Schröter, Corona
Schröter, Schroeter, Schroeder, Johann Heinrich, *around 1752 Gubin (?), †2 XI 1788 London, German pianist and composer, son of Johann Friedrich. He was at first taught music by his father, then from around 1763 by J.A. Hiller in Leipzig. He performed from 1767 in Grosse Konzerte by Hiller as a pianist, and previously (until his mutation) as a singer (soprano). After the family tour (1771–73) he stayed in London, where at first, he was active as an organist. He also published several collections of solo and chamber music (Op. 1 and Op. 2 previously published in Amsterdam). He became one of the most respected piano teachers in London. Patron of J.S. Schröter was Count Heinrich von Brühl; the composer dedicated his sonatas Op. 1 to him. In 1782 (after the death of J.C. Bach), Schröter was given the title of music-master to Queen Sophie Charlotte, wife of King George III. Shortly afterwards, he married his student Rebecca and became a less frequent public performer, except for concerts for the Prince of Wales (later King George IV), where he was employed, and other rare occasions. Schröter was also a teacher of J.B. Cramer.
Schröter was a pianist whose playing charmed with graceful serenity and ease in rapid figurations and passages. He popularised the sonata allegro form. Although his Op. 3 and Op. 5 were among the earliest piano concertos in England, they still had a chamber music character (the cadenzas for Op. 3 were written by W.A. Mozart).
Literature: K. Wolff Johann Samuel Schröter, „The Musical Quarterly” XLIV, 1958.
Compositions (published in London, if not specified):
6 Sonatas, Op. 1, for harpsichord/grand piano, published in Amsterdam 1772 (?)
6 Sonatas, Op. 2, for harpsichord/grand piano accompanied by violin and cello, published in Amsterdam 1773 (?)
6 Concerts for harpsichord/grand piano accompanied by string instruments, Op. 3, 1774, published as Op. 4 and Op. 5, Berlin and Amsterdam around 1776
6 Sonatas, Op. 4, for grand piano and flute/violin, around 1775, published as Op. 6, n.d.
Op. 6, 6 for harpsichord/grand piano accompanied by violin and cello, around 1786 published as Op. 8 and Op. 9, Paris and Mainz, n.d.
6 Concerts for harpsichord/grand piano accompanied by string instruments, Op. 5, around 1777, published as Op. 7 and Op. 8, Berlin around 1780
12 Favorite Scotch Songs for voice and harpsichord accompanied by violin/flute, around 1777, published as Petits airs dune exécution facile, Op. 5, arrangement for harpsichord and violin/flute ad libtum, Paris 1777
2 Quintets for harpsichord, flute, violin, viola and cello, published in: 3 quintetti (…) par I.S. Schröter et un par G. Pugnani Op. 1, Offenbach, around 1778, published also in London around 1778
Epithalamium for voice and piano, around 1785
Sonata in B major for harpsichord/grand piano accompanied by violin and cello, around 1788 published as Op. 11, Paris n.d.
2 Sonatas Op. 7, for grand piano and violin, published in Edinburgh around 1789
Editions:
Concert, Op. 3, No. 3, published by K. Schultz-Hauser, Mainz 1964
Sonata from Op. 1, published by S. Lincoln in Five Eighteenth Century Piano Sonatas, London 1975
Sonatas, Op. 4, No. 5, and Op. 6, No. 3, published by E. Hickman, 1996.