Gaspard Fritz (18 February 1716 – 23 March 1783) was a Genevan violinist and composer of the pre-classical period. He composed symphonies and

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numb ...

Life

Fritz was born in

Geneva Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...

where his father had moved in 1709 where he "taught to play the violin and other musical instruments". In addition to the training undoubtedly followed with his father, the child continued his studies with

Giovanni Battista Somis Giovanni Battista Somis (December 25, 1686 – August 14, 1763) was an Italian violinist and composer of the Baroque music era. He studied under Arcangelo Corelli between 1703 and 1706 or 1707. He was later appointed solo violinist to the ...

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

. At the age of twenty, he returned to Geneva and married in April 1737. He only undertook a Parisian tour which turned out to be a failure (1756). In 1759, he played for

Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his ''Pen name, nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his ...

. Fritz's fame outside Geneva is confirmed by correspondence or by the writings of

Charles Burney Charles Burney (7 April 1726 – 12 April 1814) was an English music historian, composer and musician. He was the father of the writers Frances Burney and Sarah Burney, of the explorer James Burney, and of Charles Burney, a classicist a ...

(''États de la musique en France et en Italie'', London 1773) following his trip to Switzerland in 1770. It is known that

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...

met the composer and that

Locatelli Locatelli is a Lombard surname. Geographical distribution As of 2014, 66.7% of all known bearers of the surname ''Locatelli'' were residents of Italy (frequency 1:1,705), 15.9% of Brazil (1:24,007), 9.5% of France (1:13,015), 2.7% of Argentina (1: ...

loved the works of the Genevan. Fritz, within a

Calvinist Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...

society which did not promote the concert or secular opera, found in the common rooms, "The Common Room of Geneva", societies which brought together the community of English origin in Geneva by special authorisation as early as 1738, a space for private expression where instrumental and lyrical music was produced and appreciated. Around 1737 until his death at the age of 67 in Geneva, he worked as a violinist and taught the instrument and music. Between 1742 and 1772, Fritz's success is confirmed by the publication of six opuses in Paris and London, reprints as well as counterfeit editions.

Compositions

* Concerto a 5, violino principale, 2 violini, alto, basso (ca. 1740) * Sei sonate a quatro stromenti, opus 1 (pub. Walsh, London 1741) # - in C major # - in Bb major # - in A major # - in G major # in

F major F major (or the key of F) is a major scale based on F, with the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat. Its relative minor is D minor and its parallel minor is F minor F minor is a minor scale based on F, consis ...

# in

A major A major (or the key of A) is a major scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has three sharps. Its relative minor is F-sharp minor and its parallel minor is A minor. The key of A major is the only k ...

* VI Sonata a violino o flauto traverso solo col basso, opus 2 # in

C major C major (or the key of C) is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and ...

- Allegro, Largo, Vivace # in D major - Adagio, Allegro, Aria # in A major - Largo, Vivace, Largo, Presto # in E minor - Andante, Allegro, Grazioso # in D major - Andante, Allegro, Vivace # in

G major G major (or the key of G) is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp. Its relative minor is E minor and its parallel minor is G minor. The G major scale is: Notable compositi ...

- Andante, Allegro, Minuetto * Sei sonate a violino solo e basso, opus 3 (ca.1755) * Sei sonate a due violini e basso, opus 4 * Sei sinfonie a piu strumenti, opus 6 (ca. 1770) # - # - # In G major # - # in F major # in G minor * Symphonie N° 1 (

Hermann Scherchen Hermann Scherchen (21 June 1891 – 12 June 1966) was a German conductor. Life Scherchen was born in Berlin. Originally a violist, he played among the violas of the Bluthner Orchestra of Berlin while still in his teens. He conducted in Riga ...

publisher, 1940) * Harpsichord Concerto (pub. ''Feuille d'Avis de Genève'' 1774) * Violin Concerto in E major (manuscript)Possession of the University of Michigan Library Collection.) # Allegro # Adagio # Allegro

Modern editions

* Gaspard Fritz, ''Œuvres complètes''. Xavier Bouvier (ed.) and Anna Jelmorini and Pascale Darmsteter, series "Musiques à Genève", Université-Conservatoire de musique, 1994–

Recordings

* Sonates pour flûte, opus 2 - Claire Genewein, flute ; Nicoleta Paraschivescu, harpsichord ; Maya Amrein, violoncello continuo (2008, Guild 1834706) * Sonates pour violon, opus 3 - Plamena Nikitassova, violin ;

Jörg-Andreas Bötticher Jörg-Andreas Bötticher (born 1964) is a German harpsichordist, organist and musicologist. Life Bötticher was born in Berlin. After several years of music lessons and experience as a keyboarder in a band in his youth, he studied at the Schola ...

, harpsichord ; Maya Amrein, violoncello (2013, Pan Classics PC10295) * Concerto pour violon ; Symphonie n°1 - Jens Lohmann, violin ; English Chamber Orchestra, dir.

Howard Griffiths Howard Griffiths may refer to: *Howard Griffiths (conductor) (born 1950), British conductor *Howard Griffiths (scientist), British plant scientist *Howard Griffiths (presenter), British television presenter *Howard Griffiths (screenwriter) (1935– ...

(1993, Novalis 150 099-2) * Sinfonias -

La Stagione Frankfurt La Stagione Frankfurt is a German ensemble of Baroque and classical music, adept at historically informed performance. History The ensemble La Stagione Frankfurt was founded in 1988 by the German flautist and conductor Michael SchneiderBookl ...

, dir. Michael Schneider (March 2011,

CPO CPO may refer to: Occupations * Certified Professional Organizer * Certified Protection Officer, a professional certification for security officers from the International Foundation for Protection Officers * Chief people officer, a corporate of ...

777 696-2)

References

Bibliography

* *

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fritz, Gaspard 1716 births 1783 deaths 18th-century classical composers 18th-century classical violinists Musicians from the Republic of Geneva Music educators