntagskind | Singspiel | 2 acts | Joachim Perinet, after Philipp Hafner | 10 October 1793 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Die Schwestern von Prag | Singspiel | 2 acts | Joachim Perinet, after Philipp Hafner | 11 March 1794 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Das lustige Beylager | Singspiel | 2 acts | Joachim Perinet, after Philipp Hafner | 14 February 1797 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Die Teufels Mühle am Wienerberg | Schauspiel mit Gesang | 4 acts | Carl Friedrich Hensler/Leopold Huber | 12 November 1799 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Die Belagerung von Ypsilon oder Evakathel und Schnudi | Karikaturoperette | 2 acts | Joachim Perinet, after Philipp Hafner | 4 May 1804 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Javima | Oper | 3 acts | 21 May 1807 Prague | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt | |
| Samson | Melodram | 3 acts | Joseph Anton Schuster | 1808 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Simon Plattkopf, der Unsichtbare | Singspiel | 1 act | Carl Ludwig Costenoble | 1809 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Die Wunderlampe | Zauberoper | 4 acts | Josef Alois Gleich | 1810 | Prague |
| Der Fiaker al Marquis | komische Oper | 3 acts | Adolf Bäuerle | 10 February 1816 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Aline oder Wien in einem andern Welttheil | Zauberoper | 3 acts | Adolf Bäuerle | 9 October 1822 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Der Barometermacher auf der Zauberinsel | Zauberposse | 2 acts | Ferdinand Raimund Ferdinand Raimund Ferdinand Raimund was an Austrian actor and dramatist.- Life and work :... |
18 December 1823 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Der schwarze See oder Der Blasebalgmacher und der Geist | Zauberspiel | 2 acts | Lenz? | 4 February 1825 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Herr Josef und Frau Baberl | 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 | Gleich | 11 May 1826 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Die gefesselte Phantasie | Zauberspiel | 2 acts | Ferdinand Raimund | 8 January 1828 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
| Der Alpenkönig und der Menschenfeind | romantisch-komisches Zauberspiel | 2 acts | Ferdinand Raimund | 17 October 1828 | Vienna, Theater in der Leopoldstadt |
Sources
- Peter Branscombe. "Müller, Wenzel." The New Grove Dictionary of OperaNew Grove Dictionary of OperaThe New Grove Dictionary of Opera is an encyclopedia of opera, considered to be one of the best general reference sources on the subject. It is the largest work on opera in English, and in its printed form, amounts to 5,448 pages in four volumes....
, edited by Stanley SadieStanley SadieStanley Sadie CBE was a leading British musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians , which was published as the first edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.Sadie was educated at St Paul's School,...
(1992), ISBN 0-333-73432-7 and ISBN 1-56159-228-5
External links
- Short biography at aieouAeiou EncyclopediaAEIOU is a free online collection of reference works in both German and English about Austria-related topics.-Background:...
- Selected works