Schneider: Symphony No. 16 & Overtures

Featuring

Markus Lukas Frank
Anhaltische Philharmonie
Friedrich Schneider

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Composer Biography

Friedrich Schneider, born in 1786, composed 23 symphonies throughout his life, with 14 of them written by 1810.

Notable Performances

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy conducted a performance of Schneider's A-major Symphony at the Leipzig Gewandhaus on February 20, 1840, which was met with great applause.

Compositional Technique

Schneider's 'Tragic' Overture in C minor allows performers to choose between a 'rauschenden Schluß' (exhilarating conclusion) or a 'leise sich endenden Schluß' (gently ending conclusion).

Performer Biography

Markus L. Frank, the conductor on this album, began his musical career as a horn player and won prizes at several international competitions before studying conducting.

Composition History

Schneider completed his Symphony No. 16 in A major just before starting work on his monumental oratorio Das Weltgericht (The Last Judgment), suggesting he sought a creative respite in classical instrumental music.

Critical Reception

Despite Schneider's prolific output, a contemporary critic, Friedrich Kempe, noted in 1859 that only a small portion of his works, including his symphonies and overtures, were still performed or appreciated.

Historical Context

The Overture on the 'Dessauer Marsch' incorporates a local anthem of Dessau, a melody believed to have been brought from Italy by Prince Leopold I, the 'Alte Dessauer', in the early 18th century.