Dittersdorf, Double Bass Concerto in E-Flat

Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739-1799) has one of the more colorful names among composers. Born Carl Ditters, he was ennobled by Maria Theresa in 1773 as a prerequisite for assuming a new post, and that gave him the additional “von Dittersdorf.” Technically, his surname became Ditters von Dittersdorf, but he is generally referred to simply as Dittersdorf.

He grew up and worked in Vienna and the surrounding area, filling a variety of church and court posts. At one point he succeeded Michael Haydn (brother of Joseph Haydn) in 1765 as Kapellmeister to the Bishop of Grosswardein.

He composed numerous vocal works, including oratorios, cantatas, and operas along with many instrumental works. He is credited with approximately 120 symphonies and 40 concertos, two of which are for the double bass. The exact number is difficult to determine since few of his autograph scores survive, but the wide distribution of his music testifies to his popularity during his lifetime. His music is often compared to that of his Viennese contemporary Joseph Haydn in his thematic development, use of folk melodies, a general sense of wit, and in his overall compositional output.

If the setting of this video looks familiar, you may be recalling an earlier Friday Performance Pick featuring a bass concerto by Johann Baptist Wanhal. If Dittersdorf and Wanhal remind you of Haydn and Mozart, you can picture the four of them playing string quartets: Dittersdorf on first violin, Wanhal on cello, Haydn on second violin, and Mozart on viola. It happened.