J C Cannabich Flute Quintets

 

Christian Cannabich

(1731~1798/독일)

 

 

 Flute Quintets

             

 

Cannabich and Mozart

Cannabich and Mozart met several times over a period of twenty years. The second time was in the winter and spring of 1777-78, when Mozart was on his ill-fated journey, first to Mannheim and thence to Paris. Accompanied by his mother (the father had to stay behind to earn the money for this costly venture), Mozart had left Salzburg looking for wealth and fame — and above all a position with one of the many German princes. That mother and son interrupted their journey in Mannheim for a longer stay was not surprising. I

 

n the late 18th century, Mannheim had the best and most famous orchestra in all of Europe. Excellent musicians and gifted composers (many of them from Bohemia), a strict and relentless drill, and a sumptuous budget from the elector of the Electorate of the Palatinate, had turned what formerly had been just one of many princely chapels into a mighty and smoothly-running ensemble. Ladies reportedly fainted when the Mannheimers unleashed their roaring crescendo — just one of many orchestral devices that was invented there.

 

Mozart himself praised the orchestra on numerous occasions, here in a letter written to his father:

"I must now tell you about the music here. on Saturday, All-Saints' day, I attended high mass. The orchestra is very good and numerous. on each side ten or eleven violins, four tenors, two hautboys, two flutes, and two clarionets, two corni, four violoncellos, four bassoons, and four double basses, besides trumpets and kettle-drums. This should give fine music - ..