Schenk, Johann Baptist

Schenk, Johann Baptist, Austrian composer and teacher; b. Wiener-Neustadt, Nov. 30, 1753; d. Vienna, Dec. 29, 1836. He received elementary instruction in music as a small child, and then studied with the Baden choirmaster Anton Stoll; learned to play violin and keyboard instruments, and began composing in his youth. In 1773 he went to Vienna, where he took courses in counterpoint and composition with Wagenseil. In 1778 he established his reputation with the performance of a Mass, and in 1780 he began composing for the theater, winning notable success with his Der Dorfbarbier. In 1793 Beethoven took surreptitious lessons from him while studying formally with Haydn.

Works

dramatic (all Singspiels and first perf. in Vienna unless otherwise given): Der Schatzgräber, opera (1780; not perf.); Der Dorfbarbier, comedy (June 18, 1785; as a Singspiel, Oct. 30, 1796); Die Weinlese (Oct. 12, 1785); Die Weihnacht auf dem Lande (Dec. 14, 1786); lm Finstern ist nicht gut tappen (Oct. 12, 1787); Das unvermutete Seefest (Dec. 9, 1789); Das Singspiel ohne Titel, operetta (Nov. 4, 1790); Der Erntekranz July 9, 1791); Achmet und Almanzine (July 17, 1795); Die Jagd (May 7, 1799); Der Fassbinder (Dec. 17, 1802). OTHER : 5 cantatas; various sacred pieces; 10 syms.; several concertos; chamber music; choruses; songs.

Bibliography

F. Staub, J. S. Eine Skizze seines Lebens (Wiener- Neustadt, 1901); E. Rosenfeld (-Roemer), J.B. S. als Opernkomponist (diss., Univ. of Vienna, 1921); F. Rieger, J. S.: Ein Altmeister des deutschen Singspiels (St. Polten, 1944).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire