Joseph Schmitt Six String Trios, Op.11

Presents

Joseph Schmitt

Soundbites

Joseph Schmitt was born in the German town of Gernsheim not far from the city of Darmstadt. He studied composition with Carl Friedrich Abel, who was a student of Johann Sebastian Bach. He is also thought to have worked with the Stamitzes in Mannheim. In 1753, at the age 19, Schmitt was admitted into the clergy. For a period of around 20 years, he worked as a musical priest, composing in a wide range of styles from sacred to secular, from chamber music to symphonies. In the early 1770s, Schmitt moved to Amsterdam where he became the music director at the leading Dutch music organization, the Felix Meritis Society. He also opened his own publishing firm which introduced major works by composers such as Mozart to northern Europe for the first time. In his various roles, Schmitt became the most important figure in Dutch musical life in the second half of the 18th century.

As a composer, contemporary critics described Schmitt's works as beautifully crafted. They noted that his style was sparkling and cosmopolitan. It was definitely influenced by Abel, Bach's sons, and the Mannheimers, but it also possesses a highly refreshing originality and a distinctive voice, balancing elegance, energy and Sturm und Drang elements. The opus 11 trios were composed around 1778 and published by his own firm in Amsterdam. They were dedicated to one Laurent Chretien Steen, a minister of justice in the high court at the Norwegian capitial, Christiana. (later Oslow). What is particularly interesting about this set is the way in which they were published. Three of the trios are for the combination of violin, viola and cello (Nos.1,3 and 5) and three are for 2 violins and cello (Nos. 2, 4 and 6), which was at the time still the predominant format for a string trio. Normally, each combination would have been published as a separate set and not together as they are here. One assumes that Steen, to whom the trios are dedicated, probably asked six trios in two different combinations. The trios follow no set format such as fast-slow-fast. Some start adagio, four are in three movements, the other two in two movements. For our soundbites, we have chosen Op.11 No.3 in G Major. It opens with a genial and substantial Andante espressivo, which in tempo and mood is closer to an allegretto. The middle movement is a leisurely, singing Adagio. The finale, a lively, bumptious Allegro scherzando, is a showcase of Schmitt's compositional talent. Note that the part-writing for all of the voices is very good.It is certainly fair to say that these trios are the equal to any of Haydn's from the same period.

We have reprinted the original 1778 Schmitt edition and while it does not look like a those works published starting in the 19th centuries, it is nonetheless easy to read and in no way is hard to perform. It is a pleasant works, good enough for concert as well as home music makers.

Parts: $24.95

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