Jean-Pierre Duport
Encyclopedia
Jean-Pierre Duport was a cellist
of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Along with his brother, Jean-Louis Duport
(also a cellist), he was active in the musical life of France and Germany. Jean-Pierre was the son of a dancing master, and a student of the founder of the French school of cello playing Martin Berteau
(1700?–1771).
He and his brother were acquainted with Beethoven: in February, 1796, Beethoven had left Vienna
for a five-month concert tour which took him to Prague
(accompanied by Prince Lichnowsky
, who had travelled there with Mozart in 1789), Dresden
, Leipzig
, and Berlin
, where he was inspired by the high level and quality of musical activity at the court of King Friedrich Wilhelm II
of Prussia
, at which Jean-Pierre was director of chamber music
. On the Potsdam court, Beethoven's two opus 5 cello sonatas
were composed for him.
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Along with his brother, Jean-Louis Duport
Jean-Louis Duport
Jean-Louis Duport , sometimes known as Duport the Younger to distinguish him from his older brother Jean-Pierre , was a cellist....
(also a cellist), he was active in the musical life of France and Germany. Jean-Pierre was the son of a dancing master, and a student of the founder of the French school of cello playing Martin Berteau
Martin Berteau
Martin Berteau , cellist, cello teacher and composer, is generally regarded as the founder of the French school of cello. He numbered among his pupils Jean-Pierre Duport, "the Elder" ....
(1700?–1771).
He and his brother were acquainted with Beethoven: in February, 1796, Beethoven had left Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
for a five-month concert tour which took him to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
(accompanied by Prince Lichnowsky
Prince Lichnowsky
Lichnowsky -Freiherr und Edler Herr von Woschutz :* Franz Bernhard Lichnowsky, Freiherr und Elder Herr von Woschutz 1664-1747)* Franz Bernhard Lichnowsky, Graf Lichnowsky ...
, who had travelled there with Mozart in 1789), 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....
, Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he was inspired by the high level and quality of musical activity at the court of King Friedrich Wilhelm II
Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, at which Jean-Pierre was director of chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
. On the Potsdam court, Beethoven's two opus 5 cello sonatas
Cello Sonatas No. 1 and No. 2, Opus 5 (Beethoven)
Cello Sonatas No. 1 and No. 2 were written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1796, while he was in Berlin. While there, Beethoven met the King of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm II, an ardent music-lover and keen cellist...
were composed for him.