Leopold Hofmann

Leopold Hofmann

Source: Raptus Association

Born in Austria to a ranking civil servant on 14 August 1738, Leopold Hofmann sang into nice digs at age seven, serving as a chorister to Holy Roman Empress, Elisabeth Christine, mother of Maria Theresa who became Empress in 1745. Hofmann's director and instructor while with the Habsburgs was František Tůma. He continued his studies in composition, harpsichord and violin under a couple of other teachers until securing a position in 1758 at St. Michael's in Vienna as a musicus (professional composer / conductor).

Hofmann became choral director at St. Peter's Church in 1764, then Kapellmeister in 1766. Three years later he was teaching music to the royal family. In 1772 he became Kapellmeister at St. Stephan's where he remained another twenty years.

St. Stephens   Vienna

Source: Wikipedia

The largest portion of Hofmann's oeuvre consists of concerti and symphonies. Despite his stature at the time scholars remain unable to date his works with much precision, most falling between the latter fifties and latter seventies. Hofmann's symphonies were catalogued by George Cook Kimball in 'The Symphonies of Leopold Hofmann (1738–1793)' (Columbia University 1985). His concertos were catalogued by Allan Badley in 'The concertos of Leopold Hofmann (1738–1793)' (University of Auckland 1986). Kimball numbers are scarcely used (one instance only at IMSLP while researching this). Though symphonies commonly receive Badley numbers (not identical to Kimball's), I'm at a loss to identify their source.

Symphonies by Hofmann

'Symphony in C major'   Badley C8   Leopold Hofmann

C 1759   Artaria

Northern Chamber Orchestra / Nicholas Ward

'Symphony in D major'   Badley D4   Leopold Hofmann

1762 at latest   Artaria

Northern Chamber Orchestra / Nicholas Ward

'Symphony in F major'   Badley F1   Leopold Hofmann

1767 at latest   Artaria

Northern Chamber Orchestra / Nicholas Ward

Hofmann's best-known work was 'Flute Concerto in D major' (Badley D1) largely because it was falsely attributed to Franz Joseph Haydn in a Breitkopf Catalogue of 1771, eventually corrected in 1881 [Badley]. Badley D2 is Hoffman's 'Cello Concerto in D major' also appearing in Breitkopf in 1771 [Badley]. Badley D3 is another 'Cello Concerto in D major' appearing in the Breitkopf Catalogue of 1775 [Badley]. Hofmann's Op 1 No.1 is a sonata in A major styled as a divertimento for viola, violoncello and cello published in 1774 or 1775 [NLA].

Concerti by Hofmann

'Flute Concerto in G major'   Badley II:G1   Leopold Hofmann

Breitkopf Catalogue 1769

Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice / Michael Halász

Flute: Uwe Grodd

'Cello Concerto in D major'   Badley V:D3   Leopold Hofmann

1775   Artaria

Northern Sinfonia / Tim Hugh

Violoncello: Tim Hugh

'Oboe Concerto in C major'   Badley III:C2   Leopold Hofmann

Sometime latter seventies 1781 at latest   Artaria

Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia / Béla Drahos

Oboe: Stefan Schilli

In 1791 Mozart became an assistant to Hofmann at St. Stephens. As Hofmann was ill Mozart was looking at the possibility of filling his position, but that the latter died on 5 December 1791, a little more than a year before Hofmann did on 17 March 1793.

Recordings of Hofmann: Catalogs: All Music   Discogs   Music Brainz   RYM

Recordings of Hofmann: Select:

Cello Concertos (Northern Sinfonia / Tim Hugh / June 1996 England / March 1998):

Naxos  Naxos

Flute Concertos Vol. 1 (Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia / Béla Drahos / 1999):

MusicWeb International   Naxos

Flute Concertos Vol. 3 (Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia / Béla Drahos / 2001)

Flute Concertos · 3 (Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra / Michael Halász / Feb 2018 Czech Republic):

eClassical  Presto

Six Divertimenti Op. 1 (Musica Elegentia / Matteo Cicchitti / 2023):

Challenge Records   Presto   Qobuz

Scores / Sheet Music: IMSLP (digital copies)   Musicalics (vendor)   ScorSer

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