Krumpholtz, Václav
Krumpholtz, Krumpholz Jan Křtitel, Johann Baptist, Jean-Baptiste, *8 May 1742 Budenice, †19 February 1790 Paris, Czech harpist, composer, and instrument designer. He initially studied horn, turning to the harp only later. In 1772 he became known in Vienna as a virtuoso and teacher of the instrument. From 1773 he studied composition with J. Haydn and was a member of the court orchestra of Prince M. Esterházy. In 1776 he undertook a concert tour of Europe, further establishing his reputation as a leading harp virtuoso. During this period he worked on improving the harp in cooperation with P.J. Cousineau, H. Naderman, and Ch. Steckler. In 1777 he settled in Paris, where he pursued a career as composer and teacher.
Krumpholtz’s compositions became a foundation of the harp repertoire and remain widely performed. His profound knowledge of the instrument enabled him to write idiomatically and contributed significantly to the development of harp technique. He is also noted for his efforts to expand the instrument’s sonorities. In 1776 he presented the ‘harpe organisée’, designed by him as an improvement of Ch. Hochbrucker’s pedal harp. Further refinements were later implemented after his death by S. Érard in the double-action pedal harp. His principles of harp playing, together with a brief autobiography, were published by J.M. Plane in Principes pour la harpe, Paris 1800, 2nd ed. 1977.
2 symphonies Op. 11, Paris 1787
6 harp concertos: 2 from Op. 4, Paris ca. 1777, 2 from Op. 6, Paris, ca. 1777, 1 from Op. 7, Paris ca. 1778, 1 from Op. 9, Paris ca. 1785
for harp with accompaniment of another instrument:
sonatas Op. 1, Paris ca. 1775, Op. 3, Paris ca. 1776, Op. 8, Paris ca. 1780
Quatre sonates non difficiles Op. 12, Paris ca. 1787
Quatre sonates chantantes Op. 16, Paris ca. 1788
Trois sonates (…) dont la Ire en forme de scene Op. 17, Paris ca. 1789
Andante Op. 19, Paris ca. 1789
for 2 harps:
2 duets Op. 5, Paris ca. 1777
Recueil contenant diffèrent petits airs variés, une sonate et petit duo Op. 10, Paris ca. 1787
for harp or piano:
Collection de pièces de différens genres distribuées en six sonates Opp. 13 and 14, Paris ca. 1788 (4 with violin accompaniment)
Quatre sonates en forme de scènes de différens caractères Op. 15, Paris ca. 1788
Deux sonates en forme de scènes Op. 18, Paris ca. 1789
for harp solo:
Recueil de douze préludes et petits airs Op. 2, ca. 1776
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numerous variations and songs