Jan Dismas Zelenka's music was largely unknown during his lifetime, with a contemporary lexicon dedicating only four brief lines to him as a member of the Dresden Hofkapelle, not as a composer.
Composer Biography
Jan Dismas Zelenka, born in Bohemia, studied with Johann Fux, whose book Gradus ad Parnassum was a foundational text for counterpoint treatises until the 20th century.
Compositional Technique
Jan Dismas Zelenka's Six Sonatas often add an extra bass voice, effectively turning the trio into a quartet by combining sonata form with the Venetian concerto.
Cultural Impact
The Six Sonatas by Jan Dismas Zelenka were instrumental in rediscovering his work, which had been largely forgotten for over two centuries.
Composition History
It is plausible that Jan Dismas Zelenka sought advice from Dresden Court Orchestra oboists François le Riche and Johann Christian Richter, to whom these sonatas may have been dedicated.
Compositional Technique
The virtuosity in Jan Dismas Zelenka's writing for these sonatas demands a very high level of technical skill from the oboe and bassoon, pushing beyond conventional limits.
Compositional Technique
In these sonatas, Jan Dismas Zelenka uniquely combines the Sonata da chiesa form, popularized by Arcangelo Corelli, with the instrumentation of two oboes and bassoon from French opera.
