Johann Gottlieb Graun Ludwig Christian Hesse And the Concertos for Viola da gamba and Strings

Johann Gottlieb Graun (1702/3 - 1771) began his musical studies at the famous Kreuzschule in Dresden. Subsequently he acquired his legendary prowess on the violin from two of the most excellent teachers of the time: the Vivaldi disciple, Johann Georg Pisendel in Dresden and Giuseppe Tartini in Padova. Very early in his career, during his service as concertmaster in Merseburg, Graun got acquainted with Johann Christian Hertel (1697-1754), an outstanding viola da gamba virtuoso; they remained friends throughout their lives, corresponding frequently. This may be the reason for Graun's apparent knowledge of the technical possibilities of the viol: his compositions for this instrument - not less than 22 large-scale works are extant - bear witness to this. Frederick II summoned Johann Gottlieb Graun as concertmaster - and with a handsome salary - in 1732 to his orchestra in Ruppin, later in Potsdam: indeed, Graun was the first musician to be appointed by His Majesty, which shows the high esteem this virtuoso enjoyed even at this early date. In 1766 Johann Adam Hiller wrote the following: The concertmaster's great strength on the violin and his excellence in composition are universally known. In both these fields he had much to thank the tutelage of the famous Mr. Johann Georg Pisendel, the former concertmaster of the Prince Elector of Saxony in Dresden. He had also seen Italy and had got acquainted with the playing style of the famous Tartini directly from the master, although he considered it inappropriate to incorporate (into his own playing) the personal aspects of Tartini's art. The compositions of Mr. Graun consist of unusually fiery concertos for one and two violins, of double concertos for other instruments; of concertos for violoncello, viola da gamba, etc., of very many magnificent symphonies , some with many concertante instruments, and of several overtures, of beautiful trios an quartets for divers instruments, of many solos and also a few cantatas, etc. Graun composed at least 8 concertos for the viola da gamba, which would most certainly have never been written, had it not been for the presence of a highly gifted musical personality at the court, namely, the excellent violist da gamba, Ludwig Christian Hesse (1716-1772). Hiller (1766) apparently knew him, too: As musicians in the service of his Highness, the Prince of Prussia are: Mr. Christian Ludwig Hesse, Viola da gambist, from Darmstadt: the son of the formerly so famous violist da gamba and subsequently Chancellor of War, Mr. Hesse from Darmstadt, and his wife, formerly a famous singer of the German Theatre. The technical accomplishment, the exactness and the fire in performance which Mr. Hesse possesses to such a high degree make him in our times indisputably the greatest violist da gamba in Europe- Not just J. G. Graun, but also, among others, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Christoph Schaffrath, Franz Benda, and Janitsch dedicated a not inconsiderable number of demanding compositions to this singular virtuoso. We must be thankful for this, because it is a fascinating repertoire, despite the difficulties for most players. Nevertheless a certain challenge is to be found in them, which can be commended to every gifted violists da gamba today. May it soon come to an unleashing and dissemination of this musical heritage.

Other concertos with viola da gamba: Giuseppe Tartini - Concerto in D-major viola da gamba and strings and two horns Giuseppe Tartini - Concerto in A-Major for viola da gamba and strings G. Ph. Telemann - Suite concertante in D-major for viola da gamba and strings G. Ph. Telemann - Concerto in A-major for viola da gamba and strings G. Ph. Telemann - Concerto in a-minor for flauto dolce, viola da gamba and strings G. Ph. Telemann - Sinfonia F-Major for flauto dolce, viola da gamba and strings (winds ad lib.) Johann Pfeiffer - Concerto in A-Major for viola da gamba and strings Johann Gottlieb Graun - 8 Concertos for viola da gamba and strings Johann Gottlieb Graun - Concerto for violin, viola da gamba and strings Carl Heinrich Graun - Concerto for violin, flute, viola da gamba, violoncello and strings Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto for violin, viola da gamba and strings