Composers Datebook

Johann David Heinichen


Listen Later

Synopsis

For most music lovers, the towering genius of Johann Sebastian Bach far overshadows all but a handful of other Baroque composers. But in his own time, there were many other composers far more famous than Bach.

Take the case of Johann David Heinichen, who was buried in Dresden on today’s date in 1729. At the time, his royal patron, August the Strong of Saxony, made no attempt to fill the vacant post of Dresden court composer because, to his ears, no one could possibly be as good as Heinichen.

The great 18th century music historian Charles Burney, impressed by Heinichen’s skill at colorful instrumentation, called him “the Rameau of Germany,” and in 1739, ten years after Heinichen’s death, another contemporary music historian coined the phrase "the three H's” to describe the importance of Hasse, Handel, and Heinichen” to 18th century German music.

During most of the 19th century, Heinichen’s music lay forgotten in a Dresden Library. Miraculously, these scores survived the Dresden fire-bombing of World War II. In 1993, a recording of some of Heinichen’s “Grand Concertos” performed by Musica Antiqua of Cologne won – belatedly – several awards and some renewed attention for the long-neglected Johann David Heinichen.

Music Played in Today's Program

Johann David Heinichen (1683 – 1729): Concerto in C (Musica Antiqua of Cologne; Reinhard Goebel, cond.) Archiv 437 549

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Composers DatebookBy American Public Media

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

10 ratings


More shows like Composers Datebook

View all
PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show by Washington Week

PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show

1,344 Listeners

The Book Review by The New York Times

The Book Review

3,902 Listeners

New Classical Tracks with Julie Amacher by American Public Media

New Classical Tracks with Julie Amacher

177 Listeners

Piano Puzzler by American Public Media

Piano Puzzler

500 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,676 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,151 Listeners

Marketplace Tech by Marketplace

Marketplace Tech

73 Listeners

Piano Puzzler by American Public Media

Piano Puzzler

38 Listeners

Gramophone Classical Music Podcast by Gramophone

Gramophone Classical Music Podcast

58 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,482 Listeners

YourClassical Daily Download by American Public Media

YourClassical Daily Download

234 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,717 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

111,044 Listeners

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast by Joshua Weilerstein

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

2,084 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

55,842 Listeners

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond by Pushkin Industries

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

4,127 Listeners

Short Wave by NPR

Short Wave

6,243 Listeners