Johann Carl Friedrich Rellstab
Encyclopedia
Johann Carl Friedrich Rellstab (27 February 1759 – 19 August 1813) was a German composer, writer, music publisher, and critic living in Berlin
. Rellstab was a very influential figure in Berlin's musical life
. In his youth he studied keyboard with Johann Friedrich Agricola
and composition with Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch. He planned to continue his education with Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
in Hamburg, when in 1779 he had to take over the printing business of his father. Given his interest in music, Rellstab changed the focus of the business towards music and added a music lending library (in 1783) and a music publishing branch to the firm (ca. 1785). Later on, Rellstab also made instruments and sold other music supplies.
Rellstab's compositions include a Te Deum, a mass, numerous cantatas, lieder, and a singspiel
, Die Apotheke, among other works.
His son Ludwig Rellstab
(1799–1860) was also a music critic and a poet; some of whose verses were set by Franz Schubert
in his Schwanengesang
. Rellstab’s eldest daughter, Caroline Rellstab (1793–1813), was a singer noted for her extraordinary range extending to f‴. She sang at Breslau from 1811, and was particularly well known for her role as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
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...
. Rellstab was a very influential figure in Berlin's musical life
Music in Berlin
Throughout its history, Berlin was a musical center in North Germany. First as an important trading city in the Hanseatic League, then as the capital of the electorate of Brandenburg and the Prussian Kingdom, later on as one of the biggest cities in Germany it fostered an influential music culture...
. In his youth he studied keyboard with Johann Friedrich Agricola
Johann Friedrich Agricola
Johann Friedrich Agricola was a German composer, organist, singer, pedagogue, and writer on music. He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Flavio Anicio Olibrio.-Biography:...
and composition with Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch. He planned to continue his education with Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
right|250pxCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and second son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach...
in Hamburg, when in 1779 he had to take over the printing business of his father. Given his interest in music, Rellstab changed the focus of the business towards music and added a music lending library (in 1783) and a music publishing branch to the firm (ca. 1785). Later on, Rellstab also made instruments and sold other music supplies.
Rellstab's compositions include a Te Deum, a mass, numerous cantatas, lieder, and a singspiel
Singspiel
A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...
, Die Apotheke, among other works.
His son Ludwig Rellstab
Ludwig Rellstab
Heinrich Friedrich Ludwig Rellstab was a German poet and music critic. He was born and died in Berlin. He was the son of the music publisher and composer Johann Carl Friedrich Rellstab....
(1799–1860) was also a music critic and a poet; some of whose verses were set by Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
in his Schwanengesang
Schwanengesang
Schwanengesang is the title of a posthumous collection of songs by Franz Schubert.Unlike the earlier Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, it uses poems by three poets, Ludwig Rellstab , Heinrich Heine and Johann Gabriel Seidl . Schwanengesang has the number D 957 in the Deutsch catalogue...
. Rellstab’s eldest daughter, Caroline Rellstab (1793–1813), was a singer noted for her extraordinary range extending to f‴. She sang at Breslau from 1811, and was particularly well known for her role as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.