Joseph Martin Kraus - Biography
Joseph Martin Kraus (1756-1792) was described by Haydn as one of the greatest geniuses whom he had ever encountered. Like Mozart, this long forgotten composer from Miltenberg in Franconia (Germany) was born in 1756 and only survived Mozart by one year. Kraus served in the court of Gustavus III of Sweden, who had at that time assembled in Stockholm a collection of the greatest artists from all over Europe and there, the talented Kraus achieved success despite his young age.
- Kraus was born in Mittelberg am Main in Germany, on June 20, 1756
- In childhood, Kraus was living in Buchen am Odenwald, where he started his early education.
- Later, from the age of twelve, he had been educated at the Jesuit Gymnasium and Music Seminar in Mannheim - the city of many musical innovations.
- Following his parents' wishes, he moved to Mainz to study law. He continued his studies in Erfurt and finally in Goettingen.
- In Goettingen, Kraus was part of the circle of writers known as Goettingen Hainbund, comming into contact with Sturm und Drang movement. He wrote a book of poetry (Versuch von Sch�fersgedichte) and a tragedy (Tolon), as well as music including the oratorios Die Geburt Jesu and Der Tod Jesu, and a musical treatise "Etwas von und �ber Musik f�rs Jahr 1777" ("Something about music for the year 1777"). From Swedish students, Kraus heard about musical life in Stockholm. His friend Carl Stridsbergand advised him to go there to try to get a position at the Opera house.
- In 1778 Kraus moved to Stockholm, at the age of 22. His first years were not easy - his financial situation there was bad - very often he considered going back home. His opera "Azire" was rejected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, but the Academy decided to give him a second chance. King Gustav III of Sweden himself drafted the opera libretto "Proserpina" and Johan Kellgren versified it. Kraus's music to this libretto was successfully premiered at Ulriksdal Palace. Things improved rapidly and in 1781 Kraus was appointed a conductor of the Royal Swedish Opera and director of the Royal Academy of Music.
- The new employment brought him the opportunity to study abroad for five years. Kraus was travelling to Vienna, where he met Christoph Willibald von Gluck. Later, he visited Joseph Haydn. During his stay in Esterhaza, he wrote a Symphony in D major (VB 143) for Haydn and it was first published under Haydn's name.
- When Kraus returned from his Grand Tour, he was appointed conductor (Kapellm�stare) in Gustavus III's court and the Royal Swedish Opera and the director of the educational part of the Academy of Music. He also became involved in the Palmstedt writer's group.
- For the convening of the Riksdag of the Estates in 1789, Gustavus III wanted to convince the parliament to go along with his plans of going to war with Russia, where he was opposed by the noble estate but supported by the burghers and the peasantry. The king had Kraus write Riksdagsmusiken for the opening ceremonies in St Nicolai Church on 9th March 1789, consisting of a march based on the March of the Priests from Mozart's Idomeneo, and a symphony. The music emphasised the royal power and the legislation was approved without delay.
- On March 1792, Gustavus III was assassinated at a masked ball. Kraus wrote a funeral cantata and the Symphonie funebre which were played at the burial ceremony on April 13. Kraus himself died a few months later of tuberculosis on December 15, 1792.
This text is taken from various sources: Bertil van Boer, Wikipedia, ... (see links)
Schon zu Lebzeiten galt Joseph Martin Kraus als "Originalgenie", das von Gluck und Haydn wie von seinem Dienstherrn, dem Schwedenk�nig Gustav III., verehrt wurde. 1756 im fr�nkischen Miltenberg am Main geboren, ist sein Leben das eines universal gebildeten deutschen Musikers, der aufbricht, um im Ausland sein Gl�ck zu machen. Ausgebildet bei der Mannheimer Kapelle, erh�lt Kraus auf einer Reise durch die Musikzentren Europas letzten musikalischen Schliff f�r sein Amt als kgl. Hofkapellmeister in Stockholm.
In seinem nur 36-j�hrigen Leben entstehen Werke f�r fast alle Gattungen, von denen neben den Opern heute vor allem seine Symphonien aufgef�hrt werden. Mit harschen dynamischen Kontrasten und fragilen Momenten zeigen sie Kraus als Komponisten des Sturm und Drang. Auf die Ermordung Gustavs III. im M�rz 1792 reagiert der "schwedische Mozart" mit zwei bewegenden Trauermusiken, am 15. Dezember desselben Jahres folgt er seinem K�nig in den Tod. Sein Grabmal tr�gt die Aufschrift: "Hier das Irdische von Kraus - das Himmlische lebt in seinen T�nen."
Ein Essay von Susanne Schmerda.
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