Five Symphonies

Abstract

Holzbauer was for the most part a self-taught musician learning from the works of Fux, particularly "Gradus ad Parnassum." Musical training was also pursued by Holzbauer through the students of St Stephen's where he sought instruction for singing, and playing the violin, cello and piano. He traveled from Vienna to Venice and back to Vienna where he became a music director, while his wife became a singer. Production of his dramatic works began to occur and meet with success. He moved from Vienna to Stuttgart to became the Oberkapellmeitster. "Il figlio delle selve" proved to be a succesful enough production that he was appointed the Kapellmeister for the court of Karl Theodor the elector of Munich. While in service there Holzbauer was able to travel to Rome twice, Turin, Milan and possibly to Paris. The highlight of Holzbauer's productions was "Gunther von Schwarzburg" which brought about a renaissance in German opera after a long period of Italian domination. His works, unfortunately, did not attract critical acclaim from outside of the places of his own residence. Holzbauer's sacred music included masses, motets and misereres one of which was adapted by Mozart. The sacred music he composed was more substantial than his dramatic works and effectively demonstrated his abilities with orchestration, the treatment of the individual instruments, and an ability to appropriately contend with fugues. He was a leading symphonic member of the Mannheim school.