TITLE: Partita in F, opus 57 (1808)
COMPOSER: Franz Krommer (1759-1831)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Franz Krommer (also known as Kramar) was born near Trebic, Bohemia on November 27, 1759. He moved to Vienna and the Hungarian Lands, where he played in groups for the nobility. He was concert master in the Bratislava group of Prince Grassalkovic. In 1795, upon the death of the prince, Krommer's life of service to the Prince ended. For a number of years, he earned his living giving lessons and composing prolifically. In 1815, Franz I of Austria conferred on him the office of Doorkeeper to the Emperor. In 1818, Kozeluch, the conductor and composer of the court's chamber ensembles died, and Krommer succeeded him. It was during this time as composer and conductor in the Prince's court in Vienna, that Kramar's style developed from the Vienna classics and popular Czech folk elements of the time. He composed 5 symphonies, 10 concertos (notable are the oboe and clarinet), much chamber music, and masses. Krommer died in Vienna on January 8, 1831.
MOVEMENTS: Four
PERFORMANCE TIME: 15' 00"
INSTRUMENTATION: 8 Instruments
EDITIONS: Available for Purchase
COMPOSITION SKETCH AND MUSICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Partita in F, opus 57 explores the widened possibilities of the harmonien. The word harmonie simply implies a composition of the sereade-divertimento-partita type specifically written for wind instruments, in this case the court wind band so beloved by the Austrian aristocracy of the late eighteenth century. These groups are comprised of pairs of oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, and an optional contra bassoon part, which is sometimes played by a double bass. Like Mozart, Krommer discovered the secret of writing for these nine instruments as individuals, giving them truly independent lines that could come together in well blended sonorities when used as accompaniment. He composed these lines without slavishly doubling up instruments in unison or octaves as had previously been common practice. He also treated repetitions of the same music with subtle alterations to the part writing and tone colors.
SELECTED RECORDINGS:
| Franz Krommer: Octet-Partita in Bf | Tudor/7001 (1993) |
| Mozart, Beethoven, Krommer and others | ASV/413 (1989) |
| Krommer, Janacek, Seiber and others | ASV/812 (1989) |
| Krommer: Partita in F | Naxos/553498 (1995) |
RELATED WEBSITES:
Krommer Page - http://www.karadar.it/dictionary/index.html
Krommer Biography - http://classical.net/mstrindex.html
Krommer Works Available - http://www.czechmusic.com/store1/~kramar01.html