Josepha Auernhammeraus classic

Josepha Barbara Auernhammer (* 25 September 1758 in Vienna; † 30 January 1820 ibid) was an Austrian pianist and composer.

Life

Josepha Barbara Auernhammer studied with Georg Friedrich Richter, Leopold Anton Kozeluch and from 1781 with Mozart, with whom she fell in love. On 27 June 1781 Mozart wrote about her: “I am almost daily after table with H: v: Auerhammer; – Die freulle ist ein scheusal! – but plays to delight; only she lacks the true, fine singing taste in the cantabile; she plucks everything.” In this year Mozart dedicated his sonatas for piano and violin K. 296 and K. 376-380 to her (the dedication to Auernhammer on the edition of the piano variations “Ah, vous dirais je, maman” K. 265 was added by the publisher Christoph Torricella in 1785).

Auernhammer corrected the printings of several of Mozart’s sonatas, and her piano playing with Mozart was enthusiastically described by Abbé Stadler. On the occasion of a house concert at the Passauerhof in Vienna, she played the Sonata for Two Pianos K. 448 and the Double Concerto K. 365 with Mozart on 23 November 1781. Further joint concert performances took place in January 1782 and on 26 May 1782. After the death of her father, Mozart arranged for Auernhammer to stay with Baroness Waldstätten in Leopoldstadt.

On 23 May 1786 she married the civil servant Johann Bessenig (c. 1752-1837), with whom she had four children. She continued to perform regularly in private circles and at concerts in the Burgtheater. As early as 25 March 1801, she played Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto in C major op. 15 there, which had been published only a few days earlier. She gave her last public concert on 21 March 1813 together with her daughter Marianna, who also distinguished herself as a singing teacher and pianist under the name Auenheim.

Auernhammer wrote mainly piano music, especially variations, which testify to a comprehensive knowledge of pianistic techniques and artful use of the instrument. She published “about 10 booklets of piano variations”. Six German songs were disseminated in manuscripts (1790).

Her grave is located in the St. Marx cemetery.

Source Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josepha_Barbara_Auernhammer