Ignaz Moscheles 1794-1870

[giles.enders]

Ignaz Moscheles Born Prague 23.5.1794  Died Leipzig  10.3.1870
I understand the date on Ignaz's birth certificate is 23.5.1794 and not as frequently erroneously quoted

This month is the 150th anniversary of the death of Ignaz Moscheles.

He initially studied music at the Prague conservatory under Dionys Weber.

After the death of his father in 1805 Moscheles settled in Vienna ,  where he studied counterpoint under Johann Albrechtsberger and composition with Antonio Salieri.  It was in Vienna that he became friends with Meyerbeer and they played duets together.
From 1821 he traveled widely including  Paris, Amsterdam and London. In 1824 in Berlin he taught Mendelssohn, forming a lasting friendship which lasted until the latter's death.
He married Charlotte Embden in Hamburg in 1825 and two months later settled in London where he remained teaching , composing and performing  until 1846. He was appointed a Director of The Philharmonic Society in 1832.

Following his appointment as Professor of Piano by Mendelssohn,  he went to Leipzig where he remained for the rest of his life.
He translated 'The Life of Beethoven ' into English n 1841.

As a pianist he believed that the pedals should be used sparingly, quite the opposite to Beethoven.
In 1871 his wife wrote 'The Life of Moscheles' which included selections from his correspondence and diaries.  It is a very entertaining work.

Orchestral

Symphony No.1 in C major  Op.81   1828
La Pucelle d'Orleans (Jeanne d'Arc), overture for orchestra  Op.91   1834
Piano Concerto No.1  in F major  Op.45  1818
Piano Concerto No.2  in E flat major  Op.56  1821
Piano Concerto No.3  in G minor Op.60  1820
Piano Concerto No.4  in E major  Op.64  1823
Piano Concerto No.5  in C major  Op.87  1830
Piano Concerto No.6  'Fantastique' in B flat major  Op.90   1836
Piano Concerto No.7 'Pathetique' in C minor  Op.93   1835
Piano Concerto No.8 'Pastorale' in D major  (Orchestrated by Ian Hobson)  Op.96  1838
Grand Variations sur la Marche d'Alexandre for piano and orchestra  Op.32  1815
Fantaisie & Variations sur l'air: Au Clair de la Lune for piano and orchestra  Op.50  1821
Souvenirs de l'Irelande  for piano and orchestra  Op.69   1826
Memories of Scotland  for piano and orchestra  Op.75  1826
Souvenirs de Denmark for piano and orchestra  Op.83   1830
Fantaise sur des Airs des Bardes Ecossais for piano and orchestra  Op.80  1828
Duo Concertante for two pianos & orchestra in the form of Brilliant Variations on the Bohemian March from Preciosa  Op.87b
Concertante in F for flute, oboe and orchestra  Woo. There is an arrangement for flute, oboe and piano.

Chamber

Introduction and Variations for piano, violin and cello  Op.17
Piano trio  Op.84  1830
Grand duo for piano and Guitare for Moscheles and Giuliani  Op.20 
Six Variations concertantes for piano, flute and violin  Op.21
Grand duo concertante for piano and cello or bassoon  Op.34  1814
Grand Sextuor for piano, violin, flute, 2 horns and cello  Op.35   1815
Variations de Concert for piano and violin on an Austrian waltz  Op.36 
Grand Caprice and Potpourri for piano and cello or violin  Op.37
Grandes Variations on a Melodie Nationale Autrichienne for piano, two violins, viola, cello and double bass  Op.42 
Grand Rondeau Brillant for piano, two violins, viola, cello and double bass  Op.43
Grande Sonate for piano and flute  Op.44
Fantasie, variations and finale on Bohemian folksong  for piano, violin, clarinet or viola and cello  Op.46  1819
Franzosisches Rondo for piano and violin  Op.48  1819
Grand Potpourri Concertante for piano and violin or flute by Moscheles and Lafont  Op.59  1821
Introduction and Rondeau Ecossais Concertantes for piano and violin or cello  Op.63  1821
Divertimento a la Savoyarde for piano and flute or violin  Op.79   1828
Four Divertissements for piano and flute  Op.82b
Grand Septuor for Piano, violin, viola, clarinet, oboe, cello and double bass  Op.88  1833
Cello sonata in E  Op.121  1851 ( or for two pianos)
Studies in Melodious Counterpoint for piano and some with second piano  Op.137 a & b  1861
Feuillet d'Album de Rossini for piano and horn or viola  Op.138
String Quartet in D minor  Woo.
Quartet in D major for piano, flute, clarinet and bassoon.  Woo.

Piano Solo

Variations on a theme from the opera 'Une Folie' by Mehul  Op.1
Ten Variations on favourite airs from the opera 'Der Dorfbarbier'  by Schenck  Op.2
Polonaise in D major  Op.3
Nouvelle Sonatine Facile et Agreable  Op.4
Favourite air by Weigl  Op.5
Variation on Austrian air 'Musts ma nix in Uebel aufnehma'  Op.6
Variations from opera 'Trajano in Dacia' by Nicolini  Op.7
Ten Valses for piano  Op.8
Five German dances    Op.9  1810
Two Rondos on motifs from the ballet 'Les Portraits de l'Auteur'  Op.11
Introduction and Rondo from a Venetian Barcarolle  Op.12
Fantaisie Heroique  Op.13
Rondo Brillante  Op.14
Variations on themes from the Opera 'Der Augenarzt' (The Oculist) by Gyrowetz Op.15
Three Rondos Op.18
Introduction and Polonaise  Op.19
Piano Sonata in D major  Op.22
Variations on a Russian theme  Op.23
Rondo Espagnol  Op.24
Caprice in A minor  Op.25
Triumphal Entry of the Allies into Paris   Op.26
Piano Sonata in B flat major  Op.27  1814
Six Divertissements  Op.28  1814
Variations on a theme of Handel  Op.29  1814
Fantasie in Italian style and Grand rondo Op.38
Introduction and Variations on an Austrian National Song  Op.39
Les Portraits , Ballet Champetre et Comique arranged for piano  par l'Auteur  Op.40
Three Divertissements from the ballet Les Portraits par l'Auteur  Op.40b
Grand Sonata   Op.41  1816
Sonata Melancolique  Op.49
Three Allegri di Bravura – La Forza, La Laggerezza, Il Capriccio.  Op.51
'La Tenerezza'  rondoletto  Op.52
Polonaise Brillant  Op.53
'La Charmes de Paris'  rondo brillante Op.54  1822
'Bonbonniere musicale, Suite de Morceaux Faciles  Op.55
Fantaisie on three favourite Scotish airs  - 'The Soldier's Return', 'This is no my ain Lassie', 'Over the Water to Charlie'  Op.57
'Jadis et aujourd'hui, une Gigue et un Quadrille: Rondeau  Op.58
Rondoletto sur un Nocturne favouri de Paer  Op.61
Impromptu in B minor  Op.62  1824
Impromptu on English air 'Revenge he cries' Op.65  1825
Rondeau 'La petite Babillarde'  Op.66  1825
Three Rondos Brillantes on motifs from Vaudeville Allemand: Les Viennois a Berlin Op.67
Fantaisie and Rondeau on an Austrian march  Op.68'
Twentyfour Etudes  Op.70
Rondeau Expressif on a theme of Gallenberg  Op.71
Gems a la pasta Fantasia Dramatique  Op.71a
Four Fantasias  Op.72  1826
Fifty Preludes  Op.73
'Les Charmes de Londres': Rondeau  brilliant, preceded by an introduction Op.74
A Grand Fantasia on Favourite Scottish airs  Op.75
Allegro di Bravura  Op.77  1824
Rondo Sentimental  Op.82a
'La Gaiete' Andante expressif and Rondeau brilliant  Op.85
'Souvenir de Rubini' Fantaisie dramatique  Op.86b
Souvenir de l'Opera Fantasie dramatique   Op.87a
Impromptu in E flat major  Op.89
Rondeau Brilliant sur la Romance favourite de Josef Dessauer, 'Le Retour des Promis'  Op.94a
Fantaisie in memory of Madam Malibran de Beriot  Op.94b  1836
Twelve Etudes  Op.95  1837
Two Etudes  Op.98  1840
'Titti Frutti' six new melodies  Op.99
Ballade in A flat minor  Op.100
Romance and Tarantelle Brillante  Op.101  1841
Serenade in F major  Op.103  1841
Romanesca in D minor  Op.104  1841
Two Etudes  Op.105 1841
Brillant Fantasia on a favourite cavatina from Rossini's 'Zelmira' & a ballad from Mozart's 'Seraglio'.  Op.106
Two Fantaisie Brillantes on favourite airs from 'La Bohemienne' by Balfe  Op.108
Fantaisie Brillantes on themes from the opera 'Don Pasquale' by Donizetti  Op.109a  1843
Melange for piano on a serenade and airs from 'Don Pasquale'  by Donizetti  Op.109b
Gondolier's song for piano  Op.110
Four Grandes Etudes de concert  Op.111   1845
Album of favourite songs by Pischek transcribed for piano in form of Fantaisie Brillante  Op.113
Favourite songs of Jenny Lind transcribed for piano  Op.114
Grand Valse in D flat major  Op.118
Mazurka Appassionata in D minor  Op.120
'Expectation' Fantasia for piano, after Schiller  Op.122
'Magyaren-Klange  Fantasia  Op.123
'Longing' after Schiller  Fantasia  Op.124
Grand Concert Study  Op.126  1856
'Magyaren-Klange  Fantasia  Op.123
'Longing' after Schiller  Fantasia  Op.124
Grand Concert Study  Op.126  1856
Scherzo in B flat major  Op.127
Humouristic Variations and scherzo  Op.128
'The Dance' characteristique piece after Schiller  Op.129
Reverie Melodique  Op.133
Toccata in f sharp minor  Op.134   1860
Pastorel in original style  Op.135   1860
March and Scherzo as Rhythmical Exercises  Op.141


---The following piano solos are without opus numbers

Two fantasies on airs from the opera 'Belisario' by Donizetti 
Fantasia from the opera 'I Lombardi' by Verdi  .
Fantasia from the opera 'Nebuchadnezzar'  by Verdi 
Fantasia on 'Potem Mitzwo'
Fantasia in A major on motifs from the opera 'Falstaff' by Balfe
Fantasia in D major on themes from the opera 'Oberon' by Weber
Fantasia a la Paganini  1831
Fantasia Brillante on themes from the opera 'The Bride of Venice' by Benedict
Fantasia in E flat major on motifs from the opera 'Le Siege de Rochelle' by Balfe
Fantasia and variations on motifs from the opera 'Marino Faliero' by Donizetti
Fantasia, Bouquet of Melodies
Fantasia on Airs by Neukomm
Fantasia with variations on Barcarolle from 'Marino Faliero' by Donizetti
Fantasia Dramatique,
Andante and Rondeau on a German theme.
Two Grand Marches for the Imperial Alexander Regiment
Farewell march of the laudable Infantry Regiment Emperor Alexander
'Echo des Alpes', Divertissement on three Swiss Pastoral
'Der Tyrolerfamille' Three divertissements
Impromptu for Miss Elvira Grange
Four Pensees fugitives: Romance, Nocturne, Impromptu, Rhapsodie.
Prelude and Fugue
Reberie in Solitude – an air for piano    1856
Rhapsodie Champetre in E major
Military Rondo on 'Entendez-vous from 'La Fiance' by Auber
Rondo in G major on a favourite Scotch melody
'L'Elegante' Rondo for piano
'La Carina' Rondino in B flat
'Apollo's Gift' Toccata
Six Valses for piano (1)
Six Valses for piano (2)
Six ecossaises  for piano
Solution of Kuhlau's Enigmatic Canon in the Harmonicon  1826
Arrangement of Beethoven's overture Fidelio for piano
Three Fashionable Waltzes for piano
A Diabelli variation.

Piano Four Hands or duet

Triumphal March with 2 trios Op.10
Rondo Brillante  Op.30  1814
Three Marches Heroiques  Op.31   1814
Six valses with trios  Op.33   1814
Grande Sonata Op.47
'La Belle Union'  rondo brillante  Op.76   1828
Marche Facille with trio  Op.86a
'Homage to Handel'  Grand duo  Op.92
'Homage to Weber' on motifs from 'Euryanthe' & 'Oberon' Op.102
Practical & Progressive exercises for piano duets.  Op.107
Grande Sonate Symphonique No.2 in B minor  Op.112   1845
'Les Contrastes'  grand duo for two pianos  Op.115
March on German national songs 'Symphonesque-Heroic' piano 4 hands  Op.130
Lied im Volkston variations for piano duet  Op.139
'Domestic Life' 12 progressive pieces for piano duet  Op.140   1866
March and scherzo for piano duet  Op.141
Three characterstucke for piano duet  Op.142   1869
'Un conte d'enfant for piano four hands Woo.

'Hommage a Beethoven  for three pianos

'Les Contrastes' Grand duo for 2 pianos, 8 hands  Op.115

Song

Three Love songs words by E Ludwig  Op.16
Six lieder  Op.97   1840
'Freie Kunst' words by Uhland Op.116
Six lieder:  Liebeslauschen, Dem Liebensanger, Warum so stumm, Botschaft, Schafers Sonnagslied, Frulingslied. Op.117   1847
Six lieder: Abends, Die Zigeunerin, Strenge, Jemand, Der Liebenswurdigen, Der dreifache Schnee  Op.119
Springsong soprano or tenor and piano Op.125
Six lieder: Gieb unstaglich Brod, Fruhlingsliebe, Schmetterling und Liebchen, Am Meere, Inniges Verstandniss, Tanz, Reigen der donischen Kosaken  Op.131
Five duets for soprano and alto with piano  Op.132
'To the Rivulet'  after Rossini, with horn or viola and piano Op.136

Choral

Oratorio  1822  believed lost

[eschiss1]

Intriguing list. (btw - "And not as frequently erroneously quoted" what?)
There's a good book on Moscheles I remember at least skimming awhile back that contains some info on that at-the-time recently rediscovered string quartet of his - still not recorded. (I haven't seen it and don't know how good it is, mind...)
I'm glad Hobson reconstructed the 8th concerto (I believe I've listened to his version). It's intriguing that there was a lost oratorio- I wonder if it truly is lost (in the sense that the composer reported having left the material somewhere that was later destroyed in a fire, so the likelihood of its surviving is really slight) or just "not yet found" which is somewhat different (not that oratorios from that time are often much to modern- including my- tastes, but still. I'm a little curious - and after all- his good friend Mendelssohn wrote some fine ones.)

If one were to include "Collaborations" on that list , and arrangements, and editing work it might of course be longer even if only the most important ones were included (the Moscheles/Mendelssohn duo, and the Mendelssohn/Moscheles symphony no.4 that is , I believe, still the most-often performed version of that work - I'm not sure? - I do enjoy occasionally hearing the alternate last three movements that were recently published together with a composition history of how Mendelssohn lost and had to recompose the work from memory or something!)

[Mark Thomas]

Mendelssohn/Moscheles symphony no.4 that is , I believe, still the most-often performed version of that work

Can you elaborate, please, Eric? What alternate last three movements? How was Moscheles involved?

[eschiss1]

Ah, ok. There are two versions published by Breitkopf: an urtext 1833 edition with preface perusable here - issuu.com - and the last three movements (he didn't make changes to the first movement, I gather, but really did revise the last three) (described though not fully perusable here.) When the 1833 version- the usual version performed- was first (posthumously) published it was, I believe, published with assistance and possibly some editing by Moscheles.
(Edit: the whole and rather interesting I think preface to the 1834 version as published in its first, recent, edition by Breitkopf can be downloaded for free- see the "downloads" tab on that second link.)

(Skimming the preface, I see that Beethoven and Mendelssohn -both- had dealings with the same director, Charles Neate when corresponding with the London Philharmonic Society, decades apart. I wonder what one knows about him?) (Hrm. 1784-1877, pianist and composer- quite long-lived...)

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks for the explanation, Eric.

[giles.enders]

The string quartet was known to be part of a collection which was deposited with a university many years ago.  The storage area was 'flooded' and the very damaged collection was passed to The Royal College of Music. who over many years did their best to conserve it.  This did not appear to include the quartet.  After extensive correspondence between members of Moscheles descendants. The College and the university, it was discovered elsewhere on the university's premises.

The 8th piano concerto: only the piano part was extant and Ian Hobson recomposed the orchestral part.  He was fortunate in having the preceding 7 as a guide.

The oratorio was composed while Moscheles was in Vienna. I doubt it still exists.

[giles.enders]

Following mention of Charles Neate by eschiss1 I have done a brief posting about him.

[Gareth Vaughan]

it was discovered elsewhere on the university's premises.

Do we know where the score of the string quartet is now, and whether it is accessible?

[eschiss1]

I don't see it among even recentlyish published works or rentals of works by Moscheles.

[giles.enders]

        Henry Roche

Henry Roche who was a direct descendant of Ignaz Moscheles and did all he could to promote his music, sadly died yesterday.  I will always remember him as a very warm character. 
He was kind enough to check my initial posting about Ignaz.

[Martin Eastick]

I will certainly echo Giles' sentiments in respect of Henry Roche, who was always on hand to provide help and encouragement in the furtherance of the Moscheles cause. He was most enthusiastic and most grateful for any help that I could provide concerning scores etc. I was in touch with him more recently trying to obtain the performing material for Moscheles songs, which are rather elusive, so a recording of such may be a fitting and lasting tribute to his memory.

[Dr Gradus]

The death of Mr Roche is certainly very sad news. I well recall, many years ago, leading an adhoc string quartet in a performance of the Moscheles quartet, at a Purcell Room concert organised by him featuring the music of Moscheles and Korngold.
(The quartet was stylistically somewhere roughly between Hummel and Mendelssohn, and the first violin part made me sweat - made me think of Spohr.)
Mr Roche was a true gentleman of the music profession.

[eschiss1]

Was one of his ancestors Alexander Roche? A published song of the latter (pub.ca.1830s...) was acquired by the local university library in score about a year ago, and one does wonder.