Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel
Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel ( born December 3, 1750 in Würzburg, † October 21, 1817 ) was a German pianist and composer.
Life
Sterkel studied theology from 1768 and worked as an organist during which the Collegiate Neumünster, where he was vicar in 1778. Because of his compositions Sterkel was the Elector and Archbishop of Mainz, Friedrich Karl Joseph von Erthal appointed court musician. After a trip to Italy (1779-1782) Sterkel was finally appointed in 1785 as a canon to Mainz, in 1793 he succeeded the appointed Vincenzo Righini to Berlin as Kapellmeister of the elector. After Erthals death in 1802 Sterkel headed for Prince and Archbishop Karl Theodor von Dalberg, the court music in Aschaffenburg. As this 1814 his secular rule, the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt lost, Sterkel returned to Würzburg, where he died three years later.
On September 3, 1791 the young Ludwig van Beethoven traveled to a gig in Mergentheim to Aschaffenburg, a summer residence of the Electors to visit the famous pianist as Sterkel. It is narrated that Beethoven by Sterkel game was impressed and it is believed that his style has influenced some of the early piano works of Beethoven. Conversely, Beethoven not only been shown to Sterkel surprise able to play its Righini variations, but spontaneously improvise more variations in a similar style. On February 11, 1811 Carl Maria von Weber visited the " famous Sterkel " in Aschaffenburg.
Title
- Capitular of Liebfrauenstift to Mainz
- Electoral Main hissers Hofkapelan
- Kapellmeister of the Elector - Archbishop of Mainz
- Head of the Grand Ducal court music in Aschaffenburg
- Royal. Bayer. Kapellmeister
- Music school director in Aschaffenburg
Work
Sterkel published an opera ( Farnace, 1782 ), ten symphonies, two orchestral overtures, and various chamber music, sacred music and German - and Italian -language vocal music. He also leaves a large piano work to two and four hands. Sterkel factory owns today but not in recordings still in the concert business appreciable presence.