J. Christoph Förster

Christoph Förster (1693–1745), not to be confused with Austrian composer Emanuel Förster, was born with one toe in the 1600’s. His musical studies began with an organist by the name of Pitzler, then after leaving his birth [town] of Bibra he studied under Heinichen in Weissenfels, learning the thoroughbass and composition. In time, Förster would learn Italian, the foremost language for secular vocal music, and also take yet another teacher (professor) named Georg Friedrich Kauffmann at Merseburg. This is where he was appointed violinist in the court orchestra, subsequently becoming Konzertmeister. While there, learning Italian, Förster wrote six sonatas, six cantatas and twelve concertos, dedicated to the duchess. In 1743 he was in Rudolstadt, appointed vice-Kapellmeister, where, among other works, he wrote a birthday cantata dedicated to the princess. The death of Johann Graf as Kapellmeister made way for vice-Kapellmeister Förster to succeed him, but unfortunately he was the new Kapellmeister for only a few weeks before he died as well. This meant that Christoph had only reached fifty-two years of age before all his life’s labors came to a final conclusion. Among his numerous works were [six?] attributed sinfonias; that is, those officially recognized as truly his, according to research and available sources. Let’s give his E-flat Major Sinfioneta the benefit of a doubt, which was not so easy to find, and imagine listening to its first ever performance around the year 1740 (this is a recording from 1993).Applause to the listeners!