Along with the Stamitz concerto, Hoffmeister‘s Viola Concerto is the most important audition piece for viola players. Yet, it has been handed down in a complicated source tradition, surviving in a single contemporary manuscript covered with many layers of markings. Our piano reduction reconstructs, for the first time, the earliest textual layer in this source, thereby coming as close as possible to Hoffmeister‘s actual intentions. The reconstructed original is accompanied by a detailed critical commentary. Fingering and bowing marks have been added by no less a musician than Kim Kashkashian!
Read more about this edition in the Henle Blog.
Content/Details
- Viola Concerto D major
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Preface
The Concerto in D major for viola and orchestra by Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) has long been a standard work in its genre. It comes down to us in a single contemporary source, a handwritten set of orchestral parts preserved in the Sächsische Landesbibliothek · Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden (Mus. 3944-O-5) with the following title on the dustcover: … more
About the composer

Franz Anton Hoffmeister
A German composer and music publisher, whose two careers complemented one another. He therefore composed with an eye toward the market, bearing in mind the current preferences and demands of the interested lay musician. He published, variously, works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Haydn, and Ignaz Pleyel. His compositional output comprises all genres, including chamber music, symphonies, piano music, stage works, and vocal music.
1754 | Born in Rottenburg am Neckar on October 27 (according to church registers). |
around 1768 | He studies law in Vienna. |
1778 | He is musical director for Count Franz von Szecsenyi and follows him to Hungary. |
1784 | Back in Vienna, he founds a music publishing house. He maintains professional and personal contact with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. |
1798 | Sets off on a concert tour with flautist Franz Thurner. In Leipzig he meets Ambrosius Kühnel. |
1800 | With Ambrosius Kühnel he founds the Leipzig publishing house Bureau de Musique on December 1. His wife Theresia Hoffmeister takes care of the day-to-day business. |
1805 | He leaves the Leipzig publishing house and transfers his residence entirely to Vienna. |
1806 | He ends his work at the Viennese publishing house. |
1812 | Dies in Vienna on February 9. |
About the authors
Norbert Gertsch and Julia Ronge have carefully sifted through all available texts to produce this handsome publication and the renowned violist Kim Kashkashian offers fingering and bowing suggestions. Cadenzas and lead-ins are by Robert Levin. Spread over 17 pages, rather than 8 or 10 pages in earlier publications, this Henle edition is clear and spacious and presents a text that is unfettered by nineteenth century philosophy of over-editing. ... Here is another fine achievement from this eminent publishing house.