Johann Wolfgang Franck (Composer)

Born: June 1644 (baptised: June, 17 1644) - Unterschwaningen
Died: c1710 - ?

Johann Wolfgang Franck was a German composer, who served at the court of the Margrave of Ansbach from 1665 to 1679 (or from 1673 to 1678). He composed a considerable body of sacred music for the court chapel, and in 1677 was made court chaplain. In January 1679 he was forced to flee after murdering one of the musician of the chapel and wounding his wife in a fit of jealousy. Already known as an opera composer through e.g. Die drey Töchter des Cecrops (the first extant German opera in full score), he found asylum in Hamburg, becoming musical director of the T am Gänsemarkt. Kapellmeister at Hamburg Cathedral from 1682 to 1686. In Hamburg he produced 14 operas between 1679 and 1686. From 1690 to 1695 he was in London, in whose concert life he was an active participant. In conjunction with Robert King, he gave there concerts between 1690 and 1693, and in 1695 he wrote a song for Colley Cibber's Love's Last Shift.

Apart from his operas, Johann Wolfgang Franck wrote several books of sacred songs, also a number of songs for The Gentleman's Journal (1692-1694).

Source: Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera (1996); Source: Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1952 Edition; Author: E. van der Straeten)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2006)

Chorale Melodies used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Title

Year

EKG

Zahn

Die bittre Leidenszeit beginnet abermal

1681

7429

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Cantata: Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut

Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut

1672-1679

Cantata: In allen meinen Taten

O Welt, ich muß dich lassen

Links to other Sites

Franck, Johann Wolfgang (Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera)
Johann Wolfgang Franck, Biography (Goldberg) [French]

Johann Wolfgang Franck (1644 - 1719) (Karadar) [German]

Bibliography

Wm. Barclay Squire: Johann Wolfgang Franck in England