Franz Xaver Hammer

Franz Xaver Hammer called Marteau (* 1741 in Oettingen, † October 11, 1817 in Ludwigslust ) was a German viol player, cellist and composer.

He worked from 1771 to 1778 under Joseph Haydn as a cellist in the Esterházy court orchestra in Eisenstadt and Esterházy Castle. Probably Haydn composed three of his concertos for cello and orchestra for him. Hammer high starting salary of 100 ducats and 30 cruisers was increased several times, suggesting an extraordinary reputation as an instrumentalist. XXI In Concert of the Vienna premiere of Haydn's oratorio Il ritorno di Tobia Hob: 2 ( 1775) played hammer a private cello concert. 1776 to 1813 he was a member of the Vienna Composers Societät.

After his commitment to the Esterházy hammer was at a salary of 800 florins musicians of the Chapel of the Cardinal Joseph Graf Batthyány in Bratislava. He also appeared as a soloist of his own works in public concerts. In 1784 he went short in the court chapel of the Counts of Bentheim- Tecklenburg to Steinfurt. The following year, he was accepted at a pay of 500 rix-dollars in the chapel of the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz I on Mecklenburg -Schwerin 's farm to Ludwig 's content. As in the service of the Esterházy he was regarded as a virtuoso. He frequently appeared as a soloist at court concerts. He has toured, inter alia, to Prague and to the Brandenburg court at Berlin. Hammer was one of the most important gamba and cello virtuosos of his time. In 1813 he retired from the court chapel.

From Hammer Sonatas for viola da gamba, viola d' amore and cello are obtained with basso continuo, in addition also in handwritten collections practice pieces and concertos for cello or viola da gamba and orchestra.