By Christian Müller - http://www.portraitindex.de/documents/obj/33203386, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46482621
Johann Wilhelm Hassler (1747 – 1822)
Jane Magrath in her excellent book A Pianist’s Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature’ writes ‘acquaintance of C.P.E. Bach and Mozart, and composer of many teaching pieces for amateurs. Hassler’s works are less highly ornamented than the early teaching pieces of L. Mozart, W.A. Mozart and Haydn’. His style represents a transition between Bach and Beethoven. This was a period of “Sturm and Drang”, highly virtuosic in its expression of feelings and character. Hassler was much influenced by C.P.E. Bach.
Hassler was a German pianist. organist and composer who could be described as a grand-pupil of J.S. Bach. He studied with his uncle Johann Christian Kittel who had been a pupil of Bach’s near the end of his life. Kittel’s first post was as organist at the local church.
Most of his works were published in Russia.
1747 – born 29th March 1747 in Erfurt, Germany.
1762 – appointed organist at his local church. He stayed in this position until 1769.
Hassler’s father died in 1769; he managed the family’s fur business as well as touring, firstly in Germany in the early 1770s and later on in the 1780s and 1790s in other parts of Europe. During these tours he came into contact with many composers such as Franz Benda, Johann Adam Hiller and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. According to an article in the Evening Star of the 3rd July 1943, Hassler studied with Andrea Gabrieli and Claudio Merulo in Italy, these men being pioneers as organ teachers.
1779 Hassler married Barbara Sohpia Kielin on 8th February 1779 at the Evangelishce Kirche in Erfurt. She was one of his pupils.
Birthplace of Johann Wilhelm Hassler. By Giorno2 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31257005
1780 – Hassler opened public winter concerts in Erfurt – his wife appeared there as a singer and choral director.
1789 – Hassler entered an informal keyboard competition with Mozart in Dresden which he lost. Didn’t make much impression on Mozart - Mozart wrote to his wife that he was unimpressed with Hassler’s skills as a contrapuntist and performer.
1790 – 1792 – live in London. Hassler performed piano concertos under Haydn’s direction. Haydn seemed to have a higher opinion of Hassler’s musicianship skills. Before leaving for Russia Haydn conducted a benefit concert for Hassler.
1793 - became court pianist and teacher to Grand Duke Alexander in St Petersburg. In this year he composed a cantata for the Grand Duke’s wedding to Princess Elizabeth. He started a music publishing business in St Petersburg which he gave to his partner when he moved to Moscoe.
1794 (or could have been in 1796) - moved to Moscow where he became a successful teacher, composer and pianist. Hassler influenced many Russian composers.
1822 – died in Moscow 29th March 1822.
Jane Magrath A Pianist’s Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature’ 1995
www. Wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wilhelm_Hassler
www.allmusic.com/artist/johann-wilhelm-hassler-mn0001648673
www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz