Ernst Dietrich Adolph Eichner
rnesto Eichner(born 15 February 1740 in
Arolsen
Bad Arolsen (, until 1997 Arolsen, ''Bad'' being the German name for ''Spa'') is a small town in northern Hesse, Germany, in Waldeck-Frankenberg district. From 1655 until 1918 it served as the residence town of the Princes of Waldeck-Pyrmont and t ...
, died early 1777 in
Potsdam
Potsdam () is the capital and, with around 183,000 inhabitants, largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...
) was a German
bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuo ...
ist and composer.
Biography
Eichner was born to Johann Andreas Eichner (1694–1768), a court musician to the court of
Waldeck. His father provided him with his primary musical education. He became widely known as a virtuoso
bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuo ...
ist throughout Europe as a result. In 1762 he entered into the service of Duke Christian IV of Zweibrücken as a violinist. In 1768, he became the concertmaster of the Zweibrücken court orchestra, where he remained until 1772. He was highly respected by his contemporaries and achieved international recognition as an accomplished composer, bassoonist, and concertmaster during his lifetime. Eichner, however, died young and was quickly forgotten. To musicologists, he is known as a representative of the
Mannheim School. His 31 symphonies and 20 concertos comprise the main body of his works, but he also composed chamber music including Six Flute Quartets op. 4. In 1772 his compositions were published almost simultaneously in
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 ...
,
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 ...
, and
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
.
Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart
Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart (24 March 1739 – 10 October 1791), was a German poet, organist, composer, and journalist. He was repeatedly punished for his social-critical writing and spent ten years in severe conditions in jail.
Life
Bor ...
praised Eichner's works in 1784 for their gracious charm and "melting sweetness". His Harp Concerto in D Major op. 9 (movements: Allegro, Andante, and Tempo di Minoetto) is performed to this day. His daughter was composer
Adelheid Maria Eichner
Adelheid Maria Eichner (1762–1787) was a German composer, singer and pianist who was noted during her brief lifetime for her fine three-octave singing voice and vocal technique. She was the only child of bassoonist and composer Ernst Eichner an ...
.
Awards
*1772: Second prize in a symphony competition
Selected works
;Orchestral
*Six Symphonies op. 1 (1770)
*Trois Symphonies à huit parties op. 5 (1772)
*Trois Symphonies à huit parties obligées op. 6 (1772)
*Six Symphonies à huit parties obligées op. 7 (1772)
*Six Symphonies à huit parties op. 10 (1775)
*Six Symphonies à grand orchestre op. 11 (1776)
;Concertante
*Concerto no. 1 for oboe and orchestra in B flat major (1764)
*Concerto no. 2 for oboe and orchestra in D major (1770)
*Concerto no. 1 for harp/piano and orchestra in C major (1771), also printed as Concerto for harpsichord and orchestra op. 6 (1777)
*Concerto no. 2 for harp/piano and orchestra in D major op. 9 (1771)
*Concerto no. 1 for bassoon and orchestra in C major (c.1771)
*Concerto no. 3 for oboe and orchestra in C major (1772)
*Concerto no. 2 for bassoon and orchestra in C major (1772)
*Concerto no. 3 for bassoon and orchestra in C major (1778)
*Concerto no. 4 for oboe and orchestra in B flat major (c.1779)
*Concerto no. 4 for bassoon and orchestra in E flat major (1781)
*Concerto no. 5 for bassoon and orchestra in B flat major (1782)
*Concerto no. 6 for bassoon and orchestra in D major (1783)
;Chamber music
*''Sechs Quartette'' (6 Quartets) for flute, violin, viola and cello op. 4
*''Sechs Duette'' (6 Duets) for violin and viola op. 10
*''Sechs Quartette'' (6 Quartets) for violin, viola, cello and double bass op. 12
Recordings
*Sonata in C minor for harpsichord (from op. 9), performed by Rainer Kussmaul, on: RBM 463 193, CD (2001).
*Six Flute Quartets op. 4, performed by Jan de Winne (flute), Ensemble Il Gardelino, on: Accent ACC 24183, CD (2006).
*Oboe Concerto no. 3 in C major, performed by Kurt Meier (oboe), Northern Sinfonia, Howard Griffiths (cond.), on: Pan Classics PAN 510 088, CD (2007).
*Harp Concertos op. 6 and 9; performed by
Silke Aichhorn (harp), Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester, Stefan Fraas (cond.), on
cpo 777 835-2, CD (2013).
External links
*
Ernst Eichnerin the catalog of the German Music Archive
in the catalog of the
German National Library
The German National Library (DNB; german: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek) is the central archival library and national bibliographic centre for the Federal Republic of Germany. It is one of the largest libraries in the world. Its task is to colle ...
Review (in German) of 2006 CD by Ensemble Il Gardellinoon ''Klassik heute''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eichner, Ernst
1740 births
1777 deaths
18th-century classical composers
German Classical-period composers
Composers for harp
German classical bassoonists
German male classical composers
String quartet composers
18th-century German composers
18th-century German male musicians