Anton Bernhard Fürstenau

Anton Bernhard Fuerstenau ( born October 20, 1792 in Münster, † November 18, 1852 in Dresden ) was one of the most outstanding German flutist of the first half of the 19th century, also a composer.

Life

Anton Bernhard Fuerstenau received from his father, the flautist Kaspar Fuerstenau (1772-1819), first flute lessons. Already the age of seven, he entered first public, and was 12 years old Member of Oldenburgische court orchestra. Joint concert tours with his father led, inter alia, to Berlin, Munich, Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, Vienna, and in 1815 to Prague, where he met Carl Maria von Weber, with whom he was on friendly terms until his death.

1817 Fuerstenau was a member of the Municipal Orchestra in Frankfurt, where he also took composition lessons. In 1819 he joined as principal flute for the court orchestra in Dresden ( which was led by CM von Weber). In addition, he continues toured, so also in 1826 together with the already seriously ill Weber to London, who died there.

Among the many students Fürstenau belonged to his son Maurice Fuerstenau (1824-1889), which he later sent to Munich to Theobald Boehm. Meanwhile, the technical advancements of the flute he was, however, skeptical about life.

Work

Fuerstenau composed and arranged numerous works, mainly for his instrument. Among them are 12 solo concerts and two concertos for two flutes and duets, trios, a quartet for four flutes and compositions for flute and piano. His study works are found today classroom use.

His music is based on that of his contemporaries, notably Carl Maria von Weber. His 8 Flute Concerto " in the form of a vocal scene ," Op 84 of 1830 is formally very similar to the 14 years previously created 8 Violin Concerto " in modo d' una scena cantante " by Louis Spohr.