Pfeiffer's works are only incompletely preserved, making it difficult to fully understand his reaction to new developments in instrumental music from Dresden and Berlin.
Composer Biography
Pfeiffer later became Kapellmeister in Bayreuth, where he gave composition lessons to Wilhelmine, the sister of Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich, who composed the opera Argenore.
Recording & Production
This album is a co-production with the Bayerischer Rundfunk, Studio Franken, and was recorded in September 2009 at Historischer Reitstadel, Neumarkt, Germany.
Composer Biography
Johann Pfeiffer, the composer, was born in Nuremberg in 1697 and studied law in Leipzig and Halle before becoming a violinist in the service of Duke Ernst August von Sachsen-Weimar.
Composer Biography
Pfeiffer became concertmaster of the court orchestra in Weimar in 1726, making him an indirect successor to Johann Sebastian Bach, who had previously held the position.
Historical Context
The appointment and dismissal of court musicians like Pfeiffer depended on the ruler's interest in music and their financial means, reflecting a characteristic aspect of German court life in the 18th century.
Performer Biography
The Batzdorfer Hofkapelle, the ensemble performing on this album, was founded in 1993 and is known for its rediscovery of unfamiliar repertoire, particularly 18th-century Dresden opera, oratorio, and orchestral music.
