Heinrich Anton Hoffmann, German violin virtuoso and conductor, b. 1770 in Mainz. Hoffmann read law and philosophy at the University there. Following his father’s death at the outbreak of the Revolutionary Wars, he fell on hard times. Hoffman chose a musical career and became chamber musician at the Court of the Prince-Elector, the Archbishop of Mainz. He stayed there until the siege of Mainz forced him to relocate, first to Aschaffenburg and later to Frankfurt, where he took up a post as violinist at the Stadttheater. From 1801 until 1819, he rose from the rank of Correpetitor and Concert Master to Vice Director of Music and finally Director of Music and Co-director of Theatre. When Guhr was made Kapellmeister in 1821, Hoffmann took the titles of Vice Music Director and First Violinist. He retired in 1835 and continued to compose until his death in 1842. Among Hoffmann’s published works are six String Quartets, two Violin Concertos, a Concertante for two Violins, 12 Lieder with piano accompaniment and Duos for Violin and Violoncello, all works of outstanding quality.
—Source: Musikalisches Conversations-Lexikon: An Encyclopedia of All Musical Sciences for the Educated of All Classes, edited and published by Hermann Mendel, Berlin 1875 (transl.)
Audio excerpt — Heinrich Hoffmann
Allegro con brio from Deux Duos pour Violon et Violoncelle
dédiés à Messieurs les Frères Romberg op. 6
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