Johann Christoph Kellner

Having studied music with his father, Johann Peter Kellner, and Benda, Johann Christoph Kellner became the organist for the Lutheran church at Kassel after staying in Amsterdam and at the Hague. His Singspiel, "Die Schadenfreude," was an exception to the major genre of his music, keyboard works in the galant style. Kellner's music demonstrated homophonic writing with well-harmonized parts and strong, lyric melodies. His fugal endeavors were dominated by key-centered contrasts and well-established forms of sonata and tocatta executions. Concertos for the keyboard were written in a playful manner and show the influence of C.P.E. Bach in their use of serious climactic effects and drama. Kellner was able to combine his treatment of the galant style with well-wrought counterpoint especially in his organ trios and fantasies. He knew the prevailing conventions of the time as was indicated by his treatise "Grundriss des Generalbasses." ~ Keith Johnson