Short bio Sylvius Leopold Weiss
Birthday:
1687 in Breslau, Poland
Died:
1750 in Dresden, Germany
Genre:
Classical
Period:
Baroque
Full biography Sylvius Leopold Weiss
Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1687-1750) was a prominent German composer and lutenist of the Baroque era. He is considered one of the greatest composers for the lute, and his music is still widely appreciated and performed today.
Weiss was born in Grottkau (now part of Poland) and started playing the lute at a young age. He soon gained fame as a virtuoso lutenist and was employed by various European courts, including those of Dresden, Warsaw, and Vienna.
Weiss composed over 600 pieces for the lute, including sonatas, suites, and concertos. His music is characterized by its virtuosity, expressiveness, and variety of styles. He was particularly known for his use of counterpoint, which is the art of combining melodies together to create a harmonic whole.
In addition to his music, Weiss was also highly regarded as a teacher and a performer. He influenced many lutenists of his time, including his younger contemporary Johann Sebastian Bach, who is known to have performed some of Weiss's works.
Despite his importance in the history of music, Weiss's music was largely forgotten for many years after his death. It was only in the 20th century, with the revival of interest in Baroque music, that his works began to be rediscovered and appreciated. Today, Sylvius Leopold Weiss is recognized as one of the most important and influential composers for the lute, and his music continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.
Compositions featuring Sylvius Leopold Weiss
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ciaconna for lute in F major (Harrach II MS No. 77), WeissSW 1.12 (Smith 573) | 4:34 min | Chamber Music | 1749 |
| 2 | Concerto for 2 lutes in C major (Harrach I MS, 24-37) | 8:55 min | Chamber Music | 1749 |
| 3 | Gigue for lute in D minor (Harrach I MS No. 105) | 2:02 min | Chamber Music | 1749 |
| 4 | Sarabande for lute in D minor (Harrach I MS No. 104) | 3:51 min | Chamber Music | 1749 |
| 5 | Sarabande for lute in F major (Harrach II MS No. 75) | 4:02 min | Chamber Music | 1749 |
| 6 | Suite for lute in D minor (Harrach II MS Nos. 59-64; Smith 548, 550, 551) | 9:17 min | Chamber Music | 1749 |
| 7 | Suite for lute in F major (Harrach I MS Nos. 83, 86-89) | 11:04 min | Chamber Music | 1749 |
| 8 | Suite for lute in D minor (Harrach I MS Nos. 65-71) | 16:23 min | Chamber Music | 1726 |
| 9 | Suite for lute in B major (Harrach I MS Nos. 114-119) | 13:23 min | Chamber Music | 1725 |
| 10 | Sonata for flute & lute in G minor (London MS), WeissSW 14 (only lute part survives) (Smith 75-80) | 18:19 min | Chamber Music | 1721 |
| 11 | Sonata for lute in D minor (London MS), WeissSW 20 (Smith 120-125) | 21:33 min | Chamber Music | 1721 |
| 12 | Sonata for lute in A minor ("L'infidèle") (Dresden MS No. 15; London MS No. 23), WeissSW 29 (Smith 187-192) | 21:00 min | Chamber Music | 1719 |
| 13 | Sonata for lute in G major (London MS No. 16), WeissSW 22 (SMith 134-141) | 28:40 min | Chamber Music | 1719 |
| 14 | Tombeau sur la mort de Monsieur Comte de Logy, for lute in B flat minor (London MS), WeissSW 20* (Smith 210) | 7:09 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1706 |
| 15 | Sonata for lute in B flat major (Dresden MS No. 24), WeissSW 4 (Smith 26-30, 334, 336, 335) | 13:52 min | Chamber Music | 17?? |
| 16 | Adagio for lute in C major, WeissSW 44* (Smith 541) | 3:22 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 17 | Adagio mesto e Allegretto (arr. by Segovia) | 7:45 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 18 | Allamanda for lute in D minor (Schloss Rohrau MS [NYPL]) | 4:57 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 19 | Allegro for lute in G major, WeissSW 1* (Smith 29) | 2:42 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 20 | Allemande | 4:39 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 21 | Angloise, for lute | 5:54 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 22 | Bourrée for lute in C major, WeissSW 12* (Smith 111) | 3:16 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 23 | Bourrée, for lute in A minor | 2:40 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 24 | Capriccio for lute in D major (London MS), WeissSW 25* (Smith 215) | 3:00 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 25 | Capriccio for lute in D major (Podebrody MS) | 3:35 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 26 | Capriccio for lute in G minor WeissSW 45* (Smith 542) | 2:14 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 27 | Ciaccona for lute in E flat major | 5:01 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 28 | Ciacona for lute in G minor, WeissSW 14.6 (Smith 80) | 4:24 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 29 | Concerto a cinque, for lute & strings in C major (Augsburg MS), WeissSW 105 | 9:53 min | Concerto | - |
| 30 | Courante for lute in D major (Moscow MS), WeissSW 67* (Smith 444) | 5:59 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 31 | Courante for lute in F major, WeissSW 33.3 (Smith 227) | 2:44 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 32 | Courante Royale, for lute in G major, WeissSW 2* (Smith 31) | 4:36 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 33 | Duetto, for 2 lutes in G major (Moscow MS), WeissSW App10 (Smith 453) | 6:18 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 34 | Fantasia & fugue for lute in D major (Harrach MS, Paris BN Rés.Vmc.ms.61) | 4:07 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 35 | Fantasia for lute in C major (London MS), WeissSW 24* (Smith 214) | 4:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 36 | Fantasia for lute in D major, WeissSW 47* (Smith 544) | 4:52 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 37 | Fantasia for lute in E minor | 3:23 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 38 | Fantasia for lute in F major, WeissSW 75.3 (Smith 540) | 3:21 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 39 | Fantasia for lute in G major, WeissSW 46* (Smith 543) | 4:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 40 | Fantasia for lute No. 1 in C minor (London MS), WeissSW 9* (Smith 83) | 2:34 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 41 | Fantasie for 2 guitars | 4:20 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 42 | Fantasie for lute in D minor, WeissSW 82.2 (Smith 539) | 2:54 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 43 | Fugue for lute in C major (London MS) | 3:58 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 44 | Fugue for lute in C major, WeissSW 6* (Smith 74) | 4:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 45 | Fugue for lute in D major, WeissSW 48* (Smith 474) | 2:01 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 46 | Fugue for lute in D minor (London MS), WeissSW 7* (Smith 81) | 3:05 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 47 | Galanterie piesse, for lute in F minor (Moscow MS), WeissSW 69* (Smith 452) | 2:49 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 48 | Gavotte for lute in C major, WeissSW 23* (Smith 213) | 3:12 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 49 | Gavotte for lute in D minor (London MS; Warsaw MS), WeissSW 14* (Smith 126) | 2:07 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 50 | Gigue for lute in F major, WeissSW 108.8 (Smith 531) | 2:30 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 51 | L'amant malheureux, for lute in A minor (London MS), WeissSW 8* (Smith 82) | 4:56 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 52 | Largo for lute in D minor, WeissSW 5* (Smith 73) | 3:07 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 53 | Mademoiselle Tiroloise, for lute, WeissSW 28* (Smith 218) | 2:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 54 | Menuet for lute in B flat major, WeissSW 10* (Smith 84) | 3:14 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 55 | Menuet for lute in C major (London MS; Warsaw MS), WeissSW 13* (Smith 112) | 1:52 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 56 | Menuet for lute in C major, WeissSW 22* (Smith 212) | 3:35 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 57 | Menuet for lute in D major | 3:06 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 58 | Menuet for lute in D minor, WeissSW 15* (Smith 127) | 2:17 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 59 | Menuet for lute in F major, WeissSW 16* (Smith 158) | 4:07 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 60 | Menuet for lute in F minor | 4:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 61 | Menuet for lute in G major, WeissSW 4* (Smith 54) | 3:09 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 62 | Menuet for lute in G minor | 13:15 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 63 | Menuet No. 2 for lute in D major, WeissSW 27* (Smith 217) | 4:56 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 64 | Minuets (2) for lute | 3:51 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 65 | Overture for lute No. 1 in B flat major | 4:04 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 66 | Partita for lute in D minor (Moscow MS; attributed to Weiss) | 31:57 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 67 | Passacaglia for lute in D major, WeissSW 18.6 | 4:56 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 68 | Plainte for lute in B flat major, WeissSW 15.1 (Smith 85) | 4:00 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 69 | Prelude and fugue for lute in D minor | Chamber Music | - | |
| 70 | Prelude for lute in A major (Schloss Rohrau MS [NYPL]) | 2:44 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 71 | Prelude for lute in D major | 2:13 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 72 | Prelude for lute in D major (Moscow MS), WeissSW 2.1 (Smith 11) | 2:04 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 73 | Prelude for lute in D major (Podebrady MS) | 1:41 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 74 | Prelude for lute in D minor | 1:40 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 75 | Prelude for lute in D minor (Moscow MS), WeissSW 68* (Smith 451) | 2:48 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 76 | Prelude for lute in E flat major (London MS), WeissSW 17* (Smith 200) | 4:05 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 77 | Prelude for lute in F major, WeissSW 75.1 (Smith 545) | 2:52 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 78 | Prelude in C major (London MS), WeissSW 21* (Smith 211) | 1:54 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 79 | Prelude, Courante and Alternatum, for lute | 13:19 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 80 | Presto for lute | 4:28 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 81 | Sarabande for lute | 6:39 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 82 | Sonata [Concerto] for lute & ensemble in B flat major, WeissSW 57 | 12:12 min | Concerto | - |
| 83 | Sonata for 2 lutes in A major, WeissSW 60 | 14:06 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 84 | Sonata for 2 lutes in B flat major, WeissSW 56 | 13:51 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 85 | Sonata for 2 lutes in C major, WeissSW 54 | 18:49 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 86 | Sonata for 2 lutes in D major, WeissSW 59 | 16:01 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 87 | Sonata for flute & lute (or for 2 lutes) in B flat major (Dresden MS; London MS), WeissSW 6 | 14:35 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 88 | Sonata for flute & lute in B flat major, WeissSW 8 | 15:56 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 89 | Sonata for flute & lute in F major (London MS), WeissSW 9 | 12:06 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 90 | Sonata for lute in A major (Dresden MS No. 17; London MS No. 8), WeissSW 12 (Smith 61-67, 299, 574, 421) | 24:55 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 91 | Sonata for lute in A major (Dresden MS No. 18), WeissSW 44 (Smith 300-307) | 16:51 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 92 | Sonata for lute in A major (Dresden MS No. 19; London MS No. 11), WeissSW 16 (Smith 92-97) | 23:35 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 93 | Sonata for lute in A major (Dresden MS No. 20), WeissSW 45 (Smith 308-312) | 12:43 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 94 | Sonata for lute in A major (Dresden MS No. 21), WeissSW 46 (Smith 315-319) | 24:56 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 95 | Sonata for lute in A major (Vienna MS 18829), Smith 421, 61, 62, 64, 66 | 15:52 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 96 | Sonata for lute in A minor (Dresden MS No. 14), WeissSW 42 (Smith 286-291) | 24:19 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 97 | Sonata for lute in A minor (Dresden MS No. 16), WeissSW 43 (Smith 292-298) | 16:48 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 98 | Sonata for lute in B flat major (Dresden MS No. 25), WeissSW 49 (Smith 327-332) | 24:58 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 99 | Sonata for lute in B flat major (Dresden MS No. 26; London MS No. 10), WeissSW 15 (Smith 85-91) | 26:58 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 100 | Sonata for lute in B flat major (Dresden MS No. 26; London MS No. 17), WeissSW 23 (Smith 142-151) | 28:05 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 101 | Sonata for lute in B flat major (Dresden MS No. 27), WeissSW 50 (Smith 343-348) | 31:02 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 102 | Sonata for lute in C major (Dresden MS No. 9), WeissSW 37 (Smith 254-260) | 15:54 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 103 | Sonata for lute in C major (Dresden MS No. 10), WeissSW 38 (Smith 262-267) | 24:22 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 104 | Sonata for lute in C major (Dresden MS No. 11), WeissSW 39 (Smith 268-273) | 28:37 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 105 | Sonata for lute in C major (Dresden MS No. 12), WeissSW 40 (Smith 274-279) | 38:13 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 106 | Sonata for lute in C major (London MS No. 12), WeissSW 17 (Smith 98-103) | 25:41 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 107 | Sonata for lute in C major (London MS No. 18), WeissSW 24 (Smith 152-157) | 21:05 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 108 | Sonata for lute in C minor (Dresden MS No. 31; London MS No. 5), WeissSW 7 (Smith 39-44) | 21:37 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 109 | Sonata for lute in C minor (Dresden MS No. 32; London MS No. 21), WeissSW 27 (Smith 173-180) | 25:59 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 110 | Sonata for lute in C minor (Dresden MS No. 33), WeissSW 52 (Smith 357-362) | 24:28 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 111 | Sonata for lute in D major (London MS No. 2), WeissSW 2 (Smith 11-18, 576) | 23:28 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 112 | Sonata for lute in D major (London MS No. 13), WeissSW 18 (Smith 104-109) | 28:19 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 113 | Sonata for lute in D major (London MS No. 20), WeissSW 26 (Smith 165-172) | 26:50 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 114 | Sonata for lute in D minor (Dresden MS No. 5), WeissSW 34 (Smith 233-240) | 21:11 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 115 | Sonata for lute in D minor (Dresden MS No. 6; London MS No. 7), WeissSW 11 (Smith 55-60, 241) | 21:51 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 116 | Sonata for lute in D minor (Dresden MS No. 7), WeissSW 35 (Smith 242-247) | 35:27 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 117 | Sonata for lute in D minor (Dresden MS No. 8), WeissSW 36 (Smith 248-253) | 22:52 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 118 | Sonata for lute in D minor (London MS No. 9), WeissSW 13 (Smith 68-72) | 15:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 119 | Sonata for lute in D minor (Schloss Rohrau MS [NYPL]) | 8:28 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 120 | Sonata for lute in E flat major (Dresden MS No. 34), WeissSW 30 (Smith 194-199) | 23:25 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 121 | Sonata for lute in E flat major (London MS No. 6), WeissSW 10 (Smith 46-53) | 37:00 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 122 | Sonata for lute in F major ("Le Fameux Corsaire") (Dresden MS No. 4; London MS No. 22), WeissSW 28 (Smith 181-186) | 21:55 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 123 | Sonata for lute in F major (Dresden MS No. 1), WeissSW 33 (Smith 225-231) | 19:17 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 124 | Sonata for lute in F major (Dresden MS No. 2; London MS No. 26), WeissSW 32 (Smith 219-224, 232) | 23:38 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 125 | Sonata for lute in F major (Dresden MS No. 3; London MS No. 1), WeissSW 1 (Smith 1-10, 423, 573) | 24:25 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 126 | Sonata for lute in F major (London MS No. 14), WeissSW 19 (Smith 113-119) | 20:54 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 127 | Sonata for lute in F major (London MS No. 25), WeissSW 31 (Smith 203-209) | 21:48 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 128 | Sonata for lute in F major (Moscow MS), WeissSW 77 | 10:00 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 129 | Sonata for lute in F minor (Dresden MS No. 28; London MS No. 15), WeissSW 21 (Smith 128-133) | 29:43 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 130 | Sonata for lute in F sharp minor (Dresden MS No. 23), WeissSW 48 (Smith 326-332) | 31:34 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 131 | Sonata for lute in G major (London MS No. 4), WeissSW 5 (Smith 32-38) | 26:49 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 132 | Sonata for lute in G minor (Dresden MS No. 29; London MS No. 19), WeissSW 25 (Smith 159-164, 350) | 25:56 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 133 | Sonata for lute in G minor (Dresden MS No. 30), WeissSW 51 (Smith 351-356) | 31:10 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 134 | Sonata for lute in G minor (London MS No. 3), WeissSW 3 (Smith 19-25) | 25:04 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 135 | Sonata for lute in G minor (Moscow MS), Smith 439-443 | Chamber Music | - | |
| 136 | Sonata for lute, 2 violins & bass in D minor, WeissSW 58 | 15:19 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 137 | Sonata for lute, 2 violins & bass in F major, WeissSW 53 | 14:37 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 138 | Suite for lute in A major ("L'esprit Italien"), WeissSW 66 (Smith 396-404) | 18:21 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 139 | Suite for lute in A minor (Schloss Rohrau MS [NYPL]) | 13:09 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 140 | Suite for lute in C minor (Schloss Rohrau MS [NYPL]) | 24:25 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 141 | Suite for lute in C minor (Vienna MS 18761), Smith 405-411 | 17:57 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 142 | Suite for lute in D minor (Dresden Manuscript, Mus. 3841-V-I) | 18:09 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 143 | Suite for lute in F major (Dresden manuscript, Mus. 2841-V-I) | 25:02 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 144 | Suite for lute in F sharp minor (Vienna MS 18761), Smith 412-414 | 6:25 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 145 | Suite for lute in G major, WeissSW 65 (Smith 389-395) | 16:04 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 146 | Suite L'Infidèle, for lute (London manuscript, Add. 30387) | 18:33 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 147 | Tombeau sur la mort de Momsieur Cajetan Baron D'Hartig, for lute in E flat minor (London MS), WeissSW 11* (Smith 110) | 5:47 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 148 | Tombeau sur la Mort de Mr Comte de Logy arrivée 1721, for lute (London manuscript, Add. 30387) | 9:23 min | Chamber Music | - |
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