Synopsis
For most music lovers, the towering genius of Johann Sebastian Bach far overshadows all but a handful of other Baroque composers. But in his own time, there were many other composers far more famous than Bach.
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 vacant post of Dresden court composer because, to his ears, no one could possibly be as good as Heinichen.
The great 18th century music historian Charles Burney, impressed by Heinichen’s skill at colorful instrumentation, called him “the Rameau of Germany.” In 1739, ten years after Heinichen’s death, 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 of World War II. In 1993, a recording of some of Heinichen’s Grand Concertos performed by Musica Antiqua of Cologne 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, conductor; 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, 46, in Dresden
1763 - French flutist and composer Jacques-Martin Hotteterre, 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
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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.
