Johann Ernst Altenburg
Johann Ernst Altenburg ( born June 15, 1734 White Rock, † May 14 1801 in Bitterfeld ) was a German composer, organist and trumpeter.
Life
His father, Johann Kaspar Altenburg (1688-1761), worked from 1709 as a field trumpeter under Prince Johann Adolf of Saxe- Weissenfels and from 1711 as a court trumpeter for his brother, Duke Christian of Saxe- Weissenfels, at the residence, Schloss Neu - Augustus castle in Weissenfels. Here Johann Ernst Altenburg was born on June 15, 1734 to the world. After the death of Duke Christian in 1736 and probably influenced by this event Kaspar Altenburg took his first two year old son Johann Ernst formally in teaching. At the age of 18 years, Johann Ernst Altenburg was formal acquittal as a trumpeter. A job as such he could never find. After more than two years organ studies with Theodor Römhild and Johann Christoph Altnikol he went to self-reported " nine years in a foreign land ." Some of these years, he is likely to have " attended " the Seven Years War, which forms the uncertain biographical framework for a possible short-time exercise of professional trumpet player. In 1766 he returned to White Rock, where he " helped bring in consideration of the practical concluded with " claims to Georg Friedrich Lingke in the publication of his paper the seats of the musica metallic main sets (Leipzig 1766 ). About Merseburg and Landsberg near Halle, where he briefly worked as an organist in each case, he went in 1767 to Bitterfeld and got his position in life here as an organist, in which he remained until his death in 1801, although it was little adequate. During this time he gained a dubious reputation as the " wild organist " whose inappropriate behavior resulted in repeated lawsuits and 1792 in a - culminated indictment for high treason - but later dropped.
Work
As a composer he is known by six harpsichord sonatas. Music achieved historic importance Altenburg through his writing attempt at a guide to heroic and musical trumpeters and drummers Art, Halle 1795., It can be regarded as the oldest printed German Trumpet method and is especially considered the most important testimony of the old trumpeter Art. At press time, large parts of the text should already have been about 25 years old. An announcement of the work appeared in Johann Adam Hiller's musical messages already in 1770, the earliest known mention of the manuscript can be found in a letter Altenburgs February 1767th
Altenburg summed up the entire "knowledge " of his time on the history of trumpeter Art together - albeit on a through personal impact embossed, interpretive manner. He used at least 118 works of at least 104 names are known and nine other anonymous authors. However, the cited literature he treated primarily general - historical, religious and legal items. According away is Altenburgs work of today's notions of an instrumental school. Considerable space is a representation of the trumpeter story that turns out on closer analysis as a back-projection of Altenburg's ideal image of the trumpet player level in the society on the history. Altenburg constructed an unbroken tradition of trumpeter Art of Old Testament times ( sons of Aaron ) to His presence and derives the right to a higher social status from the trumpeter.
In this work, some small compositions are published, but whose authorship is largely unknown, as on page 103 Bicinium ( little duet ) for 2 Trumpets Clarin; on page 105 for a Bourrée 2 Clarin Trumpets; on page 105 Tricinium (Trio ) in the form of a Polonaise; on page 107 and 108 Quatrizinium (Quartet ) Allegro moderato and on page 110 of the chorale from bottom of my heart for 3 Clarin Trumpets, 1 Principal trumpet and timpani. In the appendix of his work he published even a Concerto a VII Clarini con tympani. A small Fuga for 2 Trumpets Clarin on page 104 is from Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber Salzburg pressure Sonatae, Tam Aris, quam Aulis servientes from 1676, so a century ago Altenburg.