Christoph Schaffrath
Encyclopedia
Christoph Schaffrath is best known as a musician and composer of classical western music of the late Baroque
to Classical transition era.
in Dresden
, but did not receive this position (Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
was favoured for it). He did serve in the court of the Crown Prince Frederick (Frederick the Great) as a harpsichord
ist in the orchestra. From 1741, however, he was strictly the musician to the King's sister, Amalia
.
As a composer Schaffrath limited himself to instrumental music including symphonies, keyboard pieces, sonatas and concertos. The harpsichord sonatas were almost all fast-slow-fast settings and the opening movements were most often scored in ABA form. Many of the keyboard compositions were simple two-part formulations with the left hand playing the lesser role. Schaffrath's music can be considered transitional pieces which are stylistically galant
between the Baroque and the Classical, characteristically melodious and composed of short phrases using triplets and steady rhythms. He composed counterpoint
well as found in his orchestral music but most of his music lacked an expressive fervor. The majority of his works may now be found in the state library in Berlin.
He composed many types of music. He was most notable for: overtures, symphonies, harpsichord concerti, quartets, trios, duets for a solo instrument and obbligato harpsichord, and sonatas for harpsichord.
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
to Classical transition era.
Career
He applied to be organist at the SophienkircheSophienkirche
The Sophienkirche , Dresden stood on the northeast corner of the Postplatz, in Dresden's old town, before its destruction in 1962 on resolution of the party and government of the GDR...
in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, but did not receive this position (Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach , the second child and eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach, was a German composer and performer...
was favoured for it). He did serve in the court of the Crown Prince Frederick (Frederick the Great) as a harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
ist in the orchestra. From 1741, however, he was strictly the musician to the King's sister, Amalia
Princess Anna Amalia of Prussia
Princess Anna Amalia of Prussia was Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg. She was one of ten surviving children of King Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover.-Background:...
.
As a composer Schaffrath limited himself to instrumental music including symphonies, keyboard pieces, sonatas and concertos. The harpsichord sonatas were almost all fast-slow-fast settings and the opening movements were most often scored in ABA form. Many of the keyboard compositions were simple two-part formulations with the left hand playing the lesser role. Schaffrath's music can be considered transitional pieces which are stylistically galant
Galante music
A new style of classical music, fashionable from the 1720s to the 1770s, was called Galante music. It consciously simplified contrapuntal texture and intense composing techniques that realized a pattern on the page and substituted a clear leading voice with a transparent accompaniment....
between the Baroque and the Classical, characteristically melodious and composed of short phrases using triplets and steady rhythms. He composed counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
well as found in his orchestral music but most of his music lacked an expressive fervor. The majority of his works may now be found in the state library in Berlin.
He composed many types of music. He was most notable for: overtures, symphonies, harpsichord concerti, quartets, trios, duets for a solo instrument and obbligato harpsichord, and sonatas for harpsichord.