Schmelzer, Johann Heinrich

Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (1620–1623 Schleibbs – 1680 Prague)

Sonatae unarum fidium seu a Violino Solo, Nuremberg 1664

print, paper, 220×310 mm, acquired in the second half of the 17th century, Olomouc Archbishopric – Archdiocesan Museum in Kroměříž, A 638

Bishop Karl II von Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn had compositions by the composers of the Viennese Imperial Court sent to the Kroměříž court, where pieces by J. H. Schmelzer were particularly popular. The number of Schmelzer’s compositions even exceeds the number of pieces by Pavel Josef Vejvanovský. The bishop ordered exclusively secular music from Schmelzer, such as sonatas, ballets and arias. The print of the collection of six brilliant sonatas for solo violin and basso continuo is of high artistic value. Schmelzer was also a violin virtuoso celebrated all over Europe.
Jitka Kocůrková