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Johann Gottlieb Graun

German composer and violinist

Johann Gottlieb Graun (1702/1703 – 27 October 1771) was a German Baroque/Classical era composer and violinist, born in Wahrenbrück. His brother Carl Heinrich was a singer and also a composer, and is the better known of the two.

Johann Gottlieb studied with J.G. Pisendel in Dresden and Giuseppe Tartini in Padua. Appointed Konzertmeister in Merseburg in 1726, he taught the violin to J.S. Bach's son Wilhelm Friedemann. He joined the court of the Prussian crown prince (the future Frederick the Great) in 1732. Graun was later made Konzertmeister of the Berlin Opera in 1740. He composed over 50 songs and compositions.

Graun's compositions were highly respected, and continued to be performed after his death: "The concert-master, John Gottlib Graun, brother to the opera-composer, his admirers say, 'was one of the greatest performers on the violin of his time, and most assuredly, a composer of the first rank'," wrote Charles Burney. He was primarily known for his instrumental works, though he also wrote vocal music and operas. He wrote a large number of violin concertos, trio sonatas, and solo sonatas for violin with cembalo, as well as two string quartets — among the earliest attempts in this genre. He also wrote many concertos for viola da gamba, which were very virtuosic, and were played by Ludwig Christian Hesse, considered the leading gambist of the time.　Despite these achievements, Graun’s reputation during his lifetime was by no means commensurate with the significance of his work. Overshadowed by the fame of his younger brother Carl Heinrich Graun and by that of his pupil Franz Benda, his contributions were long underestimated and, in many cases, largely overlooked. Only in more recent scholarship has a reassessment begun to take shape. In particular, studies have demonstrated that as early as the 1730s Graun developed a stylistic model for the violin concerto that proved influential and normative for subsequent composers. This growing recognition has led to a more nuanced understanding of Graun’s role in the formation of mid-18th-century instrumental style and has gradually restored his position as a central figure in the history of German violin music.

Despite the popularity of his works, Graun was not free from criticism. Burney noted that some critics complained that, "In his concertos and church music... the length of each movement is more immoderate than Christian patience can endure."

Read more about this composer on Wikipedia.

Works

The Long LineThe Long Line
  • 1. (Allegro)
  • 2. Affetuoso
  • 3. Allegro Molto
  • Affettuoso
  • Allegro
  • Allegro Molto
  • Andante Con Sordini
  • Concerto G-dur für Viola da gamba, Streicher & b.c.: I. Allegro
  • Concerto G-dur für Viola da gamba, Streicher & b.c.: II. Adagio ma non tanto
  • Concerto G-dur für Viola da gamba, Streicher & b.c.: III. Allegro
  • Concerto Per Il Viola Da Gamba Concertata In A Minor, Graunwv A:XIII:14: II. Adagio (Arioso)
  • Concerto Per Il Viola Da Gamba Concertata In A Minor, Graunwv A:XIII:14: III. Allegro
  • Concerto a violono e viola da gamba (ut mineur)
  • Concerto a violono e viola da gamba (ut mineur): Adagio con sordini
  • Concerto a violono e viola da gamba (ut mineur): Allegro
  • Concerto a violono e viola da gamba (ut mineur): Allegro con spirito
  • Concerto in C minor for Oboe, Strings and Continuo
  • Concerto in C minor for Oboe, Strings and Continuo: I. (Allegro)
  • Concerto in C minor for Oboe, Strings and Continuo: II. Affettuoso
  • Concerto in C minor for Oboe, Strings and Continuo: III. Allegro molto
  • Concerto in G major for viola da gamba, strings & b.c., GraunWV Av:XIII:36
  • Concerto per il Viola da Gamba Concertata in A Minor, GraunWV A:XIII:14
  • Concerto per il Viola da Gamba Concertata in A Minor, GraunWV A:XIII:14: I. Allegro moderato
  • Concerto per la Viola da Gamba in A major
  • Concerto per la Viola da Gamba in A major: I. Allegretto
  • Concerto per la Viola da Gamba in A major: II. Adagio
  • Concerto per la Viola da Gamba in A major: III. Allegro
  • Concerto per la viola da gamba (la mineur)
  • Concerto per la viola da gamba (la mineur): Adagio
  • Concerto per la viola da gamba (la mineur): Allegro
  • Concerto per la viola da gamba (la mineur): Allegro moderato
  • Flute Sonata in C major
  • Flute Sonata in C major: I. Largo
  • Flute Sonata in C major: II. Allegro
  • Flute Sonata in C major: III. Allegro
  • Già la sera
  • Già la sera: I. Aria “Già la sera si avvicina”
  • Già la sera: II. Recitativo “Lascia una volta, o Nice”
  • Già la sera: III. Aria “Non più fra i sassi algosi”
  • Horn Concerto in D major
  • Horn Concerto in D major: I.
  • Horn Concerto in D major: II.
  • Horn Concerto in D major: III.
  • Oh Dio, Fileno
  • Oh Dio, Fileno: I. Recitativo “Oh Dio, Fileno, oh Dio!”
  • Oh Dio, Fileno: II. Aria “Aure amiche, ah non spirate”
  • Oh Dio, Fileno: III. Recitativo accompagnato “Ma chi fu mai quell’empio”
  • Oh Dio, Fileno: IV. Aria “Va, ma conserva i miei”
  • Ouverture in D major, GraunWV A:XI:7
  • Ouverture in D major: I. Ouverture
  • Ouverture in D major: II. Allegro
  • Ouvertüre in D-moll
  • Ouvertüre in D-moll: I.
  • Ouvertüre in D-moll: II.
  • Ouvertüre und Allegro in A Minor, GraunWV A:XI:2
  • Ouvertüre und Allegro in A Minor, GraunWV A:XI:2: I. Ouvertüre (Lento - Allegro)
  • Ouvertüre und Allegro in A Minor, GraunWV A:XI:2: II. Allegro
  • Quintet in A minor, GraunWV Av:XIV:14
  • Quintet in A minor, GraunWV Av:XIV:14: I. Amabile
  • Quintet in A minor, GraunWV Av:XIV:14: II. Allegro non tanto
  • Quintet in A minor, GraunWV Av:XIV:14: III. Allegro alla siciliana
  • Sinfonia Grosso in D major
  • Sinfonia Grosso in D major: I. Allegro maestoso
  • Sinfonia Grosso in D major: II. Arietta. Grazioso
  • Sinfonia Grosso in D major: III. Allegro scherzando
  • Sinfonia in E-flat major
  • Sonate a tre, violono ovvero viola da gamba, violono quinto accordio e basso cembalo (la mejeur)
  • Sonate a tre, violono ovvero viola da gamba, violono quinto accordio e basso cembalo (la mejeur): Adagio
  • Sonate a tre, violono ovvero viola da gamba, violono quinto accordio e basso cembalo (la mejeur): Allegro
  • Trio Concertante in D major
  • Trio Concertante in D major: I. Allegro non troppo
  • Trio Concertante in D major: II. Arioso
  • Trio Concertante in D major: III. Scherzo
  • Trio Sonata in C major, GraunWV A:XV:2
  • Trio Sonata in C major, GraunWV A:XV:2: I. Allegro non molto
  • Trio Sonata in C major, GraunWV A:XV:2: II.
  • Trio Sonata in C major, GraunWV A:XV:2: III. Allegro
  • Trio Sonata in D major, WV Cv:XV:99
  • Trio Sonata in D major, WV Cv:XV:99: I. Largo
  • Trio Sonata in D major, WV Cv:XV:99: II. Allegro
  • Trio Sonata in D major, WV Cv:XV:99: III. Andante
  • Trio Sonata in D major, WV Cv:XV:99: IV. Vivace
  • Trio Sonata in G major, GraunWV Cv:XV:121
  • Trio Sonata in G major, GraunWV Cv:XV:121: I. Largo
  • Trio Sonata in G major, GraunWV Cv:XV:121: II. Allegro moderato
  • Trio Sonata in G major, GraunWV Cv:XV:121: III. Alla breve
  • Trio a due viola da gamba e basso (sol majeur)
  • Trio a due viola da gamba e basso (sol majeur): Adagio (andante)
  • Trio a due viola da gamba e basso (sol majeur): Allegro
  • Trio a due viola da gamba e basso (sol majeur): Allegro (minuetto)
  • Trio in A major, GraunWV A:XV:13
  • Trio in A major, GraunWV A:XV:13: I. Allegro - Sempre cantabile
  • Trio in A major, GraunWV A:XV:13: II. Adagio
  • Trio in A major, GraunWV A:XV:13: III. Allegro
  • Trio in B-flat major
  • Trio in B-flat major: I. Adagio
  • Trio in B-flat major: II. Allegretto
  • Trio in B-flat major: III. Allegro non troppo
  • Trio in C minor, GraunWV Av:XV:19
  • Trio in C minor, GraunWV Av:XV:19: I. Adagio
  • Trio in C minor, GraunWV Av:XV:19: II. Allegro ma non molto
  • Trio in C minor, GraunWV Av:XV:19: III. Allegro
  • Trio in D major, GraunWV Av:XV:23
  • Trio in D major, GraunWV Av:XV:23: I. Adagio ma non tanto
  • Trio in D major, GraunWV Av:XV:23: II. Allegro moderato
  • Trio in D major, GraunWV Av:XV:23: III. Allegro assai
  • Trio in D major, GraunWV Cv:XV:100
  • Trio in D major, GraunWV Cv:XV:100: I. Adagio
  • Trio in D major, GraunWV Cv:XV:100: II. Allegro
  • Trio in D major, GraunWV Cv:XV:100: III. Affetuoso
  • Trio in D major, GraunWV Cv:XV:100: IV. Allegro
  • Trio in E major, GraunWV Av:XV:27
  • Trio in E major, GraunWV Av:XV:27: I. Adagio
  • Trio in E major, GraunWV Av:XV:27: II. Allegretto
  • Trio in E major, GraunWV Av:XV:27: III. Allegro
  • Viola da Gamba Concerto in D major, GraunWV A:XIII:4
  • Viola da Gamba Concerto in D major, GraunWV A:XIII:4: I. Vivace
  • Viola da Gamba Concerto in D major, GraunWV A:XIII:4: II. Adagio
  • Viola da Gamba Concerto in D major, GraunWV A:XIII:4: III. Allegro assai
  • Violin Concerto in A major
  • Violin Concerto in A major: I. Allegretto
  • Violin Concerto in A major: II. Largo
  • Violin Concerto in A major: III. Allegro
  • Violin Concerto in D minor
  • Violin Concerto in D minor: I. Allegro
  • Violin Concerto in D minor: II. Adagio
  • Violin Concerto in D minor: III. Allegro assai