August Stephan Alexander Klengel (29 June 1783,

Dresden Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth larg ...

22 November 1852, Dresden) was a German pianist, organist and composer.

Biography

Klengel was the son of

landscape painter Landscape painting, also known as landscape art, is the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, especially where the main subject is a wide view—with its elements arranged into a coherent compos ...

. He showed an early talent for music, and studied piano under (among others)

Johann Peter Milchmeyer Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name '' Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning "Yahweh is Gracious ...

(1750–1813). In 1803,

Muzio Clementi Muzio Filippo Vincenzo Francesco Saverio Clementi (23 January 1752 – 10 March 1832) was an Italian composer, virtuoso pianist, pedagogue, conductor, music publisher, editor, and piano manufacturer, who was mostly active in England. Encourag ...

, a renowned teacher, visited Dresden. He accepted Klengel as pupil, and took him with him on his travels. In 1805, they went together with

Ludwig Berger Ludwig Berger may refer to: * Ludwig Berger (composer) (1777–1839), German composer * Ludwig Berger (director) Ludwig Berger (born Ludwig Bamberger; 6 January 1892 – 18 May 1969) was a German-Jewish film director, screenwriter and theat ...

St Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

. Clementi next travelled to London, but Klengel remained in St Petersburg until 1811, giving piano lessons. He next moved to

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

in 1812; in 1814, he returned to Dresden; in 1815, he visited

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, where the

Philharmonic Society The Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) is a British music society, formed in 1813. Its original purpose was to promote performances of instrumental music in London. Many composers and performers have taken part in its concerts. It is now a membe ...

commissioned him to write a piece, and he wrote for them his Piano Quintet (for piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass). In 1816, he was appointed court composer to the

King of Saxony This article lists dukes, electors, and kings ruling over different territories named Saxony from the beginning of the Saxon Duchy in the 6th century to the end of the German monarchies in 1918. The electors of Saxony from John the Steadfast on ...

(at the time, Frederick Augustus I), in Dresden. Except for brief visits to Paris and

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

, he remained in that city for the rest of his life. His ''Canons and Fugues for Piano, in All the Major and Minor Keys'' were first published in 1854, after his death. In them, Klengel attempted to synthesise the lessons he had drawn both from

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

and from Clementi. (In his text-book ''Applied Counterpoint'', page 287,

Percy Goetschius Percy Goetschius (August 10, 1853 – October 29, 1943) was an American music theorist and teacher who won international fame in the teaching of composition. Career Goetschius was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He was encouraged by Ureli Corelli ...

recommends analysis of Klengel's Canons and Fugues.)

Compositions

These include: * ''Canons and Fugues for Piano, in All the Major and Minor Keys'' (1854) * Fantasy for piano four hands, Op. 31 * ''Grande Polonaise Concertante'' for piano, flute, clarinet and strings, Op. 35 * Piano Concertos, Op. 4 and 15/29Catalog description of the manuscript of the 2nd concerto
dedicated to

Johann Baptist Cramer Johann (sometimes John) Baptist Cramer (24 February 1771 – 16 April 1858) was an English pianist, composer and music publisher of German origin. He was the son of Wilhelm Cramer, a famous London violinist and conductor, one of a numerous family ...

, at the Austrian National Library, Vienna. The first concerto, in B, can be found in instrumental parts at IMSLP. The concerto was published a
Op.15
by Peters (and as Op.29 as well, ca.1823 - see the comments to Op.4's IMSLP.) * Piano Sonatas, Op. 1, 2 and 9 * Piano Trio, Op. 36

References

External links

* *
august-klengel.8sf.de: First- and complete Recording of the 120 Canons and Fugues (Avantcoureure, Canons & Fugues Vol.1-2)
and a German Essay by Steffen Fahl

Discography

* Romance in A major op.6, Anna Petrova-Forster, piano (Toccata Classics, TOCC 0417, 2018) * Fantaisie sur un thème russe op.23, Anna Petrova-Forster, piano (Toccata Classics, TOCC 0417, 2018) * 3 Romances sentimentales de caractère mélancolique op.34, Anna Petrova-Forster, piano (Toccata Classics, TOCC 0417, 2018) * Air suisse avec variations op.32 for piano and violin, Anna Petrova-Forster, piano, Keiko Yamaguchi, violin (Toccata Classics, TOCC 0417, 2018) * 6 Nocturnes op.23, Anna Petrova-Forster, piano (Toccata Classics, TOCC 0417, 2018) * Grand Trio Concertant op.36, Trio Klengel (Keiko Yamaguchi, Stefania Verità, Anna Petrova-Forster, Toccata Classics, TOCC 0417, 2018) {{DEFAULTSORT:Klempel, August Alexander 1783 births 1852 deaths Musicians from Dresden German classical composers German male classical composers German classical pianists Male classical pianists German classical organists German male organists 19th-century organists Music in Dresden German pianists German male pianists 19th-century German male musicians Male classical organists

Biography

Compositions

References

Further reading

External links

Discography