Leopold Hofmann (August 14, 1738 – March 17, 1793) was an Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

n composer of classical music.

Biography

Hofmann was the son of a highly-educated civil servant, and at the age of seven became a chorister

Choir

A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...

 in the chapel of the Empress Elisabeth Christine

Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary; and Archduchess of Austria by her marriage to Emperor Charles VI. She was renowned for her delicate beauty and also for being the mother of Empress...

, where his choral director and teacher was very likely František Tůma

František Tuma

František Ignác Antonín Tůma was an important Czech composer of the Baroque era...

.

He was also a student later on of Georg Christoph Wagenseil

Georg Christoph Wagenseil

Georg Christoph Wagenseil was an Austrian composer.He was born in Vienna, and became a favorite pupil of the Vienna court'sKapellmeister, Johann Joseph Fux. Wagenseil himself composed for the...

. His studies included at various points violin, harpsichord and composition.

In 1758 Hofmann secured what may have been his first appointment, as "musicus" at St. Michael's. He is known to have become choral director at St. Peter's Church in 1764 and, in 1766, kapellmeister

Kapellmeister

Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...

. In 1769 he became a teacher to the royal family.

The position of Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of St. Stephan, a post he acquired in 1772, was among his next responsibilities. At this time he declined the directorship of the Imperial Chapel, but did apply there two years later in 1774, failing in his application. (Giuseppe Bonno

Giuseppe Bonno

Giuseppe Bonno was an Austrian composer of Italian origin....

 became director of the Imperial Chapel instead, which had become open upon the death of Florian Leopold Gassmann

Florian Leopold Gassmann

Florian Leopold Gassmann was a German-speaking Bohemian opera composer of the transitional period between the baroque and classical eras. He was one of the principal composers of dramma giocoso immediately before Mozart....

.)

On the 9th of May 1791, at his own request, Mozart was appointed assistant-Kapellmeister to Hofmann, an unpaid position. At the time Hofmann was ill and Mozart anticipated becoming Kapellmeister upon Hofmann's death. However, Hofmann survived Mozart and kept his post as Cathedral Kapellmeister until he died.

Symphonies

The following list was drawn up by George Cook Kimball in his Ph.D. thesis.

Kimball A 1 \ Symphony in A major

Kimball A 2 \ Symphony in A major

Kimball A 3 \ Symphony in A major

Kimball A 4 \ Symphony in A major

Kimball A 5 \ Symphony in A major

Kimball A 6 \ Symphony in A major

Kimball A 7 \ Symphony in A major (lost)

Kimball A 8 \ Symphony in A major

Kimball A 9 \ Symphony in A major (lost)

Kimball B 1 \ Symphony in B flat major

Kimball B 2 \ Symphony in B flat major

Kimball B 3 \ Symphony in B flat major

Kimball B 4 \ Sinfonia pastorella in B flat major

Kimball B 5 \ Symphony in B flat major

Kimball B 6 \ Symphony in B flat major

Kimball B 7 \ Symphony in B flat major (lost)

Kimball B 8 \ Symphony in B flat major (lost)

Kimball C 1 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C 2 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C 3 \ Symphony in C major (lost)

Kimball C 4 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C 5 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C 6 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C 7 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C 8 \ Symphony in C major (lost)

Kimball C 9 \ Symphony in C major (lost)

Kimball C10 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C11 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C12 \ Sinfonia pastorella in C major

Kimball C13 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C14 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C15 \ Symphony in C major

Kimball C16 \ Symphony in C major (lost)

Kimball C17 \ Symphony in C major (lost)

Kimball D 1 \ Sinfonia pastorella in D major

Kimball d 1 \ Symphony in D minor (lost)

Kimball D 2 \ Symphony in D major

Kimball D 3 \ Symphony in D major

Kimball D 4 \ Symphony in D major

Kimball D 5 \ Symphony in D major

Kimball D 6 \ Symphony in D major

Kimball D 7 \ Symphony in D major

Kimball D 8 \ Symphony in D major

Kimball D 9 \ Symphony in D major

Kimball D10 \ Symphony in D major

Kimball Es 1 \ Symphony in E flat major

Kimball Es 2 \ Symphony in E flat major

Kimball Es 3 \ Symphony in E flat major

Kimball Es 4 \ Symphony in E flat major

Kimball Es 5 \ Symphony in E flat major

Kimball Es 6 \ Symphony in E flat major

Kimball Es 7 \ Symphony in E flat major (lost)

Kimball Es 8 \ Symphony in E flat major

Kimball F 1 \ Symphony in F major (lost)

Kimball F 2 \ Symphony in F major (lost)

Kimball F 3 \ Symphony in F major

Kimball F 4 \ Symphony in F major

Kimball F 5 \ Symphony in F major

Kimball F 5 \ Symphony in F major

Kimball F 7 \ Symphony in F major

Kimball F 8 \ Symphony in F major

Kimball G 1 \ Symphony in G major (lost)

Kimball g 1 \ Symphony in G minor (lost)

Kimball G 2 \ Symphony in G major

Kimball G 3 \ Symphony in G major

Kimball G 4 \ Sinfonia pastorella in G major

Kimball G 5 \ Symphony in G major

Concertos

The following list was drawn up by Allan Badley in his Ph.D. thesis.

Badley I:A 1 \ Harpsichord Concerto in A major

Badley I:B 1 \ Harpsichord Concerto in B flat major

Badley I:C 1 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C 2 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C 3 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C 4 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C 5 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C 6 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C 7 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C 8 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C 9 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C10 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C11 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C12 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C13 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C14 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major

Badley I:C15 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major (lost)

Badley I:C16 \ Harpsichord Concerto in C major (lost)

Badley I:D 1 \ Harpsichord Concerto in D major

Badley I:D 2 \ Harpsichord Concerto in D major

Badley I:F 1 \ Harpsichord Concerto in F major

Badley I:F 2 \ Harpsichord Concerto in F major

Badley I:F 3 \ Harpsichord Concerto in F major

Badley I:F 4 \ Harpsichord Concerto in F major

Badley I:F 5 \ Harpsichord Concerto in F major

Badley I:F 6 \ Harpsichord Concerto in F major

Badley II:A1 \ Flute Concerto in A major

Badley II:A2 \ Flute Concerto in A major

Badley II:D1 \ Flute Concerto in D major (attributed to Joseph Haydn Hob. VIIf:1)

Badley II:D2 \ Flute Concrto in D major

Badley II:D3 \ Flute Concrto in D major

Badley II:D4 \ Flute Concerto in D major

Badley II:D5 \ Flute Concerto in D major

Badley II:D6 \ Flute Concrto in D major

Badley II:e1 \ Flute Conceto in E minor

Badley II:G1 \ Flute Concerto in G major

Badley II:G2 \ Flute Concro in G major

Badley II:G3te Concerto inG major

Badley II:G4 \ Flute Concto i G major

Badley III:C1 \ Oboe Concrto in C major

Badley III:C3 \ Oboe Concebr />
Badley III:d1 \ Oboe Concerto in D minor

Badley III:F1 \ Oboe Conerto in F major

Badley III:G1 \ Oboe Concerto in G major

Badley V:C1 \ Cello Concerto in C major

Badley V:C2 \ Cello Concerto in C major

Badley V:C3 \ Cello Concerto in C major

Badley V:C4 \ Cello Concerto in C major (lost)

Badley V:D1 \ Cello Concerto in D major

Badley V:D2 \ Cello Concerto in D major

Badley V:D3 \ Cello Concerto in D major

Badley V:D4 \ Cello Concerto in D major (lost)

Badley VI:A1 \ Violin Concerto in A major

Badley VI:A2 \ Violin Concerto in A major

Badley VI:B1 \ Violin Concerto in B flat major

Badley VI:B2 \ Violin Concerto in B flat major

Badley VI:B3 \ Violin Concerto in B flat major (lost)

Badley VI:C1 \ Violin Concerto in C major

Badley VI:C2 \ Violin Concerto in C major (lost)

Badley VI:D1 \ Violin Concerto in D major

Badley VI:G1 \ Violin Concerto in G major (lost)

Badley VII:C1 \ Concerto for oboe & harpsichord in C major

Badley VII:C2 \ Concerto for 2 harpsichords in C major

Badley VII:F1 \ Concerto for oboe & harpsichord in F major

Badley VII:G1 \ Concerto for violin & cello in G major

Badley VII:G2 \ Concerto for flute & harpsichord in G major

Badley VIII:A1 \ Concertino for violin, viola & cello in A major

Badley VIII:A2 \ Concertino for harpsichord, flute, violin & cello in A major

Badley VIII:B1 \ Concertino for 2 violins, viola & cello in B flat major

Badley VIII:C1 \ Concertino for cello & 2 oboes in C major

Badley VIII:C2 \ Concertino for violin, viola & cello in C major

Badley VIII:C3 \ Concertino for harpsichord in C major

Badley VIII:C4 \ Concertino for 2 oboes in C major

Badley VIII:C5 \ Concertino for viola & cello in C major (lost)

Badley VIII:C6 \ Divertimento for harpsichord in C major

Badley VIII:D1 \ Concertino for 2 violins, viola & cello in D major

Badley VIII:D2 \ Cassatio in D major

Badley VIII:D3 \ Concertino for 2 flutes in D major

Badley VIII:D4 \ Concertino for viola & cello in D major (lost)

Badley VIII:D5 \ Concertino for violin & cello in D major (lost)

Badley VIII:E1 \ Concertino for violin & cello in E major

Badley VIII:Es1 \ Concertino for violin, viola & cello in E flat major

Badley VIII:Es2 \ Concertino for 2 violas & cello in E flat major

Badley VIII:F1 \ Concertino for 2 violins, viola & cello in F major

Badley VIII:F2 \ Concertino for harpsichord in F major

Badley VIII:F3 \ Concertino for violin, viola & cello in F major

Badley VIII:G1 \ Concertino for harpsichord in G major

Badley VIII:G2 \ Concertino for 2 violins, viola & cello in G major

Other Works

• A mass
  Mass (music)
  The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
  
   a cappella (republished with masses by Wagenseil and Georg Reutter
  Georg Reutter
  Georg Reutter was an Austrian organist, theorbo player and composer.- Biography :Reutter was born in Vienna and became a pupil of Johann Caspar Kerll, whom he later succeeded as organist at St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, in 1686. In 1695 he spent some time in Italy...
  
   by A-R Editions in 2004)
• Duos and sonatas for various instruments, including a divertimento for flute and bassoon, one for 2 violins with continuo, one for two violas with bass. His opus 1 is a set of sonatas a tre for viola and violoncello with cello accompaniment.
• Choral music
  • Motet "Altra nocte"
  • "Pastor bone : chorus pastoralis" for mixed choir, concertante organ, two violins and bass (2 oboes, 2 trumpets and drums probably added later).

(Recent recordings of his music include recordings of many of the concertos, some of the symphonies including five on Naxos Records

Naxos Records

Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...

, etc., including a CD from 2000 of Artaria discoveries and others of cello flute, violin and oboe concertos.)

His compositions have been catalogued by Allan Badley.

Further reading

• Eisen, Cliff. Kimball, George Cook. and Monk, Dennis C. Three symphonies / Franz Asplmayr ; edited by Dennis C. Monk. Four symphonies, them. index D7, E♭1, D1, D2 / Leopold Hofmann ; edited by G. Cook Kimball. Three symphonies, them. index 23, 18, 25 / Wenzel Pichl ; introduction by Richard J. Agee ; thematic index compiled by Anita Zakin. Salzburg. Part 1. The Symphony in Salzburg: Volume 1. New York: Garland, 1984. ISBN 0-8240-3854-1.
• Kreiner, Viktor. Leopold Hofmann als Sinfoniker (1738-1793). Thesis (doctoral) Universität Wien, 1958.
• Umble, Kathryn Thomas. A transcription and stylistic analysis of Leopold Hoffmann's Flute Concerto in G Thesis (Ph.D.) Bowling Green State University
  Bowling Green State University
  Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
  
  , 1985.

External links