Otto (first name unknown, sometimes referred to as ''Luigi Otto'' or ''Johann Otto''; fl. 18th century) was a
composer of the early
classical period.
Life and work
The composer Otto is known for his
trumpet concerto
A trumpet concerto is a concerto for solo trumpet and instrumental ensemble, customarily the orchestra. Such works have been written from the Baroque period, when the solo concerto form was first developed, up through the present day. Although co ...
in E-flat Major, which is dated about 1770.
[Manfred Fechner: Liner notes to LP ''Klassische Trompetenkonzerte, Vol. 2.'' ETERNA 7 25 147, 1988.]Ludwig Güttler
Ludwig Güttler (born 13 June 1943) is an internationally known German virtuoso on the Baroque trumpet, the piccolo trumpet and the corno da caccia. As a conductor, he founded several ensembles including the chamber orchestra Virtuosi Saxoniae. H ...
: ''Preface.'' In: ''Concerto in Es für Trompete (Clarino) und Orchester / dell Sige Otto.'' Piano reduction (= FH 2427). Friedrich Hofmeister, Hofheim 1998, . The original
performing parts are indicated ''dell Sign
e Otto'' on the title page. The only surviving copy of the composition is held in the ''Fürst zu Bentheimsche Musikaliensammlung
Burgsteinfurt
Steinfurt (; Westphalian: ''Stemmert'') is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Steinfurt. From roughly 1100-1806, it was the capital of the County of Steinfurt.
Geography
Steinfurt is situated north ...
'', now in the custody of the
Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Münster.
[Edward H. Tarr, Arne Thielemann: ''Prefece.'' In: ''Johann Otto (Mitte 18. Jhdt.): Concerto Es-Dur (um 1770) für Trompete, 2 Hörner, 2 Oboen, Streicher & Basso continuo.'' Score (= ''Brass collection.'' 50372). Musikverlag Martin Schmid, Nagold 2014.] It is documented that the copies were acquired on behalf of Count
Louis of Bentheim and Steinfurt by the court chapel's trumpeter named ''Preger''. Together with another trumpet concerto from a likewise unknown composer named ''
Signor Laue'', the sheet music arrived in December 1803 from
Gotha
Gotha () is the fifth-largest city in Thuringia, Germany, west of Erfurt and east of Eisenach with a population of 44,000. The city is the capital of the district of Gotha and was also a residence of the Ernestine Wettins from 1640 until the ...
. However, as Preger left the chapel already in 1804, and the parts are in an almost untouched condition, it seems possible that both concertos may have never been performed in the concert hall of the ''
Steinfurter Bagno The Steinfurter Bagno is a park near the town of Burgsteinfurt in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
History Amusement park
Count Charles Paul Ernest of Bentheim-Steinfurt founded it in 1765 with the intention of creating a summer res ...
''.
Nothing is currently known about Otto's life. Since the first recording of his concerto in 1981,
he is referred to as ''Luigi Otto'' in most releases, although there seems to exist no source for the first name. The
Répertoire International des Sources Musicales
A repertoire () is a list or set of dramas, operas, musical compositions or roles which a company or person is prepared to perform.
Musicians often have a musical repertoire. The first known use of the word ''repertoire'' was in 1847. It is a ...
(RISM) associates Otto with a certain ''Johann (Giovanni) Otto'', of whom performing parts of two
symphonies
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning c ...
have survived in the
Herzog August Library
The Herzog August Library (german: link=no, Herzog August Bibliothek — "HAB"), in Wolfenbüttel, Lower Saxony, known also as ''Bibliotheca Augusta'', is a library of international importance for its collection from the Middle Ages and ea ...
in
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel (; nds, Wulfenbüddel) is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, the administrative capital of Wolfenbüttel District. It is best known as the location of the internationally renowned Herzog August Library and for having the largest ...
, although the attribution is conjectural. Other musicians named "Otto", who have been proposed, include the composer Franz Otto (1730–1805) from
Glatz (Silesia), the song composer Carl Otto from Mainz or the Augustinin canon Laurentius Justinianus Ott (1748–1802) from Weyarn.
The concerto has been recorded by notable trumpeters like
Maurice André
Maurice André (21 May 1933 – 25 February 2012) was a French trumpeter, active in the classical music field.
He was professor of trumpet at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris where he introduced the teaching of the pic ...
,
Ludwig Güttler
Ludwig Güttler (born 13 June 1943) is an internationally known German virtuoso on the Baroque trumpet, the piccolo trumpet and the corno da caccia. As a conductor, he founded several ensembles including the chamber orchestra Virtuosi Saxoniae. H ...
,
Otto Sauter
Otto Sauter (born 1961) is a German trumpet soloist, who specializes in the piccolo trumpet .
Biography
From 1988 until 1998 Sauter was principal trumpet in the Bremen State Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1991 he founded the annual Bremen Interna ...
and Krisztián Kováts.
[Johan van Veen]
''The Mystery of the Natural Trumpet'' (Review)
musicweb-international.com, 2020, accessed 4 January 2023.
Works
* ''Concerto a trompete solo, violino primo, violino secondo, oboe primo, oboe secondo, corno primo, corno secondo, viola et basso.'' (it can be played on the piccolo and also the trumpet)
Editions
* Ludwig Güttler (ed.): ''Concerto in Es für Trompete (Clarino) und Orchester / dell Sig
e Otto.'' Piano reduction (= FH 2427). Friedrich Hofmeister, Hofheim 1998, . Also performing material (= FH 15046, only on hire).
* John Wallace, Simon Wright (Hrsg.): ''Luigi Otto: Trumpet Concerto in E.'' Score. (= ''BWP'' 4104S). Brass Wind Publications, Oakham 1998 (also piano reduction, ''BWP'' 4104D, orchestral parts ''BWP'' 4104SP).
brasswindpublications.co.uk
accessed 7 January 2023
* Edward H. Tarr, Arne Thielemann (eds.): ''Johann Otto (mid-18th century): Concerto in E-Flat Major (c. 1770) for Trompet, 2 Horns, 2 Oboes, Strings & Basso continuo.'' Score (= ''Brass collection.'' 50372). Martin Schmid, Nagold 2014 (also piano rduction, ''Brass collection.'' 50373).
Discography
* ''Four Trumpet Concertos.'' Luigi Otto / Francesco Barsanti / Giovanni Albinoni / Georg Friedrich Händel. Maurice André, Württembergisches Kammerorchester, Jörg Faerber. His Master's Voice
His Master's Voice (HMV) was the name of a major British record label created in 1901 by The Gramophone Co. Ltd. The phrase was coined in the late 1890s from the title of a painting by English artist Francis Barraud, which depicted a Jack Russ ...
1C 067-03 974 T, 1981.
External links
*
*
Database reference to Johann Otto
in Répertoire International des Sources Musicales
A repertoire () is a list or set of dramas, operas, musical compositions or roles which a company or person is prepared to perform.
Musicians often have a musical repertoire. The first known use of the word ''repertoire'' was in 1847. It is a ...
(RISM) opac
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Sources
{{DEFAULTSORT:Otto
18th-century births
Male composers
18th-century composers
Year of birth missing
Year of death missing