Johannes Matthias Sperger

Sperger was an highly lauded double bass player who was a skilled composer as well. He served at a number of different courts during his career including Pressburg, 1777-1783, Erdody, 1783-1786, possibly Esterhazy, and Mecklenburg, 1789-1812. He traveled considerably between 1786 and 1789 making appearances in Prague, Berlin, Ludwigslust, Ansbach, Passau, Parma, Trieste and Bologna. His "Catalog uber verschuckte Musicalien" serves as a major biographical source on Sperger's life and it contains detailed information dealing with his compositions. Sperger composed forty five symphonies, eighteen double concertos and numerous chamber works. The compositions demonstrate his skill at instrumentation and use of an obbligato bass. ~ Keith Johnson