Composers Datebook®

Johann David Heinichen

Composers Datebook for July 16, 2018

Synopsis

These days, in the opinion of most music lovers, the towering genius of Johann Sebastian Bach far overshadows all but a handful of other Baroque Age composers. But in his own time, there were many other composers far more famous than Bach, a few who are today all but forgotten.

Take the case of Johann David Heinichen, who was buried in Dresden on today’s date in 1729. At the time, his royal patron, August the Strong of Saxony, made no attempt to fill the suddenly vacant post of Dresden court composer because, to his ears, no one’s music could possible have been as good as Heinichen’s.

The great 18th century music historian Charles Burney, impressed by Heinichen’s skill at colorful instrumentation, called him “the Rameau of Germany,” and in 1739, ten years after Heinichen’s death, and longf before talk of the “Three B’s,” another contemporary music historian coined the phrase "the three H's” to describe the importance of Hasse, Handel, and Heinichen” to 18th century German music.

During most of the 19th century, Heinichen’s music lay forgotten in a Dresden Library. Miraculously, these scores survived the Dresden fire-bombing by Allied forces during World War II. The post-war revival of interest in music by Bach’s contemporaries and the success of the period-instrument movement of more recent times piqued musicians’ interest, and some of the old scores were pulled off the shelves.

In 1993, a CD of some of Heinichen’s “Grand Concertos” performed by Musica Antiqua Koeln won—belatedly—several awards and some renewed attention for the long-neglected Johann David Heinichen.

Music Played in Today's Program

Johann David Heinichen (1683 – 1729) Concerto in C Musica Antiqua of Cologne; Reinhard Goebel, cond. Archiv 437 549

On This Day

Births

  • 1858 - Belgian composer, violinist and conductor Eugène Ysaÿe, in Liège

  • 1901 - Austrian conductor and composer Fritz Mahler, a nephew of Gustav Mahler, in Vienna; He studied composition with Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern; He emigrated to America in 1936, where he taught at the Juilliard Summer School and conducted the Erie Philharmonic and the Hartford Symphony

  • 1904 - Italian composer Goffredo Petrassi, in Zagarolo (near Rome

  • 1941 - English composer Geoffrey Burgon, in Hambleton, Hampshire

  • 1959 - Scottish composer James MacMillan, in Kilwinning, Ayrshire

Deaths

  • 1729 - Burial date of German composer and lawyer Johann David Heinichen, age 46, in Dresden

  • 1763 - French flutist and composer Jacques-Martin Hotteterre, age 89, in Paris

Premieres

  • 1782 - Mozart: opera "The Abduction from the Seraglio," in Vienna at the Burgtheater

  • 1998 - Carol Barnett: "Meeting at Seneca Falls," for soloists, narrator, and chamber ensemble, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, with Apo Hsu conducting

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

YourClassical

Maazel's 'Ring without Words'

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) arr. Lorin Maazel (1930-2014): ‘Ring without Words’; Berlin Philharmonic; Lorin Maazel, conductor; Telarc 80154

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Maxwell Davies at a wedding (with sunrise)

Peter Maxwell Davies (1934-2016): ‘An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise’; George MacIlwham, bagpipes; Royal Philharmonic; Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, conductor; Collins 1444

2:00
YourClassical

Alexis Alrich's Marimba Concerto

Alexis Alrich (b. 1955): Marimba Concerto; Evelyn Glennie, marimba; City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong; Jean Thorel, conductor; Naxos 8.574218

2:00
YourClassical

Beethoven's Second on first?

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 2; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony 61835

2:00
YourClassical

Thomson's 'Mother of Us All'

Virgil Thomson (1896-1989): ‘The Mother of Us All’; Santa Fe Opera; Raymond Leppard, conductor; New World 288

2:00
YourClassical

Larsen's 'Lyric' Third

Libby Larsen (b. 1950): Symphony No. 3 (‘Lyric’) London Symphony; Joel Revzen, conductor; Koch 7370

2:00
YourClassical

Debussy's Violin Sonata

Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Violin Sonata; Midori, violin; Robert McDonald, piano; Sony 89699

2:00
YourClassical

Dvorak salutes the flag

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904): ‘The American Flag’; soloists; choirs; Berlin Radio Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; CBS/Sony 60297

2:00
YourClassical

Moog moods by Carlos and Voegeli

J.S. Bach (1685-1750) arr. Carlos: Fugue No. 7, from ‘WTC Book 1’;l Wendy Carlos, Moog synthesizer; Sony 7194 Don Voegeli (1920-2009): ‘All Things Considered’ theme (1974 version); Don Voegeli, Moog synthesizer NPR recording

2:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

About Composers Datebook®

Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.

He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.

About Composers Datebook®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00