2024-2025 Faculty Research Grant
Chi Yong Yun (Music).
Publication and recording of the keyboard concertos, Op.6, Nos.1,3,4 by Johann Samuel Schroeter.
The musical culture of eighteenth-century London was greatly affected by the Industrial Revolution, which dominated England. With the technological advances of the Industrial Revolution, musical instruments were mass produced to meet the demands of the increasing middle class. The pianoforte became the quintessential middle-class instrument.
As the foremost pianist and composer in London during the 18th century, Johann Samuel Schroeter’s importance lies as a leading virtuoso of the pianoforte and through his mastery of idiomatic writing specific for this instrument. Schroeter is credited as the first to bring to England the true art of playing the pianoforte, and thus, to make a significant impact on the popularity of the newer instrument. Konrad Wolff compares Schroeter with Chopin in the sense of being a “piano specialist” as all his compositions include the pianoforte. His music was printed by various publishers throughout Europe and sought by many contemporary composers, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart is to have had a particular influence from Schroeter’s concertos and later wrote cadenzas for three of them. However, despite his significant contributions to the development of the pianoforte genre, Johann Samuel Schroeter was virtually forgotten by the early nineteenth century and very little is known about him today.
This project will shed light on Schroeter’s prominent role as one of the leading pioneers of pianoforte playing in London through the publication of the complete keyboard concertos, Op.6, Nos.1-6, of Johann Samuel Schroeter. My primary focus will be rehearsing the last 3 concerti (Concertos 1,3,4) with an ensemble to complete a two-part recording project of the complete keyboard concertos.