Role

:

Composer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

May 5, 1749

Death

:

July 17, 1794

Period

:

Classical

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Jean-Frédéric Edelmann was a French composer and harpsichordist who lived during the 18th century. He was born on January 28, 1749, in Strasbourg, France, to a family of musicians. His father, Johann Georg Edelmann, was a composer and harpsichordist, and his mother, Marie-Anne-Catherine, was a singer. Jean-Frédéric was the youngest of their six children. Jean-Frédéric showed an early interest in music and began studying the harpsichord with his father at a young age. He also studied composition with Johann Philipp Kirnberger, a student of Johann Sebastian Bach. By the age of 12, Jean-Frédéric was already performing in public, and he soon became known for his virtuosic harpsichord playing. In 1767, at the age of 18, Jean-Frédéric moved to Paris to further his musical studies. He studied with the renowned harpsichordist Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Forqueray and the composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. He also became friends with the composer Christoph Willibald Gluck, who would later influence his own compositions. Jean-Frédéric's first published work was a set of six sonatas for harpsichord, which he dedicated to his father. They were published in 1771 and were well-received by critics. He continued to compose for the harpsichord throughout his career, and his works were known for their technical difficulty and expressive qualities. In addition to his harpsichord compositions, Jean-Frédéric also wrote chamber music, including string quartets and trios. He was particularly interested in the music of the Mannheim school, a group of composers who were known for their innovative use of orchestration and harmony. He incorporated some of their techniques into his own compositions, which were praised for their originality and sophistication. One of Jean-Frédéric's most famous works is his Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D major, which he composed in 1779. It is a virtuosic work that showcases the harpsichord's capabilities, and it was one of the first concertos written specifically for the instrument. The concerto was well-received and was performed throughout Europe. Jean-Frédéric also wrote several operas, although they were not as successful as his instrumental works. His first opera, Les Fausses Apparences, was performed in 1781 but was not well-received. He continued to write operas throughout his career, but they were overshadowed by the works of his contemporaries, such as Gluck and Mozart. Despite his lack of success in the opera world, Jean-Frédéric remained a respected composer and performer. He was appointed harpsichordist to the Duke of Orleans in 1785 and was later appointed to the court of Louis XVI. He also taught music to several notable students, including the composer and pianist Johann Nepomuk Hummel. Jean-Frédéric's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1794 at the age of 45. He had been suffering from tuberculosis for several years and died in Paris. Despite his relatively short career, Jean-Frédéric left behind a significant body of work that continues to be performed and admired today. His compositions are known for their technical brilliance, expressive qualities, and innovative use of harmony and orchestration.

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