Hofkapelle Stuttgart, historically the Württemberg Hofkapelle is a German orchestra based in

Stuttgart Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...

which has existed since the 16th century. It was the band of the

House of Württemberg The House of Württemberg is a German dynasty and former royal family from Württemberg. History County The House probably originated in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty. Around 1080 the ancestors of modern Württemberg, which was then called ...

. Since 2002, it is an orchestra founded by

Frieder Bernius Frieder is both a surname and a masculine given name, a variant of Friedrich. People with the name include: Surname: *Armin Frieder (1911–1946), Slovak Neolog rabbi *Bill Frieder (1942), former basketball coach *Katalin Frieder (1915–1991), Hun ...

to play Baroque music in

historically informed performance Historically informed performance (also referred to as period performance, authentic performance, or HIP) is an approach to the performance of Western classical music, classical music, which aims to be faithful to the approach, manner and style of ...

. In 1617 it consisted of 50 "excellent singers" and was affiliated with the royal chamber music ensemble. In 1699, eleven "Kapellknaben" (chapel boys) performed. From 1736 to 1750, the chapel made singers and Kapellknaben available for opera performances, the chapel choir was transformed to the opera choir, while an orchestra took the name Hofkapelle. In 1818,

Johann Nepomuk Hummel Johann Nepomuk Hummel (14 November 177817 October 1837) was an Austrian composer and virtuoso pianist. His music reflects the Transition from Classical to Romantic music, transition from the Classical period (music), Classical to the Romantic ...

introduced subscription concerts, promoting the development of the orchestra to a modern symphony orchestra.

History

The Hofkapelle (

court chapel A court chapel (German: Hofkapelle) is a chapel (building) and/or a chapel as a musical ensemble associated with a royal or noble court. Most of these are royal (court) chapels, but when the ruler of the court is not a king, the more generic "co ...

) of Württemberg was established in 1496 by Duke Eberhard II for the playing of religious music at court. At that time, it was made up by a boys' choir and vocal and musical instrumentalists. In 1498, Eberhard II was deposed by

Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (22 March 1459 – 12 January 1519) was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1508 until his death. He was never crowned by the pope, as the journey to Rome was blocked by the Venetians. He proclaimed himself El ...

at the request of the

Estates of Württemberg The Estates of Württemberg (''Württembergische Landstände'') was the Estates of the Duchy of Württemberg, lasting from 1457 to 1918 except for 1802-15. After the creation of the Kingdom of Württemberg the 1815 reestablished estates became a bi ...

, and the Hofkapelle was suspended. He was replaced as Duke with his nephew,

Ulrich Ulrich (), is a German given name, derived from Old High German ''Uodalrich'', ''Odalric''. It is composed of the elements '' uodal-'' meaning "(noble) heritage" and ''-rich'' meaning "rich, powerful". Attested from the 8th century as the name of Al ...

. Ulrich reestablished the Hofkapelle, but also opened a school for the boys' choir and lavished money on

benefice A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by ...

s for the Hofkapelle's members. This and other extravagant expenditures and Ulrich's methods of supporting them made him extremely unpopular. He was expelled in 1519 by the military might of the

Swabian League The Swabian League (''Schwäbischer Bund'') was a mutual defence and peace keeping association of Imperial State, Imperial Estates – free Imperial cities, prelates, principalities and knights – principally in the territory of the early mediev ...

, who then sold the

Duchy of Württemberg The Duchy of Württemberg (german: Herzogtum Württemberg) was a duchy located in the south-western part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was a member of the Holy Roman Empire from 1495 to 1806. The dukedom's long survival for over three centuries ...

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (Crown of Castile, Castil ...

. The Hofkapelle continued to play at court while the Duchy was controlled by the

House of Habsburg The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

Hofkapelle Stuttgart

In 2002, conductor

founded an orchestra to play Baroque music in

and took the historic name.

Hofkapellmeister

Notable musicians and directors of the Hofkapelle Stuttgart were: * 1552–1554

Sigmund Hemmel Sigmund Hemmel (1520–1565) was a German composer, tenor, and Kapellmeister in Stuttgart, Württemberg. He was said to have used a "large polished slate stone for composing." He was director of the Hofkapelle Stuttgart from 1552 to 1554. He is pe ...

(from 1544 tenor, later until his death in 1565 as composer) * 1572–1589

Ludwig Daser Ludwig Daser (c. 1526 – 27 March 1589) was a German renaissance composer and choirmaster. His career is marked by the Reformation and Counter-Reformation struggles of his time. A noted composer in his day, Daser has been largely overshadowed b ...

* 1589–1594

Balduin Hoyoul Balduin Hoyoul (1547-8 – 26 November 1594) was a Renaissance composer of the Franco-Flemish school. Hoyoul was born in Liège. From the age of 13 he was a discant singer at the Court in Stuttgart under Ludwig Daser. Between 1563 and 1564 he ...

(from 1561 "Diskantist", from 1565 altus and composer) * 1594–1606

Leonhard Lechner Leonhard Lechner (also Leonard, 15539 September 1606) was a German composer, kapellmeister, tenor and music editor who was taught by Orlando de Lassus. He added Athesinus to his signature, referring to his origin in today's South Tyrol. His last ...

(from c. 1585 tenor) * 1621–1637 Basilius Froberger (father of

Johann Jakob Froberger Johann Jakob Froberger ( baptized 19 May 1616 – 7 May 1667) was a German Baroque composer, keyboard virtuoso, and organist. Among the most famous composers of the era, he was influential in developing the musical form of the suite of dances in h ...

) * 1657–1665

Samuel Capricornus Samuel Friedrich Capricornus, born Samuel Friedrich Bockshorn (21 December 1628, in Žerčice near Mladá Boleslav – 10 November 1665, in Stuttgart) was a Czech composer of the Baroque period. Life Capricornus' father was a Protestant minis ...

* 1700v1704

Johann Sigismund Kusser Johann Sigismund Kusser or Cousser (baptized 13 February 1660 – before 17 November 1727) was a composer born in the Kingdom of Hungary who was active in Germany, France, and Ireland. Life The son of Johann Kusser, a Protestant cantor in Press ...

* 1706–1716

Johann Christoph Pez Johann Christoph Pez, also Petz, (9 September 1664 – 25 September 1716) was a German Baroque musician, '' Kapellmeister'', and composer who worked in the courts of the Electorate of Bavaria and Duchy of Württemberg. Life Pez was born in M ...

("Oberkapellmeister") * 1717–1737

Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello (also Bressonelli; ca. 1690, Bologna – 4 October 1758, Stuttgart) was an Italian Baroque composer and violinist. Brescianello's name is mentioned for the first time in a document from 1715 by which Maximilian II ...

* 1738–1744

Johann Daniel Hardt 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" ...

, Oberkapellmeister * 1744–1755

(again) * 1750–1753

Ignaz Holzbauer Ignaz Jakob Holzbauer (18 September 1711 – 7 April 1783) was an Austrian composer of symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music, and a member of the Mannheim school. His aesthetic style is in line with that of the ''Sturm und Drang'' "m ...

, Oberkapellmeister * 1753–1768

Niccolò Jommelli Niccolò Jommelli (; 10 September 1714 – 25 August 1774) was an Italian composer of the Neapolitan School. Along with other composers mainly in the Holy Roman Empire and France, he was responsible for certain operatic reforms including redu ...

(also opera composer for the court) * 1770–1777

Antonio Boroni Antonio Boroni (Rome, 1738 - Rome, 21 December 1792) was an Italian composer.The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians - Volume 3 - Page 63 Stanley Sadie - 1980 In 1761 he had his first comic opera, La moda, performed at Turin (revived Ven ...

* 1779–1781

Ferdinando Mazzanti Ferdinando may refer to: Politics * Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1549–1609) * Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1610–1670) * Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany (1663–1713), eldest son of Cosimo ...

* 1783–1792 Agostino Poli * ?–1796 Johann Georg Distler (1781–1796 at the Hofkapelle, finally as "Kapelldirektor" * 1792–1802 Johann Rudolph Zumsteeg (1781–1791 as cellist) * 1803–1806? Johann Friedrich Kranz * 1806–1808

Justin Heinrich Knecht Justinus or Justin Heinrich Knecht (30 September 1752 – 1 December 1817) was a German composer, organist, and music theorist. Biography He was born in Biberach an der Riss, where he learnt to play the organ, keyboard, violin, and singing. He a ...

* 1807–1812

Franz Danzi Franz Ignaz Danzi (15 June 1763 – 13 April 1826) was a German cellist, composer and conductor, the son of the Italian cellist Innocenz Danzi (1730–1798) and brother of the noted singer Franzeska Danzi. Danzi lived at a significant time in t ...

* 1812–1816

Conradin Kreutzer Conradin Kreutzer or Kreuzer (22 November 1780 – 14 December 1849) was a German composer and conductor. His works include the operas ''Das Nachtlager in Granada'' and incidental music to ''Der Verschwender'', both produced in 1834 in Vienna. ...

* 1816–1818

* 1819–1856

Peter Joseph von Lindpaintner Peter Josef von Lindpaintner (8 December 1791 – 21 August 1856) was a German composer and conductor. Born in Koblenz as the son of a tenor, he studied with Peter Winter and Joseph Graetz. From 1819 onwards he was based in Stuttgart. Some of h ...

* 1851–1861

Friedrich Wilhelm Kücken Friedrich Wilhelm Kücken (16 November 1810 – 3 April 1882) was a German composer and conductor. He was a very prolific composer, mainly known for light and melodious songs, although he has also written works for the stage and for orchestra. Ca ...

* 1861–1867?

Karl Anton Eckert Karl Anton Florian Eckert (17 December 1820 – 14 October 1879) was a German conductor and composer. Life Eckert was born in Berlin. By the age of five, had already proved himself as a musical child prodigy. After coming to the attention of Si ...

* 1865–1898 Karl Doppler * 1867–1888

Johann Joseph Abert Johann Joseph Abert (20 September 1832 – 1 April 1915 in Stuttgart) was a German composer. An ethnic German from the Sudetenland, he is also known in Czech as Jan Josef Abert. Life and career Abert was born in Kochowitz near Gastorf, Bohemia, ...

(1853–1867 as double bassist) * 1888–1891?

Paul Klengel Paul Klengel (13 May 1854 – 24 April 1935) was a German violinist, violist, pianist, conductor, composer, editor and arranger. He was the brother of cellist Julius Klengel. Biography Klengel was born and died in Leipzig, where he studied at t ...

* 1891–1895

Hermann Zumpe Hermann Zumpe (9 April 1850 – 4 September 1903) was a German conductor and composer. Born in Oppach, Saxony, Zumpe grew up in Taubenheim in Sohland an der Spree. He was educated at the teachers' seminary at Bautzen, was a schoolmaster a ...

* 1895–1900

Aloys Obrist Aloys Obrist, also ''Alois Obrist'' (30 March 1867 – 29 June 1910) was a German musicologist, Kapellmeister and conductor. Life Born in Sanremo, Obrist studied music in Weimar and in Berlin where he received his doctorate in musicology in 189 ...

* 1898–1903 Hugo Reichenberger * 1900–1907

Karl Pohlig Karl Pohlig (10 February 1864 – 17 June 1928) was a German Bohemian conductor born in Teplitz, Bohemia, Austrian Empire. He studied cello and piano in Weimar, and later taught piano there. In 1901 in Stuttgart he became the first conductor t ...

* c. 1904? Schinte * 1905–1908? Erich Band * until 1908 Matthäus Pitteroff * 1908–1918

Max von Schillings Max von Schillings (April 19, 1868 – July 24, 1933 in Berlin) was a German conductor, composer and theatre director. He was chief conductor at the Berlin State Opera from 1919 to 1925. Schillings' opera ''Mona Lisa'' (1915) was internationally ...

(

Generalmusikdirektor A music(al) director or director of music is the person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization. This would include the artistic director and usually chief conductor of an orchestra or concert band, the d ...

)

Musicians

Philipp Friedrich Böddecker Philipp Friedrich Böddecker (christened 5 August 1607 in Hagenau - 8 October 1683 in Stuttgart) was a German court organist and composer. While organist at the Stiftskirche he engaged in a bitter dispute with Samuel Capricornus at the Württembe ...

(seit 1639) * Johann Michael Nicolai (1655–1685 violinist) *

Pietro Nardini Pietro Nardini (April 12, 1722 – May 7, 1793) was an Italian composer and violinist, a transitional musician who worked in both the Baroque and Classical era traditions. Life Nardini was born in Livorno and studied music at Livorno, l ...

(1763–1765 concert master) * Josef Rudolf Lewy (1819–1826 hornist and violist) * Wenzel Neukirchner (1829–1889 bassoonist) *

Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (18 or 19 November 17865 June 1826) was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and critic who was one of the first significant composers of the Romantic era. Best known for his opera ...

(1806–1807

artistic director An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre or dance company, who handles the organization's artistic direction. They are generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the ...

) *

Ludwig Abeille Johann Christian Ludwig (Louis) Abeille (20 February 1761 in Bayreuth – 2 March 1838 in Stuttgart) was a German pianist, organist, conductor, music teacher and composer. Life His father was baronial valet and his mother was Christine Louise ...

(from 1802 concert master, 1815 court organist) * Joseph Huber (from 1865 violinist and composer) * Hugo Wehrle, from 1868 for 30 years Musikdirektor, with

Edmund Singer Edmund is a masculine given name or surname in the English language. The name is derived from the Old English elements ''ēad'', meaning "prosperity" or "riches", and ''mund'', meaning "protector". Persons named Edmund include: People Kings and ...

Citations

References

* * * {{Authority control German orchestras Musical groups from Stuttgart