Franz Ignaz Danzi, cellist and composer, was born on
June 15, 1763 in Schwetzinger, Germany and died on
April 13, 1826 in Karlsruhe, Germany. His father,
cellist Innozenz Danzi (1730-1798) was one of the
highest paid musicians of the famous Mannheim
Orchestra.
Franz began playing cello with that orchestra in 1778,
eventually succeeding his father in 1783 (in Munich).
In 1807 Franz became Kapellmeister in Stuttgart where
he became good friends with Carl Maria von Weber, 23
years his juni...(+)
Franz Ignaz Danzi, cellist and composer, was born on
June 15, 1763 in Schwetzinger, Germany and died on
April 13, 1826 in Karlsruhe, Germany. His father,
cellist Innozenz Danzi (1730-1798) was one of the
highest paid musicians of the famous Mannheim
Orchestra.
Franz began playing cello with that orchestra in 1778,
eventually succeeding his father in 1783 (in Munich).
In 1807 Franz became Kapellmeister in Stuttgart where
he became good friends with Carl Maria von Weber, 23
years his junior (born 1786 - ironically, Weber died on
June 5, 1826, less than 2 months after Danzi).
Danzi lived at a significant time in the history of
European concert music. His career, spanning the
transition from the late Classical to the early
Romantic styles, coincided with the origin of much of
the music that lives in our concert halls and is
familiar to contemporary classical-music audiences. As
a young man he knew Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whom he
revered; he was a contemporary of Ludwig van Beethoven,
about whom he—like many of his generation—had
strong but mixed feelings; and he was a mentor and
promoter for the young Carl Maria von Weber.
He composed 4 Flute Concertos between 1806 and 1814
including the Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 31 in
1806. In addition, he wrote several chamber works for
the Flute and 9 Woodwind Quintets (Flute, Oboe,
Clarinet, Bassoon and F Horn), a medium he is often
credited with inventing.
Although originally written for Wind Ensemble, I
created this arrangement for Viola and String Quartet
(2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
