Solnitz, Solniz, Sollnitz, Anton Wilhelm, *ca. 1708 Czechia, †ca. 1753 Leiden, Dutch composer of Czech origin. In the late 1730s, he settled in Leiden, where he enrolled at the university in 1743. He was a prolific composer. In 1738, Solnitz’s symphony was performed at the 100th-anniversary celebrations of the Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre) in Amsterdam; concert programmes, including those in The Hague (1751), as well as catalogues and publication announcements (by N. Selhof, Breitkopf) document the popularity of his works and also serve as a source of information about lost compositions. Most of Solnitz’s works were published in Amsterdam.
Solnitz’s oeuvre belongs to a transitional period and contains features characteristic of both the late Baroque and the galant styles. The Sinfonie Op. 1 and Op. 3, showing strong influences from the music of G.B. Sammartini, are considered among the earliest works of this genre in Dutch music.
Literature: J.W. Lustig Notes on Dutch Musicians, in: F.W. Marpurg Kritische Briefe über die Tonkunst, vol. 2, Berlin 1763, reprint Hildesheim 1973.
Sinfonie for two violins, viola and basso continuo: 12, Op. 1, Amsterdam ca. 1738, 6, Op. 3, Leiden ca. 1745
Divertissements Op. 2, for 2 horns/2 clarinets, Amsterdam ca. 1740, lost
trio sonatas: 6 for 2 violins and basso continuo, as Op. 1, London ca. 1750; 6 for 2 flutes/2 violins and basso continuo, as Op. 2, London ca. 1751
6 sonatas for 2 flutes, Amsterdam ca. 1738
works preserved in manuscripts are among others 6 sinfonie, 12 sonatas for two violins and harpsichord, a trio for two violins and a bass instrument, and 4 sonatas for two violins, a viola and a bass instrument
