Roman Hoffstetter

A Benedictine monk who was the "regens chori" at a monastery in a region under the auspices of the archbishop of Mainz. The monastery was disbanded in 1803 and Hoffstetter moved to a monastery in Miltenberg am Main. His set of string quartets was discovered just prior to 1964 and he modeled his "Divertimenti a quattro" after those of Haydn. The material he composed was not developed to the extent of Haydn's elaboration but Hoffstetter's works are easy to comprehend, appreciate and listen to because of their stylistic appeal. Other compositions inlcuded masses and other sacred works. Three viola concertos indicate that Hoffstetter himself may have played the instrument. ~ Keith Johnson