Johann Baptist Krall

Johann Baptist Krall (1803—4 May 1883) was an Austrian composer, conductor, music editor/arranger, and member of the board of directors of the Wiener Singverein of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde.

Early life

Beethoven's funeral procession. Watercolour by Franz Stöber, 1827.

He was a pupil of the organist and composer de:Joseph Preindl (1756-1823), who succeeded Johann Albrechtsberger as Domkapellmeister at St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna in 1809;^[1] Krall was also a pupil of Preindl's successor Ignaz von Seyfried.^[2] An Offertory of Krall's was sung in Vienna in 1825.^[1] Johann Krall was probably not the same Krall who was a dedicatee of the two Concertant Duos for two Violins, Op. 9, by Louis Spohr.^[3][4]

Krall was a torchbearer (Fackelträger) aged c.23 in Beethoven's funeral procession on 29 March 1826, in which his teacher von Seyfried held one of the cords attached to the pall covering Beethoven's coffin.^[5]

Concerts at the Piarist church

The Piarist Church, Vienna

In early 1845, Krall was the chorus director of the Music Society of the Piarist Church, Vienna ('Piaristenkirche Musikverein').^[6] The church (finished 1758) dedicated to Maria Treu (Faithful Maria) has a long-standing musical tradition because of its excellent acoustics: the Piarists, the oldest Catholic educational order, had commissioned Haydn's Missa in tempore belli, first performed there in 1796. A church musical society ('Musikverein') was first established there in 1828 by Baron Joseph von Blumenthal, who was also the Chordirektor. The high cost of the productions (copying of parts etc.) led to its disbanding in 1834.^[7]

A second society founded in 1844 had 200 subscribing members.^[7] Krall, as Chordirektor, began with brisk activity and conducted a number of performances. Haydn's Theresienmesse was performed on 1 January 1845, as well as Tantum ergo of Herr Winter, Vias Tuas Domine from de:Joseph Preindl, Krall's teacher, and the Gradual and the duet for tenor and bass Domine exaudi (Psalm 101/102) by Diabelli.^[8] The production was certified a "brilliant performance", the soprano solo in the Graduale perceived as "very nice", only an Offertorium of Diabelli inserted into the Haydn Mass was perceived as "inappropriate".^[9] On Easter Sunday, 27 April 1848, the Mass in F minor by Bernhard Molique was given. Also sung were an Alleluja by Albrechtsberger and Alma Dei by Hummel.^[10]

On 19 January 1845 the service was sung to Mozart's Mass in C with Misericordias Domini, K.222 by Mozart as the Offertorium, and on 26 January 1845, Preindl's C major Mass, Op. 7. On 2 February 1845 Haydn's G major Mass (St. Nicholas) (Hob.XXII:6)^[11] was performed along with Krall's own Tantum ergo and Offertorium for bass voice and solo violin.^[6] The first performance of Schubert's Mass in G major took place on 9 February 1845, with Schubert's brother Ferdinand at the organ.^[12]

On 30 November 1845, the Mass in G Major by Krall was performed under his leadership. A review of the performance called it a melodically very rich, truly ecclesiastical work. The four-part solo Et incarnatus was very wittily conceived, the Benedictus had interesting harmonic effects, the Agnus Dei offered surprising modulations; only the Osanna was not so successful and not adapted to the Church's attitude. Krall's own Tantum ergo and Asperges me by Ferdinand Kloß rounded off the Mass.^[13]

Beethoven's Mass in C major, Op. 86, and the Laudate from his oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives was given on 21 November 1847.^[14]

Re-internment of Beethoven and Schubert

Krall became a member of the board of directors of the Wiener Singverein in 1858.^[15] In 1863, at the instigation of Krall and Joseph Hellmesberger, Sr., the board of directors of the Gesellschaft der Musik decided to exhume the graves of Schubert and Beethoven in order to prevent further decomposition and at the same time to establish their resting places in a “worthy manner”. On Friday morning, 23 October 1863, the remains of both composers were reburied in newly constructed vaults in the Währing Cemetery.^[16]

In February 1867 Krall received the Musikverein's gold service cross from the Duke of Coburg (of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry).^[17] Krall was made an Honorary Member of the Vienna Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in 1880.

He died in Vienna.^[18]

Works

• Piano sonata (or piano trio). A Selected Sonata for the Piano Forte...with Accompaniments for a Violin & Bass.... by J. B. Krall. London: Napier, n.d. ^{[19][n 1]}
• Viennese dances for flute (1827) - in a collection published in Vienna by Diabelli & Co., 50 Beliebte Wienertänze für eine Flöte: (first collection) by Josef Lanner, Johann Strauss, Johann Krall, and Franz Schubert.^[20]
• Mass in G minor (1826).^[21][1] Performed in 1845.^{[n 2]}
• Song for voice and piano, Erster Verlust (1828). Words by Goethe,^[22] Published by Artaria in Vienna.^{[23][n 3][n 4]}
• Tantum ergo (performed 1845)^[6]
• Offertorium for bass voice and solo violin (performed 1845)^[6]
• Ave Maria for two voices and organ (1877).^[24]
• Song for voice and piano, Geistliches Lied. Words by Christoph Georg Ludwig Meister.^{[n 5]} Included in a collection entitled Huldigung der Tonsetzer Wiens an Elisabeth Kaiserin von Österreich (Homage from the composers of Vienna to Elisabeth Queen of Austria (Vienna, 1854).^[25]

Arrangements

Works by Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Krall made a number of arrangements for solo piano of works by Schumann; they were all published in 1868 and 1869.^[26]

• Op. 56, Studies in the Form of Canons for Organ or Pedal piano (Etuden in kanonischer Form für Orgel oder Pedalklavier) (1845)
• Op. 58, Sketches for Organ or Pedal piano (1845)^[27]
• Op. 61, Symphony No. 2 in C (1845–46)^[28]
• Op. 70, Adagio and Allegro for Horn and piano (1849)
• Op. 73, Fantasy Pieces for Clarinet and Piano (or violin or cello) and Piano (1849)
• Op. 88, Fantasiestücke for piano trio (1842)
• Op. 94, Three Romances for Oboe and Piano (1849)
• Op. 97, Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Rhenish or Cologne (1850)^[29]
• Op. 105, Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor (1851)
• Op. 113, Märchenbilder for piano and viola (1851)

Works by others

• Anton Rubinstein. Viola Sonata, Op.49, arranged for cello and piano by J. B. Krall. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, n.d.[1892]. Plate V.A.1388.^[30]
• Alexander Mackenzie. Six Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 37. Benedictus (No. 3), arranged for cello and piano by J. B. Krall.^[31]

Scores owned by Krall

• Schumann, Robert: Drei Gesänge, Op. 31 [1860]. 3rd edition in English, with corrections in red pencil by Krall, who may have been preparing a new English edition...?)^[32]
• Ferdinand Hiller: Piano Concerto, op. 54, piano part only (Hiller was the dedicatee of the Schumann piano concerto). Extensively marked up in red crayon, most probably in Krall's hand, possibly for use as a conductor's score; gives dates of composition as 1841, and 1845 for the second movement.^[26]
• Carl Debrois von Bruyk:^[33] Ballade vom Haideknaben Op. 122, No. 1, text by Friedrich Hebbel (1813-1863), for declamation with piano accompaniment. Leipzig: Senff (Pl.Nr. 92) [1853].^[34]

Family

• Family: A certain Krall, London merchant, was his son, whose daughter married Gilbert Young/Holzschuher? director of a machinery factory in Chelmsford; he was the son of Luise Young, Austrian opera singer.^{[n 6]}

• J. B. Krall was perhaps not related to the soprano Frau Janner-Krall, fromn the Dresdener Royal Theatre c. 1867.^[35]

References

Notes

1. William Napier (c1740-1812), viola player and music publisher in the Strand. Highfill, P. H. et. al. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians ..., Volume 14, p. 122.
2. "Am 30.11.1845 wurde die Messe in G-Dur von Johann Krall unter seiner Leitung aufgeführt." (Krüger 2013, pp. 62)
3. Erster Verlust was also set by Schubert, Arleen Auger sings the third & fourth lines in one breath, like what Goethe did actually write.
4. Also set by Robert Schumann without words, in Album für die Jugend, Op.68 no. 16.
5. Christoph Meister (b. 1738), German priest and poet. "Meister, Christoph Georg Ludwig". Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Vol. 21. [Online edition]. Deutsche Biographie.de. 1885. pp. 253–254. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
6. Young, Luise. Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich. Band: 59 ( 1890), ab Seite: 58 (in German). Luise Young's son Gilbert was married to a daughter of the London merchant (unnamed) Krall, a son of the late church musician J. B. Krall (d. 1880) in Vienna. Translation of Young, Luise (German Wikisource): Gustav Young (qv)'s stepsister Luise (born 1825), the youngest sister of Eduard, Friedrich and Joseph Young, was dedicated to singing, made a big singing European tour on many big stages (as in Milan, Barcelona etc.), then went to America, settled in 1870 in New York, where he founded an opera school which she still manages. She also - since her singing voice subsided on the route Philadelphia-San Francisco - chats about Schiller, Goethe, Heine. et al. She was married twice, once with a Herr Kapp, under which Italian-sounding name Kappiani she performed as a singer; the other time she married Herr Holzschuher. This marriage produced two children: a daughter Leopoldine, married to EH Mildmay, official at the British consulate in Milan, and Gilbert (see above).

Citations

1. "Wien. 1826.". Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung (in German) 3 (19): 151. 10 May 1826.
2. "Seyfried, Ignaz Ritter von". (In German) Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich, Vol. 34, p. 176. German Wikisource.
3. 2 Concertant Duos for 2 Violins, Op.9 (Spohr, Louis) at IMSLP
4. e.g. (Brown 2006, pp. 48-9) and other websites mention Krall (or, adventurously, J. B. Krall). The Spohr pieces were likely written in c1808 when Johann B. Krall would have been only around five years old, and the dedication apparently does not refer to the same person.
5. Burnham 2000, p. 266.
6. Krüger 2013, pp. 62-3.
7. Krüger 2013, pp. 61.
8. Diabelli's Domine exaudi performed on Youtube
9. Krüger 2013, pp. 61, citing Allgemeiner Weiner musicalische Zeitung, 1845 p. 22
10. The concert was elaborately reviewed (in German) in the Allgemeiner Weiner musikalische Zeitung, 1845 p. 22, cited in Krüger 2013, pp. 61
11. Mass in G major, Hob.XXII:6 Score at IMSLP.
12. Krüger 2013, pp. 63.
13. Krüger 2013, pp. 65.
14. Krüger 2013, pp. 66.
15. Böhm 1908, Appendix, p. 93, pdf 303.
16. Meredith 2005, pp. 4-5.
17. "Nachrichten.". Süddeutsche Musik-Zeitung, 16. Jahrgang (4): 20b. 4 February 1867.. On the same news page were also announced:
    • The death of Verdi's father aged 80 in Busseto;
    • Hans Bronsart von Schellendorf's appointment as general manager of the Royal Hoftheater in Hannover;
    • and that Rittmeister Prince Thurn und Taxis until then Adjutant of the King of Bavaria, wished to resign his commission and marry the actress Fonteline.
18. "Nécrologie.". Revue et gazette musicale de Paris. 31 May 1883. "A Vienne, le 4 mai, à l'age de 80 ans, Johann B. Krall compositeur de musique religieuse."
19. Spicher, Karen (2009). "Series I. General Music and Books About Music". Guide to the Hanover Royal Music Archive OSB MSS 146. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection. Yale University Library. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
20. "Search result". Catologo del Servizio Bibliotecario Nazionale (in Italian). OPAC SBN. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
21. "Miscellen.". Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung (in German) (5). 1 February 1826.
22. Goethe, Johann von. "Erster Verlust". gedichte-lyrik-poesie.de. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
23. "Nachricten. Wien.". Allgemeine Musikzeitung (in German) (Leipzig) 2 (31): 248. 12 April 1828.
24. "Kirchenmusik.". Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (Leipzig) 73: 266, col.2. 1877. A short review of the work says that it achieves its ends in a highly pleasant and kindly way ("in höchst gemütlicher und Liebenswürdiger Weise), like Papa Haydn's work of the same name [Hoboken XXIII:a1] ... "The well-intentioned duet will meet find favour in the limited minds of believers, anyway."
25. "Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich". Werkverzeichnis DTÖ (in German). DTÖ. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
26. Catalogue No. 73 - Robert Schumann (PDF). J & J Lubrano Music Antiquarians. April 2015. pp. 34–35. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
27. Schumann, R.: Skizzen für den Pedal-Flügel Op. 58, für das Pianoforte allein eingerichtet von J. B. Krall. Lepzig, Fr. Kistner (PN 3390) [1869]. Source: Catalogue from antbo - antiquarische bücher online. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
28. Robert Schumann: Zweite Sinfonie für großes Orchester. Op. 61. Zweihändiger Clavierauszug von J. B. Krall. Leipzig, F. Whistling (VerlagsNr. 659), 55p. Source: Voerster, Catalogue No. 27. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
29. "Rhenish" in Champlin, J. D., Jr.; Apthorp, W. F. (eds.), Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians, Vol. III: NAAMAN— ZWILLINGSBRUDER (1890), p. 212. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
30. "Viola Sonata, Op.49 (Rubinstein, Anton)". IMSLP. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
31. Score of Benedictus (No.3) at IMSLP
32. "Das vorliegende Exemplar stammt aus dem Besitz von Bernhard Krall(??), der einge Werke Schumanns bearbeitet hatte(??) Bookseller's catalogue
33. Book by von Bruyk - Die Entwickelung der Klaviermusik von J. Seb. Bach bis Robert Schumann. See de:Sammlung musikalischer Vorträge
34. With extensive entries by Krall, possibly preparing an English edition. Bookseller's catalogue, retrieved 25 October 2015.
35. Süddeutsche Musik-Zeitung, 16. Jahrgang. 8 April 1867, p. 56

Sources

• Brown, Clive (2006). Louis Spohr: A Critical Biography. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521029056.
• Burnham, Scott G. (2000). Steinberg, Michael P., ed. Beethoven and His World. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691070735.
• Böhm, August (1908). Geschichte des Singvereines der Gesellschaft der musikfreunde in Wien : festschrift zum fünfzigjährigen Singvereins-jubiläum (in German).
• Krüger, Peter (2013). Katholische Kirchenmusik in Wien von 1815 bis 1848 im Spiegel der Wiener Press ((M. Phil. thesis)) (in German). Vienna: University of Vienna. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
• Meredith, William (2005). "The history of Beethoven's skull fragments". The Beethoven Journal 20 (1 & 2). Retrieved 25 October 2015.