Johann André

Johann André, born at Offenbach, Hesse, March 28, 1741, died there, Jun 18, 1799. Dramatic composer. His father, a silk manufacturer, intended him for the same business, but his love of music was too strong. He received lessons on the violin from a friend studying at Frankfort, and mastered the harpsichord without a teacher. He soon began composing, writing at rist only fugitive pieces, but on visiting Frankfort in 1760 he heard operas, and this gave a new impulse to his taste. After the production of his first comic opera, Der Topfer, Goethe confided to him his operetta Erwin und Elmire, which was given in 1764 with great success, and afterwards in Berlin twenty-two times in 1782. In 1774 he established at Offenbach a prinint office for music, and in 1777 became musical director fo the Döbbelin Theatre in Berlin, where two of his operas had been give with success in 1775; while there, he formed a friendship and was much influenced by Marpurg, and composed many dramatic pieces. Unable to carry out a plan for transferring his printing office to Berlin, he returned to Offenbach in 1784, with the title of Kapellmeister, conferred on him by the Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, and to the end of his active life devoted himself to composition, and his publications; Works: Operas: Der alte Freier, given in Berlin, Döbberlin Theatre, 1775; Die Bezuaberten, 1777; Der Alchymist, 1778; Das tartarische Gesetz, 1779; Das wüthende Heer, Kurze Thortheit ist die beste, 1780; Herzog Michael, Der Fütst im höchsten glanze, Die Schandefrued, Das automat, about 1780; Eins wird doch helfen, 1782; Der Barbier von Bagdad, 1782;Peter und Hannehen; Laura Rosetti; Claudina von villa Bella; Die Friedensfeier; Prolog der Grazien; Azakia. Other works: Harlekin Friseur, pantomine; Music to Macbeth, King Lear, and some German palys; Three sonatas for pianoforte, violin, and violoncello, op. 1 (Offenbach, 1786); Song with accompaniment of flute, or violin, viola, and bass, 3 parts (1793); Lenore (by Bürger), romance for pianoforte (5 editions); Die Weiber von Weinsberg, for pianoforte (1802); Ariettas, duets, and many songs of which "Bekränzt mot Laub den lieben vollen Becher: is still popular.

Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians by John Denison Camplin, Jr. and William Foster Apthorp (Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1888)