Seydelmann, Franz

Seydelmann, Franz, German composer; b. Dresden, Oct. 8, 1748; d. there, Oct. 23, 1806. He was the son of Franciscus Seydelmann, a tenor in the Dresden electoral Kapelle, where he received instruction in music from J.C. Weber, J.G. Schürer, and J.G. Naumann; accompanied Naumann on a study tour of Italy (1765–68). Returning to Dresden, he was named church composer (1772) and Kapellmeister (1787) at the court. His most successful works for the theater were 2 operas buffa, II Mostro ossia Da gratitudine amore (1785) and II Turco in Italia (1788); thereafter he devoted himself mainly to writing sacred music.

Works

dramatic (all first perf. in Dresden unless otherwise given): Opera : La Serva scaltra (1773); Arsene or Die schöne Arsene (March 3, 1779); Das tartarische Gesetz (c. 1779); Der lahme Husar (Leipzig, July 17, 1780); Der Kaufmann von Smyrna (c. 1780); Der Soldat (1783); J7 capriccio corretto (1783); La Villanella di Misnia (1784; in Ger. as Das sächsische Bauermädchen, Frankfurt am Main, 1791); II Mostro ossia Da gratitudine amore (1785); II Turco in Italia (1788); Amore per oro (1790). Oratorios : La Betulla liberala (1774); Gioas re di Giuda (1776); La morte d’Abele (1801). OTHER : About 36 masses, 40 Psalms, 37 offertories, 32 antiphons, 15 vespers, etc.; cantatas; songs; 6 sonatas for Harpsichord and Flute (Nos. 1, 2, and 6 as 3 sonates, Dresden, 1785); 3 sonates for Harpsichord or Piano and Violin (Dresden, c. 1786); 6 Sonaten für zwo Personen auf einem Ciavier Dresden, 1785); 3 sonates for Harpsichord.

Bibliography

R. Cahn-Speyer, F. S. als dramatischer Komponist (Leipzig, 1909).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire