by Layne Anspach
Hello musicians!
Johannes Matthias Sperger’s Cassation No. 3 will be the focus of this month’s Chamber Music Corner. Sperger (1750-1812), a double bassist and composer, was born in Feldsberg (now Valtice), Czechia in 1750. His earliest training was from an organist in Feldsberg, but he went on to study with Johann Georg Albrechtsberger in Vienna. Considered a leading double bass player of his day, Sperger was employed in a number of courts but worked longest at the court in Ludwigslust from 1789 until his death in 1812.
Sperger’s compositional output is extensive, including 45 symphonies, 18 double bass concerti, and many chamber works. His Cassation No. 3 is also cataloged as Divertimento in D Major, M.C II:21. The work is for horn, viola, and double bass, and it is closely related to the trio for flute, viola, and double bass, M.C II:20.
The work is in four movements. The first, Moderato, rotates the primary melody between each instrument in a typical classical style. There are sixteenth note runs that add flourishes to the movement as well. Andante poco adagio begins with a horn melody which is passed to the viola. The double bass assumes the melody in the middle section before the opening material returns once more to close the movement.
The third movement, Menuett and Trio, begins with the viola leading the melody, then passing it to the horn with the bass continually supporting. The roles in the first trio are reversed as the horn takes the lead first followed by the viola. After a return to the menuett, a second trio features the bass (no doubt showing off Sperger’s own skill). The final movement, Andante con variazioni and Allegro, starts with the melody in the horn before the viola takes over in the first variation. Not surprisingly, in the second variation the bass takes over the melodic presentation. The third variation sees the return of the theme, carried by the horn, supported by active triplets in the viola. The work ends with the Allegro in compound meter and is propelled by the viola and bass with the horn as the supportive participant.
The reference recording features hornist Ab Koster on the album Rarities for Double Bass (Christophorus, 2007).
