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Carl Maria von Weber

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Carl Maria von Weber (1786 to 1826) was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic of the late Classical and early Romantic periods. He was born in Eutin, the eldest child of Franz Anton von Weber and the Viennese singer Genovefa Brenner. His father constantly moved the family around between Hamburg, Salzburg, Freiberg, Augsburg and Vienna. As a result Weber had many teachers, among them Michael Haydn and Georg Joseph Vogler. The aristocratic von was an affectation of his father's.

Music and breakthrough

Weber is known above all for his operas. His most important are Silvana in 1810, Abu Hassan in 1811, Der Freischütz in 1821, Euryanthe in 1823 and Oberon in 1826. Der Freischütz is regarded as one of the most important German operas and made German Romantic opera great. His influence on Marschner, Meyerbeer and Wagner was considerable. He also wrote two symphonies, clarinet concertos, a bassoon concerto, a horn concertino, piano concertos and piano pieces such as Invitation to the Dance. Much of his clarinet music was written for the virtuoso Heinrich Baermann.

Influence

His piano music inspired Mendelssohn, Chopin and Liszt. With operas full of nature, folk tales and supernatural forces, Weber laid the foundation for Romantic music in Germany, a current that still resonates in the twentieth century in music of fairy tales, suspense and landscape.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to the overture to Der Freischütz. Notice the horns that evoke a woodland atmosphere and how the piece alternates between dark tension and light, cheerful melodies.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists