Leopold Hofmann

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Leopold Hofmann (also Ludwig Hoffman, Leopold Hoffman, Leopold Hoffmann) (August 14 1738– March 17 1793) was an Austrian composer of classical music.

Hofmann was the son of a highly-educated civil servant, and at the age of seven became a chorister in the chapel of the Empress Elisabeth Christine, where his choral director and teacher was very likely František Tůma.

He was also a student later on of Georg Christoph Wagenseil. His studies included at various points violin, harpsichord and composition.

In 1758 Hofmann secured what may have been his first appointment, as "musicus" at St. Michael's. He is known to have become choral director at St. Peter's Church in 1764 and, in 1766, kapellmeister. In 1769 he became a teacher to the royal family.

The position of Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of St. Stephan, a post he acquired in 1772, was among his next responsibilities. At this time he declined the directorship of the Imperial Chapel, but did apply there two years later in 1774, failing in his application. (Giuseppe Bonno became director of the Imperial Chapel instead, which had become open on the death of Florian Leopold Gassmann.) Hofmann kept his post as Cathedral Kapellmeister until he died.

[edit] Selected worklist

A mass a cappella (republished with masses by Wagenseil and Georg Reutter by A-R Editions in 2004)
Concertos for flute (that in D from 1781 once attributed to Joseph Haydn), for violin, for cello, for oboe, for oboe and harpsichord, for violin and cello
- At least three for flute and orchestra - in E minor (1770s), G major, G major (1760s) and D major - and at least four for flute and strings, in A, D (1767), D (1781), and G (1769).
- Two for oboe and harpsichord with strings, in C and in F. (Modern edition of both pub in 1996.)
- At least two for oboe and strings, in C and G.
- At least three for violin and strings, in A, B♭ and E.
- At least two for violin, cello and strings, in G major (1781, modern edition published by Artaria in 1995) and G minor
- at least seven concertos for cello, some with strings - with full small orchestra: in C major (1770s; Badley C1), C major (1771; Badley C2), D major (1760s; Badley D2) and D major (1775, Badley D3), with strings: C major (with strings, 1760s; Badley C3), C major (with strings, 1768; Badley C4), D major (with strings, 1760s or 1771 according to different editions, Badley D1)
- At least two concertinos for flute and harpsichord with orchestra
- At least one concertino for two cellos and orchestra
Several divertimenti for solo instruments and string orchestra
Symphonies (at least 40? Some in manuscript in Národní muzeum v Praze and possibly not yet reissued in a modern edition.)
Duos and sonatas for various instruments, including a divertimento for flute and bassoon, one for 2 violins with continuo, one for two violas with bass. His opus 1 is a set of sonatas a tre for viola and violoncello with cello accompaniment.
Choral music
- Motet "Altra nocte"
- "Pastor bone : chorus pastoralis" for mixed choir, concertante organ, two violins and bass (2 oboes, 2 trumpets and drums probably added later).

(Recent recordings of his music include recordings of many of the concertos, some of the symphonies including five on Naxos, etc., including a CD from 2000 of Artaria discoveries and others of cello flute, violin and oboe concertos.)

His compositions have been catalogued by Allan Badley.

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

Badley, Allan. The concertos of Leopold Hofmann (1738-1793) Thesis. (University of Auckland.)
Eisen, Cliff. Kimball, George Cook. and Monk, Dennis C. Three symphonies / Franz Asplmayr ; edited by Dennis C. Monk. Four symphonies, them. index D7, E♭1, D1, D2 / Leopold Hofmann ; edited by G. Cook Kimball. Three symphonies, them. index 23, 18, 25 / Wenzel Pichl ; introduction by Richard J. Agee ; thematic index compiled by Anita Zakin. Salzburg. Part 1. The Symphony in Salzburg: Volume 1. New York: Garland, 1984. ISBN 0-8240-3854-1.
Kimball, George Cook. The Symphonies of Leopold Hofmann (1738-1793) Thesis (Ph.D.)-- Columbia University, 1985.
Kreiner, Viktor. Leopold Hofmann als Sinfoniker (1738-1793). Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Wien, 1958.
Umble, Kathryn Thomas. A transcription and stylistic analysis of Leopold Hoffmann's Flute Concerto in G Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Bowling Green State University, 1985.