Franz Hoffmeister

(1754-1812)

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Franz Anton Hoffmeister was born at Rothenburg am Neckar, near Tübingen, in 1754. He migrated to Vienna in 1768,initially as a law student although his interests quickly turned to music. Very little is known about this period in his life, though it is possible that he had some lessons with the composer and theorist Johann Georg Albrechtsberger (1736–1809), who was later to teach the young Beethoven. By 1778 Hoffmeister had published his first symphonies (including the ones in E major and D major recorded here), and had been appointed Kapellmeister by the Hungarian Count Franz von Szécsényi. A few years later, however, he was back in Vienna, although he evidently remained on good terms with the Count, to whom he dedicated his Op. 11 string quartets in 1784.

It was at about this time that Hoffmeister began his activities as a music publisher. He started in a modest way with anannouncement in the Wiener Zeitung on 24 January 1784 that he would in future be printing and distributing all his own music, starting with a collection of German songs. A few months later he had several more of his works for sale, including a symphony, two keyboard sonatas and the Op. 11 quartets, as well as music by Johann Baptist Vanhal (1739–1813). In August 1785 Hoffmeister launched an ambitious venture. He took a two-page advertisement in the Wiener Zeitung, announcing several subscription series with music by Haydn, Mozart, Vanhal, Albrechtsberger and Pleyel as well as himself and others.

Hoffmeister was on friendly terms with Mozart and was the first publisher of a number of his works, including the Piano Quartet in G minor, KV 478, and the 'Hoffmeister’ Quartet, KV 499 – and also lent him a little money on one occasion in 1785. Having commuted between Leipzig and Vienna for several years, Hoffmeister retired from business in 1805 and settled once more in Vienna, where he died on 9 February 1812.

As a composer, Hoffmeister was a wellrespected figure in his day, with a large and varied output of music, from keyboard and chamber works to operas, symphonies and concertos – including those rarities, concertos for viola and for double-bass. Shortly after his death his achievements were summed up by the musical lexicographer Ernst Ludwig Gerber (1746–1819):
If one casts an eye over his many and varied works, one has to admire this artist’s industry and versatility. But if one considers how much he has served art through most of these compositions, both in respect of the musical pleasure he has given in the most varied genres, and in regard to the enrichment and advancement of instrumental music, especially through the richness of ideas in his large and brilliant symphonies, his beautiful works for concertante instruments, and his teaching pieces, variations, caprices and the like, which are as pleasant as they are instructive, one will remember this unassuming man, who used his rare talents to such good purpose, with grateful respect.

The three symphonies on this CD provide an excellent introduction to the music of Hoffmeister, and suggest that the time may be ripe for a reappraisal of his output.

from notes by Richard Maunder