J.P. Krieger (1649-1725)

[Musicology]

Noted composers of German baroque cantatas were Buxtehude (who wrote around 400), J.S. Bach (around 325), G.P. Telemann (around 1,700 - of which 1,400 survive) and the even more prolific Johann Philip Krieger (1649-1725). Krieger is estimated to have written close to 2,000 of them while employed as Kapellmeister at the Saxon court of Weissenfels - although only 76 still survive. In fact Krieger was recognised to be one of the outstanding German composers of his time and under his direction cultivation of music at the small court at Weissenfels rose to the highest level of German court music. Associated with that small town of Weissenfels were other major composers such as J.D. Heinichen and J.F. Fasch. In fact no other town in Germany had so many important musicians of the 17th and the first half of the 18th, century who have left their musical footprints. And it was in Weissenfels where young G.F. Handel, visiting with his father in the 1690’s was first advised to take a musical career. J.S. Bach himself contributed several major works to the court of Weissenfels on Krieger’s death in 1725 and assisted for a time directing musical organisation of that court amongst his many other duties.

Unusually, the musical court of Weissenfels did not stage Italian operas. Not for dogmatic reasons, but simply because it was decided a text should be understood by those who heard it in musical production. Krieger’s own records show his interest in music of all nations. An interest shared by all who had musical association with that town.

In general Krieger’s music is characterized by forthright melodic structure and simple harmony and rhythms. If his works cannot be compared with Bach’s, they are nevertheless founded on his belief that simplicity has its own value.

J.P. Krieger (1649-1725)
Song
An Die Einsamkeit (c.1700)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhD0JDiKfs4