Sylvius Leopold Weiss | Timeline

Silvius [Sylvius] Leopold Weiss [Weiß] was a german composer and lutenist. Not as well-known today as his contemporary and friend, J.S.Bach, Weiss started as a child-prodigy taught by his lutenist father, and rose in musically-rich holy roman imperial courts to become the most famous, the most sought-after and the highest paid musician of the baroque Era.

October 12, 1687 - Grottkau, near Breslau (Wroclaw) - Sylvius Leopold Weiss is born

January(?) 1(?), 1694(?) - Breslau - 7-year old Sylvius leopold is invited to perform before Emperor Leopold I
January(?) 1(?), 1706 - Kassel - Weiss accompanies hereditary Prince Friedrich of Hessen-Kassel to Kassel and stays for a month. He performs in the Court of Elector of Palatinate Johann Wilhelm =(START)
March(?) 1(?), 1706 - Breslau - Makes his professional debut in the Court of "Pfalzgraf" Karl Philipp, in which his family served
January(?) 1(?), 1707 - Innsbruck, Austria - Karl Philipp moves his court from Breslau to Innsbruck. Weiss may have accompanied him
June(?) 1(?), 1708 - Rome - Weiss departs Breslau for Rome, in service and company of polish Prince Alexander Sobieski, who travels to Rome to meet his mother, the former Queen Maria Casimira. Weiss takes residence at the Zuccari Palazzo
May(?) 1(?), 1709 - Rome - Silvius Leopold Weiss meets Domenico Scarlatti
January(?) 1(?), 1713 - Prague - Weiss meets Count Johann Anton Losy, a lutenist aswell, whose work has impact in Weiss
January(?) 1(?), 1714 - Kassel - Weiss returns to Germany and briefly serves at the court of Kassel
January(?) 1(?), 1717 - Dresden - Weiss plays in Dresden for the first time
June(?) 1(?), 1717 - Prague - Weiss and luthier Thomas Edlinger create the 13-course baroque lute, adding two courses, modifying the pegbox and lengthening the bass strings to enhanve their sound
June 23, 1718 - Dresden - Weiss is appointed chamber musician at the Court of Dresden in the famous orchestra of the Saxon elector and King of Poland, August the Strong. Annual salary of 1,000 thalers
December(?) 1(?), 1718 - Vienna - Weiss goes together with eleven other musicians of the court, to Vienna for the wedding of the Elector of Saxony
January 20(?), 1719 - Vienna(?) - Weiss starts composing for a 13-course lute. Sonata for lute in A minor ("L'infidèle") (Dresden MS No. 15; London MS No. 23), WeissSW 29 (Smith 187-192)
August 20, 1719 - Vienna - Wedding of Frederick Augustus II, Elector of Saxony and Maria Josepha of Austria
January(?) 1(?), 1722(?) - Dresden(?) - Weiss writes a "tombeau" in memory of Count Johann Anton Losy. the violinist Petit, a pupil of Tartini, supposedly as an act of vengeance, had almost bitten off a part of his thumb
October(?) 1(?), 1722 - Munich - Weiss departs for Munich with Buffardin to attend the Prince Elector of Bavaria's wedding. He is handsomely rewarded there
September 5, 1723 - Prague - Weiss returns to Prague for the third time, accompanied this time by the illustrious flute-player Johann Joachim Quantz and singer and composer Carl Heinrich Graun. The three musicians went to the crowning of Emperor Charles VI as King of Bohemia
May 1(?), 1728 - Berlin - Weiss accompanies his lord and three of the greatest musicians of the court - violin-player Pisendel and flute-players Buffardin and Quantz - to the court at Berlin. They stay there for three months, probably upon the invitation of future Margrave Wilhelmine of Bayreuth, Frederic II's sister
January(?) 1(?), 1732 - Dresden - The lute evolves into the "swan-neck" lute and then other forms with 2 or 3 distinct pegboxes
January(?) 1(?), 1733 - Dresden - His salary is raised to 1,200 annual thalers
January(?) 1(?), 1736 - Dresden - Weiss refuses an offer of 2,000 annual thalers to join the Imperial Court in Vienna
January(?) 1(?), 1737 - Dresden - Weiss is emprisoned in Dresden for an alleged crime (Weiss would have offended the Master of Revels of Breitenbach). Kayserling writes the Minister of the State to praise the lute-player and to ask for his release
January(?) 1(?), 1738 - Dresden(?) - Weiss meets violinist Franz Benda. They take turns at playing, throughout a whole afternoon and until midnight, 24 violin solos and 8 or 10 suites for the lute
August 11, 1739 - Leipzig - According with Johann Elias Bach, the famous lutenist Sylvius Leopold Weiss and his apprentice Johann Kropfgans arrived at Bach's house and played "extra special music" with their host.
April 15, 1741 - Dresden - Johann Adolf Faustinus Weiss is born, a future lutenist and composer like his father
January(?) 1(?), 1744 - Dresden - His salary is raised to 1,400 annual thalers
October 16, 1750 - Dresden - Sylvius Leopold Weiss dies, aged 63 =(END)

Presto in A Major by Weiss performed live by Robert Barto

Bibliography

Bach Cantatas Website

John Dowland | Timeline

John Dowland (1563 – buried 20 February 1626) was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep" (the basis of Benjamin Britten's 1963 composition for guitar solo, Nocturnal after John Dowland), "Come again", "Flow my tears", "I saw my Lady weepe" and "In darkness let me dwell", but his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and with the 20th century's early music revival, has been a continuing source of repertoire for lutenists and classical guitarists. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January(?) 1(?), 1563 - London(?) - John Dowland is born
January(?) 1(?), 1580 - Paris - Dowland goes to Paris, at Sir Henry Cobham's service, the ambassador to the French court, and his successor, Sir Edward Stafford. He becomes a Catholic at Paris =(START)
January(?) 1(?), 1584 - Paris - Dowland is sent on a mission by Sir Edward Stafford (who succeeded Cobham as Ambassador) on behalf of some english merchants imprisoned in France and condemned to the galleys
July 1(?), 1586 - England - Probably returns to England by this time
July 8, 1588 - Oxford - Dowland receives the Bachelor of Music from the University of Oxford. In "Apologia Musices", Dowland is mentioned by Dr.John Case among the most famous musicians of his day
November 17, 1590 - Tiltyard, Westminster - "His Golden Locks" is sung by Robert Hales at the Tiltyard, Westminster, at the Accession Day Celebrations
January(?) 1(?), 1592 - Sudeley Castle - "My heart and tongue were twins" is sung before the Queen at Sudeley Castle. Six Harmonizations contributed to Est's "Whole Book of Psalmes"

January(?) 1(?), 1594 - London - Dowland's application for a post as Court lutenist is rejected for being a Catholic
March(?) 1(?), 1594 - Braunschweig - Dowland visits the Duke of Brunswick
May(?) 1(?), 1594 - Kassel - Dowland visits the Landgrave of Hesse
July(?) 1(?), 1594 - Florence, Italy - Dowland plays before the Grand Duke of Tuscany
August(?) 1(?), 1594 - Florence - Dowland had the intention of going to Rome to visit Luca Marenzio, however, he leaves the city hurriedly when exiled english catholics living there attempt to involve him in a plot against the Queen.
January(?) 1(?), 1595 - Nuremberg - Dowland returns to Germany
November 10, 1595 - Nuremberg - Dowland writes a detailed account of his journey and of the activities of the exiles to Sir Robert Cecil.
January(?) 1(?), 1596 - Kassel - Returns to the Landgrave's Court. Seven of Dowland's compositions appear in Barley's "New Booke of Tabliture" without the composer's permission; "false and unperfect".
December 1, 1596 - Kassel - Dowland receives a letter from Henry Noel, urging him to return home in the likelihood of the Queen's granting him a post at Court.
February 26, 1597 - Westminster Abbey, London - "Lamentatio Henrici Noel" composed for Henry Cecil's funeral in Westminster Abbey
October 21, 1597 - London - "The First Booke of Songes" enters in the Stationer's Register. Dowland describes himself on the title-page as "Bacheler of Musicke in both the Universities".
February 9, 1598 - London - Dowland receives a letter from the Landgrave of Hesse offering him a post at the Landgrave's Court
July 16, 1598 - London - Appointment offered at the Court of Christian IV of Denmark
November 18, 1598 - Helsingor, Denmark - Dowland begins his duties as royal lutenist at the Danish Court with a salary of 500 daler a year
June 1, 1600 - Helsingor - Dowland finishes editing the "Second Booke of Songes"
July 15, 1600 - Helsingor - The "Second Booke of Songes" enters in the Stationers' Register.
July 28, 1600 - Helsingor - Dowland signs a receipt for 600 daler in excess of his salary, paid him on the intruction of the Court Treasurer

Dowland's "In Darkness let me dwell" with Sting's modern voice - A surprising result

September(?) 1(?), 1600 - London - Dowland returns to England to buy instruments and engage other musicians for the Danish Court
June 6, 1601 - London - Dowland receives a present from the Danish King of a portrait of His Royal Majesty in "plain gold"
February 21, 1602 - London - The "Third and Last Booke of Songes" enters in the Stationers' Register.
February 19, 1603 - Helsingor, Denmark - Back in Denmark
September 20, 1603 - Winchester - During a Masque presented for Prince Henry, Dowland "has access" to the Queen, probably soliciting a post at Court
October 4, 1603 - London - Second reprint of "The First Booke of Songes"
April 2, 1604 - Fetter Lane, London - "Lachrimae or Seven Teares" enters the Stationer's Register. By this date, Dowland occupies a house in Fetter Lane
July 10, 1604 - Helsingor, Denmark - Dowland returns to Denmark and is payed another year's salary
March 10, 1606 - Helsingor - Dowland is dismissed from the Court of Denmark while the King is absent on a visit to the Duke of Brunswick
April(?) 1(?), 1606 - London - Returns to England
October 28, 1611 - London - "A Pilgrimes Solace" enters in the Stationers' Register. Dowland becomes lutenist to Lord Walden
October 28, 1612 - Whitehall Palace - Appointed one of the lutes to King James I, in the place of Richard Pyke, at the salary of 20 pence a day
February 14, 1614 - Whitehall Palace - Plays the lute in Chapman's "Masque of the Inner Temple and Lincoln's Inn" at Whitehall during the festivities connected with the marriage of Princess Elizabeth.
May 7, 1625 - Westminster Abbey, London - Plays during the Funeral Ceremonies for King James I
January 20, 1626 - London - Receives his final payment and is succeeded in his post at Court by his son Robert
February 20, 1626 - London - John Dowland dies, aged 63 =(END)

Francesco da Milano | Timeline

Francesco da Milano, also known as Il divino, Francesco da Parigi, etc.) (18 August 1497 – 2 January 1543) was an Italian lutenist and composer. He was born in Monza, near Milan, and worked for the papal court for almost all of his career. Francesco was heralded throughout Europe as the foremost lute composer of his time. More of his music is preserved than of any other lutenist of the period, and his work continued to influence composers for more than a century after his death. (Intro from Wikipedia).

August 18, 1497 - Monza - Francesco Canova da Milano is born.
January(?) 1(?), 1514 - Rome - Da Milano becomes member of the Papal House in Rome =(START)
October (?) 1(?), 1516 - Rome - Da Milano and his father become private musicians to Pope Leo X
January 16, 1526 - Rome - Da Milano performs to the Pope Clemente VII and Isabella d'Este
January(?) 1(?), 1528 - Milan - Da Milano obtains a Canonry in S. Lazaro Maggiore in Milan
January(?) 1(?), 1530 - Murano, Venice - Travels to Venice
January(?) 1(?), 1531 - Itria, Lazio - Da Milano starts serving Cardinal Ippolito de Medici
August 10, 1535 - Itria, Lazio - Death of Cardinal Ippolito de Medici. Francesco looses his employer.
January(?) 1(?), 1538 - Massa (Southeast La Spezia) - Francesco is listed as a member of the household of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, a famous patron of the arts
June 18, 1538 - Nice, France - Da Milano is part of the Entourage of Pope Paul III in the Truce of Nice
July 1, 1538 - Milan - Da Milano marries Clara Tizzoni and moves to Milan
January(?) 1(?), 1539 - Rome - Da Milano starts working again in the Papal Court
January 2, 1543 - Milan - Francesco da Milano dies in Milan =(END)