Johann Nepomuk Hummel

Early Romantic · 1778–1837

Johann Nepomuk Hummel had one of music history's better childhoods: born in Pressburg, now Bratislava, in 1778, he moved into Mozart's Vienna apartment at about eight years old, studying with him for two years and making his debut at one of Mozart's concerts. As an adult he was regarded as one of Europe's finest pianists, a friendly rival to Beethoven, and he spent his last two decades comfortably as music director at the court of Weimar.

His style bridges the Classical world of Mozart and the brilliance of early Romantic piano writing; Chopin knew and absorbed his concertos. After his death his reputation faded quickly in Beethoven's shadow, but the best pieces have come back.

Start with the Trumpet Concerto, written for a newly invented keyed trumpet that could finally play full melodies, then the Piano Concerto no. 2 in A minor.

108 works in the catalog, across 5 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

Septet, for flute, oboe, horn, viola, cello, double-bass, and piano, op. 74
3 Violin Sonatas, op. 5
Adagio, Variations and Rondo on 'Schöne Minka' in A major, for piano, flute and cello, op. 78
Amusement in F major, for violin and piano, op. 108, "Sonatine"
Cello Sonata in A major, op. 104
Introduction and variations on a German song in F major, for violin and piano, op. posth. 2
Partita, S.48, "Octet-Partita"
Piano Quartet in G major, op. posth.4
Piano Quintet in E flat minor, op. 87
Piano Trio in E flat major, op. 12
Piano Trio in E flat major, op. 96
Piano Trio in E major, op. 83
Piano Trio in F major, op. 22
Piano Trio in G major, op. 35
Piano Trio in G major, op. 65
Potpourri in G minor, for piano and guitar, op. 53
Quartet in E flat major, for clarinet, violin, viola and cello, WoO 5, S.78
Rondo brillant for Violin and Piano, op. 126
Sonata in A major, for flute or violin and piano, op. 64
Sonata in C minor, for mandolin or violin and harpsichord or piano, op. 37a
Sonata in G for violin or flute and piano or harpsichord, op. 2a/2
String Trio in G major, WoO4
Sérénade en potpourri in G major, for piano, guitar, violin, clarinet or flute and bassoon or cello, op. 63
Sérénade no. 2, for piano, violin, guitar, clarinet or flute and bassoon or cello, op. 66
Variations in D minor, for cello and piano, op. 54
Violin or Flute Sonata in D major, op. 50

Keyboard

3 Amusementes en forme de caprices, op. 105
6 Bagatelles, op. 107
7 Cadenzas for Mozart piano concertos, op. 4
24 Etudes, op. 125
Andante in A flat major
Capriccio in E flat major, op. posth.6
Capriccio in F major, op. 49
Fantasie in E flat major, op. 18
Fantasie on themes by Neukomm and Hummel in G minor, op. 123
Fantasina on Themes from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, op. 124
Introduction and Rondo in E flat major, for 2 pianos, op. posth.5
La bella capricciosa, polonaise in B flat major, op. 55
Nocturne in F major, for piano 4-hands, op. 99
Overture to Mozart's Don Giovanni
Piano Sonata in A flat major, op. 92
Piano Sonata in C major, op. 2a
Piano Sonata in D major, op. 106
Piano Sonata in E flat major, op. 13
Piano Sonata in F sharp minor, op. 81
Piano Sonata no. 1 in C major, op. 2, no. 3
Piano Sonata no. 3 in F minor, op. 20
Piano Sonata no. 4 in C major, op. 38
Piano Sonata no. 7 in G
Piano Sonata no. 8 in A flat major
Piano Sonata no. 9 in C
Pot-pourri, op. 58-59
Potpourri from the opera Die Eselshaut, op. 58
Prelude and 2 Fugues, op. posth.7
Recollections of Paganini in C major, fantasia, WoO 8, S.190
Rondeau villageoise, op. 122
Rondo brillant, op. 109
Rondo in E flat major, op. 11
Rondo quasi una fantasia in E flat major, op. 19
Variation on a Waltz by Diabelli, S.161
Variations on a 'Chanson hollandaise' in B flat major, op. 21
Variations on a march from Cherubini’s Les deux journée, op. 9
Variations on a march from Dalayrac's 'Les deux Savoyards' in A minor, op. 15
Variations on a theme from Gluck's 'Armide' in F major, op. 57
Variations on the March from Isouard's Cendrillon, op. 40a
Variations on Vivat Bacchus from Mozart's Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, op. 34, no. 3

Orchestral

Piano Concerto no. 2 in A minor, op. 85
Piano Concerto no. 3 in B minor, op. 89
Trumpet Concerto in E or Eb, WoO1, S.49
7 Hungarian Dances, op. 23
12 Waltzes and Coda, S. 104
Adagio, Theme and Variations for Oboe and Orchestra in F minor/F
Adagio and Rondo alla Polacca, for violin and orchestra
Bassoon Concerto in F major, S.63, WoO23
Concertino in G major, for piano and small orchestra, op. 73
Concerto, for piano, violin and orchestra in G major, op. 17
Gesellschafts Rondo in D major, for piano and orchestra, op. 117
Le retour à Londres, rondo brillant in F major, for piano and orchestra, op. 127
Mandolin Concerto in G major, S. 28
Oberons Zauberhorn, fantasy for piano and orchestra, op. 116
Overture in D, S.148
Piano Concerto in A flat major, op. 113
Piano Concerto in A major, WoO 24, S.4
Piano Concerto in C major, op. 34a
Piano Concerto in E, op. 110, "Les Adieux"
Piano Concerto in F major, op. posth. 1
Potpourri in G minor, op. 94
Rondo brillant in A major, op. 56
Rondo brillant in B flat major, for piano and orchestra, op. 98
Variations in F major, for piano and small orchestra, op. 97
Variations on a theme from a Berlin Singspiel 'Das Fest der Handwerker' in B flat major, for piano and orchestra, op. 115
Variations on ‘O du lieber Augustin’, WoO2

Stage

Das Zauberschloss, oder Das aufgelöste Rätsel, 4 numbers for the Viganò's ballet, WoO 32, S. 88
Final Ballet for Hérold's opera 'Das Zauberglöckchen', WoO 31, S. 206
Quintuor des nègres in Paul et Virginie, op. 41 Ballet
Sappho von Mitilene, op. 68 Ballet

Vocal

5 Settings of Scottish folksongs, for voice, flute, violin, cello and piano, S.169
Air à la tirolienne avec variations, for voice and orchestra, op. 118
Alma virgo, offertory for soprano, chorus and orchestra, op. 89a
Mass, for soloists, chorus and orchestra in D major, op. 111
Mass for soloists, chorus and orchestra in D minor, WoO 13, S.67
Mass for soloists, chorus and orchestra no. 1 in B flat major, op. 77
Mass for soloists, chorus and orchestra no. 2 in E flat major, op. 80
Missa solemnis in C major, WoO12
Quod quod in orbe, gradual for chorus and orchestra, op. 88
Salve Regina, offertory for soloists, chorus and orchestra in B flat major, WoO 18, S.79
Te Deum, for chorus and orchestra in D major, WoO 16, S.70
Zur Logenfeier, "Zwischengesang"

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