Johann Jakob Froberger

Johann Jakob Froberger is a Musicien, Compositeur, organist and Clavecin ist, German, it was born with Stuttgart the May 18th 1616 and died in Héricourt (close to Montbeliard) the May 7th 1667. It occupies a particular place in the European music of its time, having been more than any other in direct contact with the most important national traditions: Italian, French, Germanic, Dutchwoman and English. True organizer of the Continuation of dances, it is counted with the number of the most important German type-setters of the XVIIe century, with regard to the keyboard instruments.

Biography

Wire of a Choirmaster at the court of the Wurtemberg, it makes its studies in its birthplace, then, introduced by the ambassador of Sweden, manages to enter to Vienna to the service of the emperor of Austria Ferdinand III, monarch impassioned of art and music. Very quickly, in 1637, this one grants a leave to him to go in Italy and to perfect there its knowledge near the famous organist of the Basilique Saint-Pierre of Rome, Girolamo Frescobaldi, whose fame is very large in all Europe. Froberger, which is Lutheran of origin converts with the Catholicisme, condition sine qua non to be able to go in the capital of the papacy. This possibility must be regarded as a distinguished favor at the time or the Holy roman Empire struggles in the great difficulties born of the Guerre Thirty Year old.

It spends four years near the Master, being penetrated of his teaching and composing, with its instar, of the uvres in the Italian tradition: canzone, toccate, partite, ricercari, capricci, fantasy. It returns to Vienna of 1641 to 1645, then goes back to Rome or it attends the scientist German Jésuite Athanasius Kircher and probably Carissimi. It passes to Florence, with Mantoue.

It returns again in 1649, but very quickly takes again the road, often in an adventurous and risky way, this time towards the Spanish Netherlands (current Belgium: the archduke Léopold, brother of Ferdinand III is the governor), Brussels, Paris, London… This artist, whose easy and enjoué character seems to be one of qualities, binds friendship with the Dutch scientist Constantijn Huygens, with the Luth the French ists and organist-harpsichordists: Blancrocher, Dufault, Denis Gaultier, Roberday, Louis Couperin, the Richard, etc With their contact, it is initiated with the French manner (the “Style broken”) and with the Suite of dances of which the structure is formalizing itself. In 1652 - one is into full Fronde - a great concert is given in its honor in Paris.

One finds it in Vienna in 1653. It is at this same time as during a passage to Dresden, it takes part in a musical Joute with Matthias Weckmann, which will remain his/her friend and with which he will maintain a followed correspondence.

The death of its guard and friendly Ferdinand III occurs in 1657: this death dismays Froberger which composes on this occasion for the harpsichord remarkable “a lamentation” with the memory of the late one. As of 1658, it leaves Vienna and puts at the service court of Wurtemberg: the Sybilla princess is a friend of childhood, former student of her father, friend of arts and informed musician. He thus becomes professor of harpsichord of his protective, which carries much regard to him and of admiration. He settles with the castle of Héricourt (dependence at that time of Wurtemberg), probably goes on other journeys (he meets Huygens in 1665 with Mainz) and dies suddenly in Héricourt during the Vêpres.

Its work

Its work (primarily in the form of manuscripts) is dedicated to the organ and, especially, the Clavecin. It includes/understands many Italian pipe fittings in a style close to Frescobaldi and several tens of continuations of dances of which some are probably lost (it exists in Vienna two superbly decorated manuscripts, dedicated to the Emperor and titrated “Libro Secundo 1649” and “Libro Quarto 1656”: it misses there, at least, numbers 1 and 3).

It takes an active part in working of the continuation of dances and in its diffusion in Germany. Whereas the manuscripts (not autographs) of Louis Couperin, died in 1661 and the 2 collections of Chambonnières printed in 1670 arrange the parts by kind or without well defined order, the series Froberger are organized: initially three dances with some doubles: German, Current and Saraband, to which the Gigue is added later. This structure becomes the base of the traditional continuation.

If he is not the first European musician to travel: the exchanges are numerous since the Renaissance between the countries of north and Italy in particular, he is the most cosmopolitan musician of the incipient period baroque: the Spain put aside, it was in contact with all the musical middle of its time, it assimilated the styles of them and the forms and its work for the keyboard instruments is a true synthesis of the traditions Italian, French, English, Dutchwoman and Germanic,

Froberger is also a sensitive artist, who “invents” the music with program: many initial parts of its continuations evoke, in their title and their writing, his adventures personal, its states of heart. Jean-Sebastien Bach, inter alia type-setters, had for him a great regard.

Discography

Continuations, toccatas and imaginations for harpsichord by Gustav Leonhardt.
Integral of work for harpsichord by Bob van Asperen.
to pass the melancholy by Bob van Asperen (sacd).
Continuation of harpsichord and Toccatas by Christophe Rousset.
German Music for harpsichord of the type-setters before Bach by Jacques Ogg (Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Froberger Jacob), edition Earth, published integral in December 1990
of work for keyboard (organ and harpsichord) by Richard Egarr, edition Earth - 4 volumes of 2 CD.

"parts of clavecin" by Blandine Verlet edition ASTREE, CD published in 1989
" Froberger or the intranquillité" by Blandine Verlet ASTREE/Naïve edition, CD published in 2000.

parts for the keyboard by Davitt Moroney Dallam Organ - Landevenec. edition Temperaments. CD published in 1996

To listen

Johann J. Froberger: '' Canzon '' (MIDDAY file).

Internal bonds

German Schools of organ

External bonds

musicologie.org Biography, bibliography, discography, partitions

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