Schenck, Johannes

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Schenck, Johannes

Schenck, Johannes, esteemed Dutch-born German viola da gambist and composer; b. Amsterdam (baptized), June 3, 1660; d. c. 1712. He entered the service of the Elector Palatine Johann Wilhelm I of Düsseldorf about 1696, and was granted the post of Kammerdiener, and later was court chamber councillor (c. 1710–12). Among his instrumental works were Uitgevondene tyd en konstoeffeningen for Viola da Gamba and Basso Continuo, op.2 (c. 1668), II giardino armonico for 2 Violins, Viola da Gamba, and Basso Continuo, op.3 (1691), Scherzi musicali for Viola da Gamba and Basso Continuo ad libitum, op.6 (n.d.; ed. by H. Leichtentritt, Leipzig, 1906), (18) Suonate for Violin and Violone or Harpsichord, op.7 (n.d.), and L’echo du Danube, 6 sonatas for Viola da Gamba, op.9 (c. 1705); also vocal works, including (27) Eegine gesangen, uit de opera von Bacchus, Ceres en Venus for Voice and Basso Continuo, op.l (1687), C. van Eekes koninklyke harpliederen for 2 Voices, 2 Viola da Gambas, and Basso Continuo, op.4 (c. 1693), and (63) Zangswyze uitbreiding over’t Hooglied van Salomen for Voice and Basso Continuo, op.5 (c.1697).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire