Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

1670

Death

:

April 6, 1748

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

David Kellner was a German composer and lutenist who lived during the Baroque era. He was born in Liebertwolkwitz, near Leipzig, on September 26, 1670. Kellner was the son of a Lutheran pastor, and he grew up in a musical family. His father was a skilled musician who taught him the basics of music theory and composition. Kellner began his musical education at an early age, and he showed a natural talent for the lute. He studied with the renowned lutenist Sylvius Leopold Weiss, who was a close friend of his father. Kellner quickly became one of Weiss's most promising students, and he soon began to compose his own music. In 1698, Kellner was appointed court lutenist to Duke Johann Georg of Saxe-Weissenfels. He held this position for over 30 years, and during this time he composed some of his most famous works. Kellner was a prolific composer, and he wrote music for a variety of instruments, including the lute, harpsichord, and violin. Kellner's music is characterized by its intricate counterpoint and its use of complex harmonies. He was heavily influenced by the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, who was a close friend and colleague. Kellner and Bach often exchanged musical ideas and compositions, and their music shows many similarities. One of Kellner's most famous works is his Suite in C Major for solo lute. This piece is a masterpiece of Baroque lute music, and it showcases Kellner's virtuosic playing and his skill as a composer. The suite consists of six movements, each of which is based on a different dance form. The first movement is a prelude, followed by an allemande, a courante, a sarabande, a minuet, and a gigue. Kellner also wrote several works for the harpsichord, including his Partita in A Minor. This piece is a set of variations on a popular Baroque melody, and it demonstrates Kellner's skill at improvisation and his ability to create complex harmonies. The Partita is a challenging work for any harpsichordist, and it remains a popular piece in the Baroque repertoire. In addition to his instrumental music, Kellner also wrote several vocal works. His most famous vocal composition is his cantata "Mein Leben ist hin," which is a setting of a poem by the German poet Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau. The cantata is a poignant meditation on the transience of life, and it features Kellner's beautiful melodies and his sensitive use of harmony. Despite his many accomplishments as a composer and musician, Kellner's life was not without its difficulties. He suffered from poor health for much of his life, and he was often in financial distress. In 1725, he was forced to sell his entire music collection to pay off his debts. This collection included many of his own compositions, as well as works by other Baroque composers. David Kellner died on April 6, 1748, in Weißenfels, Germany. He was 77 years old. Although he is not as well-known as some of his contemporaries, Kellner's music remains an important part of the Baroque repertoire. His compositions are characterized by their beauty, complexity, and emotional depth, and they continue to inspire musicians and audiences alike.

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