In an article entitled "
Three Unknown Godchildren of Joseph Haydn", which I published in September 2014 on this blog, I dealt with Haydn's role as a multiple godfather and how this role documents his social relations with relatives, friends and colleagues. I presented a list of Haydn's known godchildren and pointed out that "this list is neither definite nor complete and if necessary, will be corrected or extended in the future". In the course of my continuing research on Haydn's Viennese friends, I had to realize that very little seems to have been done in this particular field. While research on Mozart's Viennese circle has never received appropriate attention, the situation concerning Haydn's is even worse. This seems to be caused by the lack of a scholarly institution in Vienna that is exclusively dedicated to Haydn research.
Six children of the court trumpeter
Anton Weidinger, for whom Haydn in 1796, wrote his
trumpet concerto Hob.VIIe:1, were godchildren of Haydn. That this has not become known until now, may come as a surprise, but the surprise is lessened by the fact that the last person who delved into Weidinger's private life was
Richard Heuberger, who in 1907, had a conversation with Anna Weidinger (1855–1911), the widow of Weidinger's grandson Ferdinand Weidinger (1849–1898). Heuberger published the results of his research in the article "
Anton Weidinger. Biographische Skizze" (
Die Musik, vol. 28, Berlin and Leipzig 1908). As of 1984, Makoto Ohmiya and Sonja Gerlach, the editors of the trumpet concerto for the
Haydn Gesamtausgabe, were not even aware of Weidinger's correct year of birth, although it had already been published in 1886, in vol. 53 of
Wurzbach's Lexikon.
The first page of the autograph of Haydn's trumpet concerto (A-Wgm, Joseph Haydn A 153)
I shall not present a detailed biography of Anton Weidinger in this blogpost. This extensive task should be done by Haydn scholars whose job it is to do this kind of work. I am going to present Haydn's six godchildren and a number of mostly unknown documents that shed light on their and their parents' lives.
1) Joseph Weidinger
Anton Weidinger's second child Joseph was born on 17 December 1798, at St. Ulrich 105, "Zum Sterbenden Joseph", ("The Dying Joseph", last numbering 128, today
Piaristengasse 23) and baptized in the presence of Joseph Haydn at the
Piarist Church of Maria Treu.
The entry concerning the baptism of Joseph Weidinger on 17 December 1798 (Maria Treu, Tom. 7, fol. 203). This and the following pictures show two-page entries with their two sections positioned above one another.
Lit. f
T[auf] u. G[eburts] T[ag] 17 [Dezember 1798.]
Taufender auch [Markus Haas]
Getaufte. Joseph
Aeltern V Anton Weidinger Trompeter im / k. k. Hoftheater / M Susanna geb Zeiß
Taufpathen Joseph Heyden / Fürstlich Esterhazischer / Kapellmeister
Rel[igion] a[uch kath.]
Grund Sch.[otten] G.[asse] [St. Ulrich]
Haus sterbende[r] Joseph
N° 105
Hebamme Katharina Koin
Anmerkung [f]
Joseph Weidinger was to be the only child from Anton Weidinger's first marriage that reached adulthood. It was obvious that he received trumpet lessons to take up the same profession as his grandfather, his father and his two uncles Joseph and Franz. As a sideline, he also learned to play the keyed horn that his father had invented. On 28 November 1813, Joseph Weidinger performed a concerto that had been especially written for the keyed horn. The advertisement in the
Wiener Zeitung of 21 November 1813 – with the boy's age revised to twelve years – reads as follows.
Concert Announcement
The undersigned, who on his travels to the capitals of England and France raised universal cheer for the keyed trumpet that he had been the first to invent, has the honor of announcing to the high nobility and the honorable public that he has also invented a horn with keys which differs from the normal instrument of the same name in such a way that, just like on a string instrument, all half notes can be played in piano, crescendo, forte et cetera through 3 octaves in equal strength and in tune. –– His son, a pupil of his, a boy of 12 years, will have the honor of letting himself be heard on Sunday, the 28th of this month, at noon, in the small I. & R. Redoutensaal with a concerto that was newly composed for this organised horn. He dares to leave it to the impartial judgement of lovers and connoiseurs of musical art, as to what extent this instrument, owing to his invention, can be preferred to others of the same name and can claim to receive praise from the high nobility and the honorable public. The admission price is 2 fl Viennese Currency.
Anton Weidinger, I. & R. Court trumpeter.
In his 1993 thesis about Anton Weidinger, Andreas Lindner claims that this concert was repeated on 28 December 1813, but this claim is based on an error by Heuberger. Referring to Hanslick's
Geschichte des Concertwesens, Lindner also states that Joseph Weidinger already appeared at a concert in 1810, but there is no such information in Hanslick's book. As a matter of fact, this information also originates from Heuberger, but this early concert appearance is still undocumented. On 25 March 1817, Joseph Weidinger took part in a concert at the
Josephstädter Theater for the benefit of its musical director Aloys Merk. He performed an Adagio and a Rondeau for the keyed horn, composed by Franz de Paula Roser (1779–1830). The review in the
Wiener Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung of 10 April especially praised Weidinger's execution of difficult trills.
Wiener Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung, 10 April 1817, col. 116
On 30 March 1817, Joseph Weidinger again appeared at a concert at the same theater, this time together with his father. The report in the
AmZ praised the artists for "treating their instruments with special delicacy for which they were noisily called for."
Wiener Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung, 10 April 1817, col. 120
Father and son Weidinger again performed together on 4 May 1817, at the
Kleiner Redouten-Saal.
Wiener Zeitung, 2 May 1817, p. 404
Matthias Franz Perth's entry in his diary concerning his attendance of the concert of father and son Weidinger on 4 May 1817: "Today at noon the k.k. court trumpeter Mr. Anton Weidinger gave a grand concert at the small Redoutensaal, where he let himself be heard on the keyed trumpet that he invented and his son on a newly invented keyed horn." (A-Wst, Perth, Tage-Buch, C H.I.N. 226988/30, p. 291).
The issue that reviewers of Weidinger's concerts sometimes avoided to address, was the question whether the gain of chromatic notes of the keyed instruments made up for the loss of brightness of tone.
The Wiener Zeitschrift reported as follows.
Wiener Zeitschrift, 7 May 1817, p. 312
On this occasion we again had the opportunity to acknowledge the effect of the keyed horn and the keyed trumpet and to do justice to the skill of the inventor regarding the handling of his instrument during the performance. Whether the horn and the trumpet, because of the attached key, lose their original character and become similar to other instruments, without achieving the full range of scale, is a question we do not want to decide. The performer and his son played an Adagio and a Rondo, and a Potpourri from Tancredi, all of which were arranged by Franz Roser, with applause that was also given to the artists and amateurs who had the kindness to take over the singing and declamation parts.
Concerts by Anton Weidinger and/or his son were considered an institution. In his 1869 book
Geschichte des Concertwesens in Wien,
Eduard Hanslick describes these activities as follows.
The trumpet was represented by an excellent virtuoso, the court trumpeter Anton Weidinger, who, from 1800 on, became a steady figure in Vienna's concert life and like Miss Auernhammer and the harpist Müller gave his annual concert at the Burgtheater, until in the 1820s his son Josef († 1832) took over from him, to take care of the artistic preservation of the keyed trumpet and the name Weidinger by giving an annual concert. A. Weidinger was the inventor of the keyed trumpet which he exclusively used in his concerts.
There are still many announcements and reviews of Weidinger concerts to be found in Viennese newspapers. We have to keep in mind, however, that – just like the premiere of Haydn's trumpet concerto on 28 March 1800 – most of these concerts were very poorly attended. The diarist
Joseph Carl Rosenbaum, who attended the premiere of Haydn's trumpet concerto, wrote the following about this event.
Nach Tische ging ich zur Petrowitz, später zur Barany. Abends war ich in der Akademie des Hoftrompeters Weidinger. Therese sang zwar, aber sehr heiser. Es war leer. [A-Wn, Cod. Ser. n. 203 Han, Bd. 2, 75r]
After lunch I went to Petrowitz, later to Barany. In the evening I attended the concert of the court trumpeter Weidinger. Therese [Rosenbaum] sang, but very hoarse. It was empty.
The poster of Weidinger's concert at the Burgtheater on 28 March 1800 which, among several other pieces, consisted of four symphonies by Haydn.
Around 1816, Joseph Weidinger was hired as trumpeter by the Lower Austrian Landstände. On 27 April 1829, he married Rosalia Eder, daughter of Philipp Eder, a boatmen from Großrußbach. At the time of the wedding, he was living at Leopoldstadt 101 (today Untere Augartenstraße 16). The bride was already five months pregnant.
The entry concerning the wedding of the "n.oe. Landschaftstrompeter" Joseph Weidinger on 27 April 1829. The groom's best man, the "Musikdirektor" Ferdinand Maurer, was a nephew of Anton Weidinger's second wife (St. Leopold, Tom. 14, fol. 268).
Right after his wedding, Joseph Weidinger and his wife moved to Leopoldstadt No. 108 (today
Untere Augartenstraße 22-24) where on 23 August 1829, their daughter Magdalena Josepha was born (St. Leopold, Tom. 22, fol. 159). The godmother was Magdalena Weidinger, the widow of the child's greatuncle, the court trumpeter Joseph Weidinger, who had died on
24 February 1829, at the age of 74 (the date given in the literature is wrong) at his brother's earlier address St. Ulrich 128 (formerly 105) (Maria Treu, Tom. 9, fol. 132). The child Magdalena Weidinger already died on 8 September 1829, of "Fraisen" (St. Leopold, Tom. 8, fol. 256). In 1830, Joseph Weidinger and his wife were registered by the conscription office at their address Leopoldstadt 108.
Joseph Weidinger ("Landesständischer Trompeter geb v Wien") and his wife Rosalia on a conscription sheet of Leopoldstadt 108 (A-Wsa, Konskriptionsamt, Leopoldstadt 108/16r)
On 26 January 1832, Joseph Weidinger's second child was born and christened Anton Karl two days later. The child's great aunt Magdalena Weidinger again served as godmother.
The baptismal entry of Anton Weidinger's grandson Anton Karl Weidinger (St. Leopold, Tom. 23, fol. 89)
The "nieder-oesterreichischer Landschafts
=Trompeter" Joseph Weidinger died on 4 June 1832, at the young age of 34, of tuberculosis of the liver, a disease that he had probably contracted from his late mother.
The entry concerning Joseph Weidinger's death on 4 June 1832 (St. Leopold, Tom. 9, fol. 141)
According to Joseph Weidinger's
Sperrs-Relation, he was survived by his wife Rosalia and his four-month-old son Anton whose guardianship was taken by "Anton Weidinger k.k. Hoftrompeter in der Josephstadt in dem Hause, wo die Bezirks Direction ist." This refers to the Josephstadt police headquarters which were located at Anton Weidinger's address, Strotzischer Grund No. 57 (today
Strozzigasse 42). Joseph Weidinger left absolutely no assets. His clothing was sold to cover the medical costs. His burial was paid for by his father.
The title page of Joseph Weidinger's Sperrs-Relation. The note referring to Anton Weidinger''s guardianship and address is at the bottom (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A2, 1902/1832).
Rosalia Weidinger survived her husband only by a little more than two years. She died of "Auszehrung" (consumption) on
23 July 1834, at Leopoldstadt No. 593 (today
Obere Donaustraße 43). Surprisingly, Anton Weidinger's grandson Anton Karl was not taken into the home of his grandfather, but was put into the
orphanage on the Alsergrund.
The entry concerning the death and burial of Anton Weidinger's two-year-old grandson Anton Karl (St. Leopold, Tom. 9, fol. 262)
When Anton Karl died of "Fraisen" on 14 November 1834, he was described as "Zögling des k.k. Waisenhauses" (alumnus of the I. & R. orphanage).
2) Anton Weidinger
Anton Weidinger was born on 29 January 1800, at St. Ulrich 105, and baptized in the presence of Joseph Haydn at the Piarist Church of Maria Treu.
The entry concerning the baptism of Anton Weidinger on 29 January 1800 (Maria Treu, Tom. 7, fol. 258)
Lit. k
G.[eburts] u. T.[auf] T.[ag] 29 [1800]
Taufender auch [Johann Lukas Müller]
Getaufte Anton
Aeltern V. Anton Weidnger Weidinger Hof= / Trompeter. / M. Susanna geb. Zeißin.
Taufpathen Joseph Heydn Kapellmeister / bei dem H[errn] Fürst Esterhazy
Rel[igion] a[uch kath.]
Grund Sch.[otten] G.[asse]
Haus sterbende[r] Joseph
N° 105
Hebamme Katharina Koyn
Anmerkung
[k]
Anton Weidinger died on
25 October 1810 of "häutige Bräune" (diphtheria) (Maria Treu, Tom 7, fol. 166). Like his elder brother Joseph he certainly had received trumpet lessons from his father.
3) Aloys Weidinger
Aloys Weidinger was born on 4 April 1801, at St. Ulrich 105, and baptized the following day at the Piarist Church of Maria Treu. Again, HAydn acted as godfather.
The entry concerning the baptism of Aloys Weidinger on 5 April 1801 (Maria Treu, Tom. 7, fol. 321)
Lit. g
T.[aufe] u. G.[eburt] 4/5 [April 1801.]
Taufend[er] a[uch Markus Haas]
Getaufte Aloys
Aeltern V Anton Weidinger k. k. Hof= / Trompeter. / M Susanna geb Zeistin [sic]
Taufpathen Joseph Hayden / Kapellmeister bei / Sr Durchlaucht dem / Fürst Esterharzy
Rel[igion] a[uch kath.]
Grund Sch.[otten] G.[asse]
Haus Sterbender Joseph
N° 105
Hebamme Katharina Koin
Anmerkung
[g]
Aloys Weidinger already died on 25 May 1801, of "Abzehrung" (emaciation) (Maria Treu, Tom. 6, fol. 58).
4) Franz Thaddäus Weidinger
Franz Thaddäus Weidinger was born on 11 March 1804, at St. Ulrich 105. On the occasion of the christening on the following day at the Piarist Church Haydn's cook Anna Kremnitzer stood proxy for her employer who was probably staying in Eisenstadt.
The entry concerning the baptism of Franz Thaddäus Weidinger on 12 March 1804 (Maria Treu, Tom. 8, Piaristen 8, fol. 59)
Lit. h
T[auf] u. G[eburts] T[ag] 12 [März 1804]
Taufender a[uch Engelbert Mayr]
Getaufte. Franciscus Thaddaeus.
Aeltern V. Anton Weidinger k. k. Hoftrompeter. / M. Susanna geb. Zeissinn.
Taufpathen Joseph Hayden Kapellmeister / in dessen Namen Anna Kre= / mnitzerinn L.[edigen] St.[ands] Köchinn.
Rel[igion] a[uch kath.]
Grund Sch.[otten] G.[asse]
Haus Sterbende[r] Joseph
N° 105
Hebamme Magdalena Mayrinn.
Anmerkung getraut den 6. Februar 1797 in Gumpendorf
Anna Kremnitzer had already substituted for Haydn on 14 Februar 1804, on the occasion of the baptism of Johann Elßler's daughter
Anna Elßler at the parish church in Gumpendorf.
Anna Kremnitzer, given as Haydn's substitute, in the entry concerning Anna Elßler's baptism on 14 February 1804: "Anna Kremnitzer, Köchinn anstatt: H[errn] Joseph Haydn, fürstl. Esterhazzischer Kapelmeister" (Gumpendorf, Tom. 14, fol. 139).
The boy Franz Weidinger already died on 29 June 1804, of hydrocephalus (Maria Treu, Tom 6, fol. 155). The three-year gap between the births of Aloys and Franz Weidinger was caused by Anton Weidinger's concert tour in Germany, France and England.
5) Carolina Weidinger
Carolina Weidinger was born on 14 April 1805, at St. Ulrich 105, and baptized the following day. Haydn's housekeeper Anna
Kremnitzer again stood in for her employer.
The entry concerning the baptism of Carolina Weidinger on 15 April 1805 (Maria Treu, Tom. 8, fol. 106)
Litt. k
T[auf] u. G[eburts] T[ag] 14/15 [April 1805]
Taufender a[uch Engelbert Mayr]
Getaufte. Carolina
Aeltern V. Anton Weidinger k. k. Hoftrompeter / M. Susana geb Zeisinn.
Taufpathen Anna Kremnitzerinn L. St, im Na= / men des H.[errn] Joseph Haydn Kapel= / meisters
Rel[igion] a[uch kath.]
Grund Schotten= / gasse
Haus Sterbende[r] Joseph
N° 105
Hebamme Magdal[ena] Mayr]
Anmerkung Getraut in Gumpendorf 6ter Febr[uar] 1797
Carolina Weidinger died on 21 September 1805, of hydrocephalus. The death records of the Josephstadt parish erroneously list her as "Karl" Weidinger (Maria Treu, Tom 6, fol. 186).
6) Ferdinand Carl Borromäus Weidinger
Ferdinand Weidinger was born on 8 May 1806, at St. Ulrich 105. Anna
Kremnitzer again substituted Haydn at the baptism at Maria Treu. The child was very likely named after Anton Weidinger's close friend Ferdinand Kimm (1779–1835), a butcher in Gumpendorf.
The entry concerning the baptism of Ferdinand Carl Borromäus Weidinger on 8 May 1806 (Maria Treu, Tom. 8, fol. 152)
Litt. g
T[aufe] u. G[eburt] 8 [May 1806]
Taufender Anton Hofer
Getaufte Ferdinand Carl Boromäus
Ältern V Anton Weidinger k. k. Hoftrompeter / M Susanna geb Zeisin
Taufpathen Joseph Hayden Kapellmeister in / dessen Namen seine Magd
Rel[igion] a[uch kath.]
Grund Sch.[otten] G.[asse]
Haus sterbend. Joseph
N° 105
Hebamme Magdalena Mayrin
Anmerkung Get. Gundendorf 16 Februar 1797 [sic]
Ferdinand Weidinger died on 9 August 1806, of "Gedärmfrais" (intestinal cramps) (Maria Treu, Tom 6, fol. 213).
Anton Elßler, a godson of Haydn?
Anna Kremnitzer's role as Haydn's proxy at the baptisms of three of Anton Weidinger's children puts her appearance as godmother for Johann Elßler's son Anton on 17 November 1806, in Gumpendorf into a different perspective.
The entry concerning the baptism of Anton Elßler on 17 November 1806 with the description of the godparent: "Anna Gremnitzer, a housekeeper with Mr. Joseph Hayden" (Gumpendorf, Tom. 14, fol. 247).
In Anton Elßler's baptismal entry Anna Kremnitzer is given as godmother, but the fact that she is explicitly described as "eine Wirthschafterin bey H[errn] Joseph Hayden" makes it seem possible that she actually stood proxy for the composer and the parish priest did not realize this circumstance. On 6 April 1808, Kremnitzer also served as godmother of
Therese Elßler, but in the entry concerning this baptism Haydn's name does not appear and Kremnitzer is only given as "Wirthschafterin" (Gumpendorf, Tom. 15, fol. 30).
Haydn's maid Anna Kremnitzer
Very little is known about Haydn's housekeeper Anna Kremnitzer, and official Haydn scholarship has never done anything to remedy this lack of information. In paragraph 27 of Haydn's first will, dated 6 December 1801, she is bequeathed 1,000 gulden, a full year's income of 40 gulden, her bedclothes, furniture and several other items. According to an entry in a conscription sheet of Haydn's house Windmühle 84, she was born around 1750, and in 1805, was erroneously described as widow.
Joseph Haydn ("Dr. d[e]r Tonnkunst Wittwer") and Anna Kremnitzer on a conscription sheet of Haydn's house Windmühle No. 84 from 1805 (A-Wsa, Hauptarchiv, Persönlichkeiten H9/3)
In paragraph 41 of his second will, dated 7 February 1809, Haydn significantly increased Kremnitzer's inheritance. Since the translation in Robbins Landon's
Chronicle is flawed, I present a corrected edition of this paragraph. Robbins Landon erroneously gives an amount of only 600 gulden and includes the bed which is not mentioned in the second will. That Anna Kremnitzer had lent Haydn 200 gulden which he gave back to her as a gift after his death, is obviously an error by the scribe. It was the other way around: Kremnitzer borrowed 200 gulden from Haydn and was forgiven her debt by her employer.
Paragraph 41 of Haydn's second will concerning the bequest to Anna Kremnitzer (A-Wsa, Hauptarchiv, Persönlichkeiten H9/1, fol. 2r). Owing to many stunning errors in translations of documents like this, Robbins Landon's Chronicle and Works is in desperate need of a revised and corrected new edition. In his English edition of Haydn's will, Vernon Gotwals expressed surprise that Haydn should have borrowed money from Anna Kremnitzer, but did not realize the mix-up: "Why Haydn should have borrowed 200 Fl. cash from his cook can only be guessed at." (Gotwals 1961, 350).
41tens: legire ich meiner treuen und rechtschaffenen Köchin Anna Kremnitzer Sech[s]tausend Gulden, wie auch das in ihrem Zimmer befindliche Bettgewand, worauf sie liegt, dann zweÿ Leintücher, 4 Seßeln, einen harten Tisch, dann harten Schubladkasten, die Repetiruhr, den Spiegel, das Muttergottesbild, einen Kreuzpartikel, das Begeleisen, das irdene Kuchelgeschirr sammt allen Kleinigkeiten von Kuchelgeräthschaften; nebst dem vermache ich ihr jene zweÿhundert Gulden, die sie mir [sic!] in baaren Gelde dargeliehen hat.
41stly: I bequeath six thousend gulden to my faithful and honest cook, Anna Kremnitzer, as well as the bedclothes in her room on which she lies, then two sheets, 4 chairs, a hardwood table, then a hardwood cabinet with drawers, a repeater, the mirror, the picture of the Holy Virgin, the fragment of the True Cross, the iron, the earthen kitchenware together with all small pieces of kitchen utensils; apart from that I bequeath to her the two hundred gulden in cash that she lent me [i.e. that I lent her].
After Haydn's death, Anna Kremnitzer's moved to Johann Elßler's house Gumpendorf 38 ("Münzwardein", today
Münzwardeingasse 2) where she lived as a subtenant of the family of the harness maker apprentice Anton Banschur. An entry in a conscription sheet of that house gives Kremnitzer's year of birth as 1754. Her status was first given as "Wittwe" which was crossed out and replaced with the note "
ledig" (unmarried). Her profession is given as "Weisnäderin" (seamstress).
Anna Kremnitzer listed on a conscription sheet from around 1810, together with the family of Anton Banschur at Gumpendorf 38 (A-Wsa, Konskriptionsamt, Gumpendorf 38/5r)
Kremnitzer's relation to the Elßler family seems to have been much closer than that to Haydn. On 23 June 1810, she engraved her name into Viennese local history when she officiated as godmother of
Fanny Elßler who was to become Austria's most famous dancer. In the parish records Kremnitzer is given as "Anna Kremnitzin Weisnaderin".
The entry concerning the baptism of Franziska Elßler in the Gumpendorf parish church (Gumpendorf, Tom. 15, fol. 160)
Kremnitzer's date of death is still unknown. Since she had inherited 6000 gulden from Haydn, she perhaps was able to move away from Gumpendorf.
Anna Weidinger, a goddaughter of Anna Haydn
Soon
after his wedding in 1797, Anton Weidinger moved from Josephstadt 124 to the
house St. Ulrich No. 20 which was located at the "Platzl", right
opposite St. Ulrich's Church.
Anton Weidinger's residence in November 1797, St. Ulrich No. 20, "Zum schwarzen Adler" ("The black Eagle", today Neustiftgasse 22). Until 1795 this house bore the number 11 (W-Waw, Sammlung Woldan).
In
this house, called "Zum schwarzen Adler", Anton Weidinger's first child was born
on 2 November 1797, and baptized at St. Ulrich's with Elisabeth Weber
substituting for the godmother Anna Haydn. That Haydn's wife was willing
to serve as godmother of the first child of one of her husband's
friends, is yet more proof that the estrangement between Haydn and
his wife has been vastly exaggerated.
The entry concerning the baptism of Marianna Elisabeth Weidinger on 2 November 1797 (St. Ulrich, Tom. 38, fol. 375)
Namen des Taufenden. deto. [Pater Ehrenbert]
Jahr 797. Monat Tag [November] eodem. [2.]
Wohnung und Nro. des Hauses Platzl N° 20. im / zaunerisch[en] Haus.
Namen der Getauften. Marianna Elisa= / beth.
Religion
Katholisch /
Protestantisch –
Geschlecht
Knab –
Mädchen /
Ehelich /
Unehelich –
Aeltern.
Vaters Namen und Kondition oder Karakt. Anton Weidin= / ger, im k. Theater / Trompeter.
Mutters Tauf= und Zunamen. Susanna geb. Zeissinn.
Pathen.
Namen. Anna Heydin, / statt dessen, / Elis.[abeth] Weber l.[edigen] St.[ands]
Stand. Kapellmeisters= / Frau. / Dienstmagd.
Anmerkungen. [midwife] Büchsinn.
The "Elisabeth Weber" who stood in for Frau Haydn is probably identical with the composer's former maidservant who in 1801 is mentioned as recipient of 300 gulden in paragraph 26 of Haydn's first will: "Der Rosalia Weberin, so bey mir in Diensten stand, welches sie schriftlich von mir aufzeigen wird 300 [fl]." Anton Weidinger's daughter Anna already died on 1 December 1797, of "Fraisen" (cramps).
The entry concerning Anna Weidinger's death in the municipal death register. The child's age is given incorrectly and should read "4 Wochen" (A-Wsa, TBP 107, W, fol. 27v).
[1 December 1797]
Weidinger Mr. Anton I. & R. court theater trumpeter, his child Anna was
inspected at the Black Eagle No. 20 at St. Ulrich as having died of
cramps at 10 a.m., aged 4 months[sic]. Pibitz.
The Weidinger literature
The court trumpeter Anton Weidinger is one of the most legendary representatives of his profession, because he was a pioneer of the
keyed trumpet which he technically improved and in 1801, had patented, after he had already submitted his invention for a patent in March 1800. Haydn's trumpet concerto was written for this instrument which represented a transitional phase in the development of the chromatic trumpet. What does the existing Weidinger literature tell us about this musician? In his 1993 master thesis, titled
Anton Weidinger (1766–1852), Andreas Lindner primarily recounted the history of the trumpet in the late eighteenth century, mistakenly applying
J. E. Altenburg's statements in his 1795
Versuch einer Anleitung zur heroisch-musikalischen Trompeter- und Pauker-Kunst to the situation in eighteenth-century Vienna. As far as Weidinger's biography was concerned, Lindner just repeated the information from Heuberger's old article and copied all available documents in the holdings of the Obersthofmeisteramt related to Weidinger's employment at the Vienna court. Concerning Weidinger's life between 1804 and 1810, Lindner writes: "Zwischen den Jahren 1804 und 1810 sind kaum biographisch bedeutende Informationen greifbar" ("Between 1804 and 1810 hardly any relevant biographical information is available.", Lindner 1993, 77). Receiving no competent advice at all from his supervisor
Theophil Antonicek, Lindner limited his research to the
Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv and ignored all other archives where he would have found useful information concerning Weidinger's family life. In 1999, Lindner published his dissertation entitled
Die kaiserlichen Hoftrompeter und Hofpauker im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert which in 2001, received the following overexcited praise from
Edward H. Tarr: "It is impossible to give a critical review of this book, for a reviewer will repeatedly lapse into applause and tirades of praise. Andreas Lindner, all historically interested trumpeters are in your debt for having provided us with this thorough and perceptive book. It is every bit worth its prince[
sic!], and I hope that many scholars, institutions, and libraries will order it." (
Historic Brass Society Journal, vol. 13, 2001, p. 223-29). Tarr was certainly not in a position to judge the quality of Lindner's research. Because Lindner only consulted one section of one single Vienna archive, and even ignored the documents of the Obersthofmarschallamt that are held in the same building, his book is comparable to a one-legged giant limping around in circles. This "thorough book" consists of nothing but transcriptions of hundreds of (mostly redundant, sometimes irrelevant) documents from the Obersthofmeisteramt that accumulate hundreds of transcription errors in 846 pages. The documents are presented without any context or the necessary information concerning the musicians' biographies, their family relations, and social interactions. Most of the musicians are listed with no biographical data, except their year of death, and even a cursory comparison of the information from the Obersthofmeisteramt with the Vienna parish records, shows that most of Lindner's data are false. To turn Lindner's book into a useful piece of work, it would need a complete revision and the addition of a second volume, containing all the missing biographical information. With two wives, Anton Weidinger fathered thirteen children of whom six were godchildren of Haydn. Burying himself in the holdings of the Obersthofmeisteramt, Lindner never even came close to uncovering these facts. In Lindner's "thorough and perceptive book", Weidinger ends up with only one wife and only three children.
A section from p. 554 of Lindner's book on Viennese court trumpeters. It is notable that, because he is unaware of Wurzbach's 1886 article, Lindner's source for the place of Weidinger's birth and the date of his wedding is still Heuberger, and Weidinger's father has no name.
It is telling that Lindner's two publications are neither listed in
Reine Dahlqvist's entry in New Grove nor in the bibliography of Ulrich Wilker's article on Weidinger in Laaber's 2009
Haydn-Lexikon. In the main series of the new edition of the
MGG encyclopedia, Anton Weidinger was ignored, and only received an article in the supplement. The state of knowledge concerning the actual technical design of Weidinger's keyed trumpet is still surprisingly fragmentary. None of the aforementioned authors, for instance, ever became aware of the fact that Weidinger's patented trumpet had seven keys (
Wiener Zeitung, 29 May 1819, 1147).
Anton Weidinger's family background
Lindner describes Anton Weidinger's father as "Instructor bein Barhamer" (adding no usable information in his footnote), but he has no idea what this means.
Ignaz Parhamer (1715–1786) was the head of the
Waisenhaus Unser lieben Frau am Rennweg where, from 1764 until at least 1768 (the year his daughter Maria Hedwig was born on 1 April at the Vienna orphanage), Anton Weidinger's father Joseph was employed as trumpet teacher of the orphanage's noted musical forces. Hence, Anton Weidinger's first teacher was not Peter Neuhold, but his own father at a much earlier point of time.
Anton Weidinger's place of birth, the Waisenhaus am Rennweg, on Joseph Daniel von Huber's 1778 plan of Vienna (W-Waw, Sammlung Woldan)
The Waisenhaus, the St. Marx Hospital, and its church on an engraving by Johann Ziegler (A-Wn, KAR0500236)
The title page and page 10 of the Vollkommener Bericht von dem MUSIC-Chor deren Knaben in dem Waysenhaus Unser Lieben Frauen auf dem Rennweg from 1764 (with thanks to David Black for providing this document). Joseph Weidinger is listed as trumpet teacher at the lower right. His colleague Johann Georg Heinisch (b. 19 November 1719 in Stružnice) was a younger brother of the legendary trumpeter Johann Wenzel Hainisch (b. 9 May 1708 in Stružnice). The name "Johann Baptist" Hainisch given by Lindner and Harten is false. The encyclopedic literature about Hainisch is mostly based on guesswork and misinformation (Uwe Harten, Art. "Hainisch (Hanisch), Johann Baptist", in: Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon).
As of 1774, the orchestra of the orphanage consisted of 19 trumpeters and three timpanists (
Vollkommener Bericht 1774, 57f.). Some of the boys, who performed at the
Waisenhaus on 7 December 1768, under the direction of Mozart, had certainly been pupils of Joseph Weidinger. A paragraph in the report in the
Wienerisches Diarium about this concert (missing in Deutsch's
Dokumente) explicitly refers to three groups of trumpets and timpani.
A clip from the report in the Wiener Diarium of 10 December 1768. For more information on musical practice at the Waisenhaus, see Black 2006,.
On both sides outside the church all the house companies paraded with
their field music, including three choirs of trumpets and timpani. The
reception of Her I. & R. Majesty and the four royal Highnesses by His
Princely Eminence the cardinal of the Roman Church and the local
archbishop took place at the main entrance of the above-mentioned church
with the attendance of the complete clergy, accompanied by the joyful
sound of trumpets and timpani.
Anton Weidinger's father Joseph Weidinger was born on 2 January 1723, in the hamlet
Willersdorf near
Ober-Grafendorf in Lower Austria, son of Lorenz Weidinger and his wife Elisabeth.
The entry concerning the baptism of Joseph Weidinger on 2 January 1723 in the parish church of St. Joseph in Ober-Grafendorf (Ober-Grafendorf, Tom. 1/4, 144). Weidinger's godfather was Simon Huzinger from Wantendorf.
On 25 June 1749, in the church of
St. Othmar in Mödling, Joseph Weidinger married Maria Catharina Vögl, daughter of Johann Augustin and Regina Vögl from Mödling. At that time, Joseph Weidinger was registered as "Thurner Gesell", i.e. an apprentice of the
Thurnermeister, head of the municipal band.
The entry concerning the wedding of Anton Weidinger's parents on 25 June 1749, in the church of St. Othmar in Mödling (Mödling, St. Othmar, Tom. 3, 1014). Joseph Weidinger's best man was his fellow "Thurner Gesell" Johann Georg Klein, future father of the court clarinetist Johann Georg Klein (1754–1832).
Joseph Weidinger, music instructor of long-standing merit at the k.k. Waisenhaus, died of a stroke on 2 November 1784 (
Wiener Zeitung, 10 November 1784, 2549), at the Waisenhaus and was buried gratis two days later, in the St. Marx cemetery.
The entry concerning the death of Joseph Weidinger on 2 November 1784, and his gratis burial in St. Marx (Waisenhaus Rennweg, Tom. 1, fol. 30). The burial is recorded as having taken place on 3 November in the Bahrleihbuch of the Cathedral (A-Wd, Bahrleihbuch 1784, fol. 320r). Joseph's wife Katharina Weidinger had already died at the Waisenhaus on 22 November 1769, of biliary fever (A-Wd, Bahrleihbuch 1769, fol. 283v)
The 1802 marriage entry of Joseph Weidinger's son Franz (d. 25 June 1814) in the parish records of
Altlerchenfeld also documents his father's early activity as "Thurnersgeselle" in Mödling: "Franz Weidinger Trompeter im k:k: Hoftheater von Mödling geb. Thurnersgesellens
= Sohn". The age given in Franz Weidinger's marriage entry is correct, the one given in the announcement of his death in the
Wiener Zeitung is wrong (
Wiener Zeitung, 29 June 1814, 718). Franz Weidinger's bride was Katharina Baumgartner (b. 21 December 1772), daughter of a
Fragner in
Neubau.
The entry concerning the wedding of the trumpeter at the court theater Franz Weidinger (Anton's elder brother) on 18 August 1802, with a reference to his father's profession "Thurnersgeselle" (Altlerchenfeld, Tom. 2, fol. 44).
Anton Weidinger's baptismal entry
Anton Weidinger was born on 9 June 1766, in the
Waisenhaus am Rennweg (today
Rennweg 89B) and baptized at the
church of the orphanage "Maria Geburt" which at that time, was a succursal church of St. Stephen's Cathedral. His godfather was the Mödling-born I. & R. chamberlain announcer Johann Michael Waldmann (1737–1798) who was a brother-in-law of Anton's mother. Weidinger's never before published baptismal entry reads as follows.
9. [Junii]
Antonius
Josephus Weidinger, ein Instructor in Waÿsen = Hauß.
Catharina ux.[or]
Jo[hann]es Michael Waldmann Kammer=H[er]rn Ansager. Bernoldin obst.[etrix]
The entry concerning Anton Weidinger's baptism at the Waisenhauskirche in Erdberg (A-Wd, Tom. 86, fol. 199r). Enviably ignorant of the Weidinger literature, Edward H. Tarr, in his article "The trumpet before 1800", writes: "Dahlquist and Lindner were the first to discover that Weidinger had been born in 1766, and not in 1767, as can be read in every reference work." (Tarr 1997, 313). As stated above, Weidinger's correct date of birth was first published in 1886, by Wurzbach.
Weidinger's application for a marriage license
In the course of my search for Anton Weidinger's marriage contract (bearing Haydn's signature), I was able to find Weidinger's application to his bride's superior guardian, the Vienna City Council, to grant Susanna Zeiss the necessary "Eheconsens" (marriage permit). Her immediate guardian was the retired court trumpeter Peter Neuhold (1724–1801) whose consent was also essential for the wedding. Although it is usually a part of such a file, Weidinger's application does not contain the couple's marriage contract.
A section of the cover sheet of Anton Weidinger's application for a marital permit for his minor bride (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A3, 1049/1796)
Anton Weidinger Tromper[sic] im K.K. Deutschen Theaterorchester
bittet der m. Susanna Zeissin den Verehligungsconsens zu ertheilen und eine baldige Tagsazung anzuordnen.
Bittsteller, die Braut Susanna Zeisinn, dann derselben Gerhab sollen den 12. Jäner 797 früh um 10 Uhr erscheinen, wozu ein Heurathskontraktsentwurf und Specification des dermal von einem jeden Theil besizenden Vermögens mitgebracht werden solle.
Ex Cons. Mag. Vien.
d. 16. Xbi 796
Spielvogl
Dem H. Peter Neuhold K.K. Ober=Hoftrompeter wohnhaft in Gumpendorf N° 57 zuzustellen.
[translation:]
Anton Weidinger, trumpeter in the German theater orchestra, requests to grant the marital consent to the minor Susanna Zeiss und to schedule an imminent hearing. The applicant, the bride Susanna Zeis, and her guardian should appear on 12 January 1797 at 10 a.m., wherefore a draft of a marriage contract and lists of each party's assets must be brought along. Ex Consilio Magistrati Viennensis 16 December 1796. Spielvogl. To be delivered to the k.k. Oberhoftrompeter Mr. Peter Neuhold, residing at Gumpendorf No. 57
Since the entry concerning the court's final decision on 12 January 1797, explicitly refers to the couple's future acquisitions as having to become shared property (a clause that was normally part of a marriage contract), it seems likely that Weidinger never actually submitted his marriage contract to the civil court.
A part of the cover sheet of Anton Weidinger's application referring to the final resolution (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A3, 1049/1796).
Uiber Einvernehmen des Vormunds will der Magistrat der m Susanna Zeisin den Konsens zur Verehligung mit dem Anton Weidinger gegen dem ertheilt haben daß Alles was beide Brautleute in Zukunft erwerben od. erwerben werden, ein Gemeinschaftl. Gut seyn soll, und daß ein beiderseitges von beiden Brautleuten auf dem klassenmäßigen Stempel verfaßtes und unterfertigtes Verzeichnis ihres derzeit besitzenden Vermögens eingelegt werde; übrigens ist dieses Anbringen aufzubehalten und diesen beiden Brautleute Rathschl.[ägig] zuverständigen
Ex Con. Magst
d. 12. Jan. 797
Spielvogl
Rath. expd. 16 Jenner 797. Spv.
[translation:]
In agreement with the guardian, the City Council wants to grant a permit to the minor Susanna Zeis to marry Anton Weidinger under the condition that everything the bridal couple will acquire in the future should be considered shared property, and that both parties submit a signed list of their current belongings on paper, bearing the appropriate revenue stamp. By the way, this application has to be kept on file and the bridal couple is to be informed of the resolution. Ex Consilio Magistrati 12 January 1797. Spielvogl. The resolution was forwarded on 16 January 1797. Spv.
The bridal couple's lists of belongings reads as follows.
The list of Anton Weidingers belongings, signed by himself, shortly before his wedding (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A3, 1049/1796).
Verzeichniß
Des gesamten Vermögens, in Hauseinrichtung, Kleidungs= und sonstigen Stücken bestehend, welche auf Anordnung Eines Löbl: Magistrates von Anton Weidinger, als derselben Eigenthümer hiemit angesetzet werden. ––
Stücke.
–– Besoldung als Trompetter im K.K. deutschen Orchester von jährl. 250 f.
1 Hart eingelegter neuer Schubladkasten
1 Bettstadt, samt dazu gehörigen Bettgewand
4 Sesseln, und 1 Tisch
3 mal sich einzukleiden gehörige Kleidung
1 goldne Sackuhr
1 Garnitur silberne Schnalln
2 Hüte, und 2 pär Stiefeln –
– Von Leinwäsche 6 Hemder, 6 paar Strümpfe, 1 d[ut]z[en]t Tücheln, nebst mehr dergleichen Kleinigkeiten p p.
[L.S.] Anton Weidingermp
Trompeter im K:K:
Wien den 12ten Jenner 797. deutschen Theater Orchester
[translation:]
List
Of the complete assets consisting of furniture, clothing and other items which, by order of the honorable City Council, was herewith drawn up by their owner Anton Weidinger.
Items.
–– Annual salary as trumpeter at the I. & R. German theater of 250 f.
1 new inlaid hardwood-cabinet with drawers
1 bed including bedclothes
4 chairs and 1 table
3 sets of proper clothing
1 golden pocket watch
1 set of silver buckles
2 hats and 2 pairs of boots
Of linen 6 shirts, 6 pairs of socks, a dozen handkerchiefs, plus a few more similar trifles asf.
Vienna, 12 January 1797. [L.S.] Anton Weidingermp
trumpeter in the I. & R.
German theater orchestra
The list of Susanna Zeiss's belongings shortly before her wedding, signed by Zeiss and her guardian Peter Neuhold (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A3, 1049/1796).
Verzeichniß
Des gesamten Vermögensstandes, in Kleidungs= und sonstigen Stücken bestehend, welche auf Anordnung Eines Löbl: Magistrates von der Susanna Zeißin, als derselben Eigenthümerin hiemit angesetzet werden. ––
Stücke.
–– An Reinem Vermögen 666 f:
–– Von Leinwäsche 10 Hemter, 14 Tücheln,
9. Fortücher, 9 paar Strümpfe, 6 Hauben.
6 mal sich umzukleiden gehörige Kleidung.
8 Schnür Kramaten.
7 Portzoleine Thäller
12 Zinnerne Thäller, 3 Schüsseln
2 Kafe Tazerl: 2 Kupferne Kandl:
17 Stück Bilder.
[L.S.] Susana Zeißin
Peter Neuhold K:K:
Ober Hof Trompetermp
Wien den 12t Jenner 797. und Gehrhab von der
Sussana Zeissin.
[translation:]
List
Of the complete assets consisting of furniture, clothing and other items
which by order of the honorable City Council was herewith drawn up by
their owner Susanna Zeiß.
Items.
–– In pure assets 666 f:
–– Of linen 10 shirts. 14 scarfs,
9 aprons, 9 pairs of stockings, 6 hats
6 sets of proper clothing
8 strings of garnets
7 china plates
12 tin plates, 3 bowls
2 coffee cups, 2 cans of copper
17 paintings.
Susana Zeiß
Vienna, 12 January 1797. [L.S.] Peter Neuhold I. & R.
superior court trumpeter mp
and guardian of
Susana Zeiss.
Weidinger's first wife
Weidinger's first wife Susanna Zeiss was born on 13 March 1775, in the house
Spittelberg No. 40, "Zum goldenen Bär" ("The Golden Bear", today
Kirchberggasse 7), second child of the court trumpeter Franz Zeiss (Zeise) and his wife Eva, née Schmid. Susanna Zeiss's godmother was Susanna Neuhold, wife of the court trumpeter Peter Neuhold.
The entry concerning the baptism of Susanna Zeiss (St. Ulrich, Tom. 34, fol. 194v). The vertical entry on the right refers to the issuance of a baptismal certificate on 7 November 1786 on the occasion of the appointment of Neuhold as the orphan girl's guardian.
Susanna Zeiss's parents had married on 27 July 1773, at St. Ulrich's, soon after Franz Zeiss had been appointed court trumpeter. At that time he was living at the
Belvedere. His bride was Eva Schmid, daughter of a master shoemaker from Vienna.
Franz Zeiss's and Eva Schmid's 1773 marriage entry: "Franz Zeisse, a bachelor, Imperial trumpeter, residing at the Belvedere on the Rennweg, born in Reichenau in Silesia" (St. Ulrich, Tom. 27, fol. 287v).
Franz and Eva Zeiss had the following four daughters.
- Susanna, b. 14 March 1774 (St. Ulrich, Tom. 34, fol. 74r), d. 22 June 1774 (A-Wsa, TBP 68, Z, fol. 8v)
- Susanna, b. 13 March 1775, d. 31 August 1807 (Anton Weidinger's first wife)
- Maria Anna Franziska, b. 1 July 1776 (St. Ulrich, Tom. 34, fol. 357v), d. 27 August 1776 (St. Ulrich, Tom. 22, fol. 233r)
- Theresia, b. 1 October 1777 (St. Ulrich, Tom. 34, fol. 515v), d. before October 1786
All these children were born at "The Golden Bear" in Spittelberg, and their joint godmother was Susanna Neuhold. The court trumpeter Franz Zeiss already died on 28 November 1783 (
Wiener Zeitung, 6 December 1783), of "Lungengeschwüre" (lung ulcers) at Landstraße 328 (today
Landstraßer Hauptstraße 7). Unfortunately, his
Sperrs-Relation (Mag. ZG, A2, 342
1/2/1783) is not extant.
The entry concerning the third-class burial of Franz Zeiss on 30 November 1783 (A-Wd, BLB 1783, fol. 329r)
Eva Zeiss died on 29 October 1786 (
Wiener Zeitung, 4 November 1786, 2679), at the
Allgemeines Krankenhaus of "Faulfieber" (gangrenous fever) (A-Wsa, TBP 87, Z, fol. 15v). Because of her poverty, the municipal civil court did not even draw up a probate file. After her mother's death, a guardian had to be appointed for the eleven-year-old Susanna Zeiss, and the authorities chose the husband of the girl's godmother, Peter Neuhold to take on this task. On 30 September 1786, Susanna Zeiss's new guardian submitted a table of expenses for his ward to the civil court of the Vienna City Council. The file pertaining to this procedure (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A3, 974/1786) does not survive. The only source concerning Neuhold's appointment is the following entry in the court protocol.
The entry in the Officiosa of the civil court concerning Peter Neuhold's submission (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, B1/9, p. 673)
27459 Zeisse Susana, ihr Gerhab Peter Neuhold, k:k: Hoftrompeter überreichte die Pupilartabell den 3. 7ber 786. [Fasz.] 3. [Numerus] 974.
[translation:]
Susanna Zeisse's guardian Peter Neuhold, I. & R. court trumpeter, on 3 September 1786, presents the guardian's account.
Anton Weidinger's 1797 marriage entry
As far as Weidinger's first wedding is concerned, Lindner,
Dahlqvist, and the Haydn literature in general solely rely on Heuberger, who in 1907, wrote the following about this event:
Daß
Haydn seine Sympathie für den Erfinder auch in das Privatleben
übertrug, beweist der Umstand, daß der berühmte Meister bei der am 6.
Februar 1797 in Wien stattgehabten Vermählung Weidingers mit Susanna
Zeissin, Tochter des Trompeters Franz Zeiss und dessen Ehefrau Eva geb.
Schmidin als Trauzeuge erschien.
[translation:]
That
Haydn transferred his sympathy for the inventor also to the private
life is proved by the fact that the famous master appeared as witness at
Weidinger's wedding with Susanna Zeiss, daughter of the trumpeter Franz
Zeiss, which took place on 6 February 1797, in Vienna.
Anthony van Hoboken
misunderstood this passage as referring to the wedding of one of
Weidinger's daughters. H. C. Robbins Landon, in his
Haydn Chronicle, and Otto Biba in the 1982 Haydn exhibition catalog, duly repeated this error. Because Heuberger did not specify whose witness
Haydn actually was, all authors had to resort to vague statements
regarding this issue. In the forword of their 1985 edition of the trumpet concerto, Makoto Ohmiya and
Sonja Gerlach write: "Haydn war Trauzeuge bei Weidingers Hochzeit", a blurry statement that Ulrich Wilker repeats in Laaber's
Haydn-Lexikon. In his
dissertation, Lindner writes with symptomatic reluctance: "Als Trauzeuge
wird Joseph Haydn genannt" (Lindner, p. 554). No Haydn scholar ever
bothered to check the actual entry in the records of the
Gumpendorf parish, until in March 2011, I finally visited the parish office and took
pictures of Weidinger's marriage entry. Haydn was not Weidinger's best
man. He officiated as witness of the orphan bride Susanna Zeiss who was
living in Haydn's house in the Steingasse.
The entry concerning the wedding of Anton Weidinger and Susanna Zeiss on 6 February 1797 (Gumpendorf, Tom. 13, p. 135f.)
Anno 1797.
Monat und Tage N° 8. Den 21. Jäner. / copulati Die 6. Feb[ruarii] / a Leonardo Jan. mpia / Parocho Loci
Bräutigam.
Namen und Stand. Anton Weidinger. Lediger Trompeter / im K:K: Theater. Gebürtig von hier. / Des Joseph Weidinger Instruktors, und Katha= / rina, geb: Vöglin. Dessen Ehg:[attin] Beeder sel:[ig] / ehl:[iger] Sohn.
Wohnung.
Nro. des Hauses und des Orts. N°: 124. / In der Joseph= / stadt. ["Three Crowns", today Piaristengasse 46]
Rel[igion] Katholisch. /
Altersjahre 30
Ledig. /
Braut.
Namen und Stand. Susana Zeissig[sic] L:[edigen] St:[ands] Ge= / bürtig von hier, des Franz / Zeissig Trompeters u der / Eva Zeissigin, geb: Schmidin / dessen Ehg: Beeder sel: J[ungfrau] Tochter
Wohnung.
Nro. des Hauses und Orts. N°: 73. / Allhier / in der kleinen / Steingassen [Haydn's house, Windmühle 73, today Haydngasse 19] Zum 1 2 3
Rel[igion] Katholisch /
Altersjahre 21
Ledig. /
Beÿstände
Namen und Karakter. Nikolaus Imelski / K:K: Zoll und Aufschlags / Obereinnehmer N° 23 / Rossau. Joseph V. Haÿdn / Fürst Esterhazi Kapel / Meister N°: 73. Allh.[ier]
Anmerkungen Bräutigam hat den Entlas / von Mili= / tär, und Braut den obergerhabl[ichen] / Consens gebracht.
Weidinger's best man Nikolaus Imelsky was born on 29 August 1740, in the Leopoldstadt (
St. Leopold 12, 508), son of the painter Anton Imelsky (1694–1763). His two grandfathers were the Polish-born court painter Johann Peter Imelsky (1646–1711), and the Viennese sculptor Johann Andreas Eglauer (1646–1726). Nikolaus Imelsky was a municipal customs official. He seems to have been an acquaintance of Anton Weidinger's father which is suggested by the following two facts: 1) At the time of his wedding on 16 February 1772 (A-Wd, Tom. 66, fol. 179r), Imelsky was employed as "K:K: Mauth und Aufschlags Gegenhandler auf dem St. Marxer Posto" (toll and surcharge administrator at the St. Marx customs station) which was located near the
Waisenhaus am Rennweg; and 2) In 1799, Imelsky's daughter Elisabeth (born 1 March 1777) was a maidservant in the service of "Herr v[on] Waldmann, Postamtsbuchhaltereybeamter" who was a brother of Anton Weidinger's godfather. After serving at St. Marx, Imelsky in 1776 was transferred to the toll and customs station
Am Tabor 93 in the Leopoldstadt. From the early 1780s on, he served as customs official for water transported goods at the so-called "
Lampelmaut" in the
Rossau where he died on 26 July 1799 (
Wiener Zeitung, 3 August 1799, 2601).
Nikolaus Imelsky's seal and signature on his 1771 marriage contract (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A2, 2317/1799)
What makes Haydn's providing lodging to Susanna Zeiss especially
intriguing is the fact that Susanna Neuhold owned the house Gumpendorf No. 80
(last numbering 83, today approximately
Mollardgasse 38).
Susanna Neuhold's house Gumpendorf 62 on Joseph Daniel von Huber's 1778 plan of Vienna (W-Waw, Sammlung Woldan). On the upper right is the Gumpendorf parish church, the Wien river is on the left.
Susanna Neuhold ("Trompeterswit[we]") and her foster daughter Katharina Leitschner ("angenomen") registered in 1805, on a conscription sheet of the house Gumpendorf 83. At that time this house already belonged to Johann Massarey (A-Wsa, Konskriptionsamt, Gumpendorf 83/1r).
Susanna Neuhold, née Ganaus, had inherited the house Gumpendorf 83 from her first husband Carl Veigl, a sculptor at the University of Vienna who had died on 20 July 1770 (
Wiener Zeitung, 25 July 1770), in Gumpendorf. Haydn must have had a close relationship with the orphan Susanna Zeiss, and for some reason was possibly in her parents' debt. On the other hand, it must also be noted that both Peter and Susanna Neuhold were older than Haydn and were possibly unable to take care of their ward. Peter Neuhold died on 19 November 1801 (
Wiener Zeitung, 25 November 1801, 4214), his wife Susanna on 26 May 1808 (
Wiener Zeitung, 1 June 1808, 2814).
Susanna Neuhold's seal and signature on her will (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A10, 328/1808)
I have delved deeply into Peter Neuhold's biography (basically doing the research that Andreas Lindner never did), but the topic of Neuhold's life will have to be dealt with in a future publication.
Peter Neuhold's 1799 application
Susanna Weidinger's marriage did not legally change her status as a minor. After she had turned twenty-four in March 1799, her guardian Peter Neuhold still had to apply to her superior guardian (i.e. the Vienna Magistrate) to grant her the status of legal majority.
Peter Neuhold's application to the Magistrate to grant majority to his ward Susanna Zeiss (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A3, 625/1799)
Honorable City Council.
Since my ward Susanna Weidinger, née Zeiss, according to the enclosed baptismal certificate A., has completed her minority and at all times has behaved reasonably and honest in such a manner that from this party nothing bad can be brought forward against her, the undersigned requests to declare her a major and grant a resolution which is necessary in this case.
Vienna, 1 April 1799.
Peter Neuhold
I. & R. superior court trumpeter
as guardian
Anton Weidinger's first wife Susanna, née Zeiss died on 31 August 1807, of tuberculosis.
The entry concerning Susanna Weidinger's death in the municipal death register (A-Wsa, TBP 123, W, fol. 56v)
[31 August 1807]
Weidinger
Mr. Anton, I. & R. court trumpeter, his wife Susanna née Zeiß, born
here, was inspected at The Dying Joseph No. 105 at St. Ulrich as having
died of tuberculosis, aged 32 years. Kern [coroner]
The entry in the parish records concerning Susanna Weidinger's death on 31 August 1807 (Maria Treu, Tom 7, fol. 25)
According to Susanna Weidinger's
Sperrs-Relation, her belongings were estimated at 101 gulden, but this sum was exceeded by the costs of the medical treatment which amounted to 255 gulden. A probate file in the holdings of the court of the
Schottenstift, in whose patrimonial jurisdiction the house St. Ulrich 105 was located, normally contains the will or the marriage contract of the deceased person. Susanna Weidinger's marriage contract – which bears Haydn's signature – is missing from the probate file and is referred to as "being located in the municipal registry". The contract is not recorded in the protocol of the municipal civil court, and, for unknown reasons, never reached the court of the Schottenstift. Susanna Weidinger's marriage contract seems to have already gone missing in 1807.
The two entries on fol. 1v of Susanna Weidinger's Sperrs-Relation referring to her children and her marriage contract (A-Wsa, Patrimonialherrschaften, Schotten, 2. Reihe, 24987)
Minor children and their whereabouts. two. 1 Joseph, aged 8 years 2 Anton aged 7 years, both at the place of death with their father.
Whether there is a will a marriage contract which was concluded at the City Council by the
deceased as ward according to the law with the approval of the superior
guardian.
Its whereabouts in the municipal registry.
In her will, dated 2 September 1806, Susanna Neuhold had bequeathed a bank bond worth 300 gulden to Susanna Weidinger, but since she survived her goddaughter by almost nine months, this bequest never had to be handed over.
Paragraph eight in Susanna Neuhold's will, containing the bequest to her "Tauf Gotl" (godchild) Susanna Weidinger (A-Wsa, Mag. ZG, A10, 328/1808)
Eighthly: To my godchild Susana Weidinger, wife of an I. & R.
court trumpeter, I bequeath a five per cent bank bond of three hundred
gulden.
Susanna Weidinger was buried on 1 September 1807, in the
Schmelz cemetery.
The search For Weidinger's certificate of apprenticeship
When in 1907 Richard Heuberger interviewed Anna Weidinger, he was shown Anton Weidinger's original certificate of apprenticeship which was issued on 18 September 1785, and signed by Weidinger's principal teacher Peter Neuhold and five representatives of the Vienna trumpeters' guild. Fortunately, Heuberger published the complete text of this document whose current wherebouts are unknown. In his 1993 thesis, Lindner writes: "Heuberger refers to original documents whose inspection was made possible by the widow of Ferdinand Weidinger, a grandson of Anton Weidinger. Because these documents are in private property today, they could not be examined." This does not mean that Lindner ever searched for these documents. He simply did not know how to look for them. They are neither held by the archive of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, nor by any other Viennese library or public institution. The search for these valuable sources leads to an investigation of the descendants of Anton Weidinger's second family.
On 17 November 1811, Anton Weidinger married for the second time (Gumpendorf, Tom. 15, fol. 64). His bride was Justina Barbara Lehrl, born on 2 June 1791 (Gumpendorf, Tom. 12, fol. 150), daughter of the Gumpendorf schoolteacher, sexton and
regens chori Anton Lehrl (1737–
1795). Justina Lehrl was a cousin of the painter
Friedrich von Amerling whose grandmother Barbara Lehrl was Justina Lehrl's aunt. With his second wife Weidinger had the following children.
- Maria Katharina, b. 31 October 1812 (Maria Treu, Tom. 9, fol. 191), married Franz Ullrich on 29 May 1832 (Maria Treu, Tom. 7, fol. 167), d. after 1856
- Anton, b. 5 December 1813, (Maria Treu, Tom. 9, fol. 257), d. 15 December 1813 (Maria Treu, Tom. 8, fol. 37)
- Karl Ferdinand, b. 4 November 1816, (Maria Treu, Tom. 9, 10, fol. 49), d. 25 November 1816 (Maria Treu, Tom. 8, fol. 133)
- Ferdinand, b. 19 October 1818 (Maria Treu, Tom. 10, fol. 157), engraver apprentice, court timpanist, d. 13 March 1895 (Maria Treu, Tom. 20, fol. 170)
- Carolina, b. 1 July 1820 (Altlerchenfeld, Tom. 6, fol. 319), d. 8 January 1873 (Maria Treu, Tom. 16, fol. 131)
- Johann, b. 2 November 1825 (St. Ulrich, Tom. 43, fol. 295), student at the Polytechnicum, intern at the chancery of the court of the Schotten Abbey, d. 27 August 1846 (Maria Treu, Tom. 11, fol. 267)
Some of these children will be dealt with in a
future blogpost which will be dedicated to their godparents Ferdinand and Katharina Kimm.
Anton Weidinger's family on an 1830 conscription sheet of the house Strozzengrund 57 (today Strozzigasse 42). Later entries include the notes "gestorben", referring to the parents. Ferdinand was "verh[eiratet]", started out as "Graveur" and in 1838, was "zu klein" for the military. Johann began as "Polytechniker" and in 1845, was "zu schwach" to be drafted. Maria is noted as married and the "Schwager des obigen", and "n. oest. Landschaftstrompeter" Ferdinand Maurer (b. 7 May 1801) was a son of Justina Lehrl's sister Barbara and Daniel Maurer, Anton Lehrl's successor as schoolteacher and sexton in Gumpendorf (A-Wsa, Konskriptionsamt, Strozzengrund 57).
Anton Weidinger's second wife Justina died on 11 October 1850, of "Wassersucht" (dropsy).
A part of the entry concerning the death and burial of Justina Weidinger (Maria Treu, Tom. 12, fol. 150)
Anton Weidinger officially retired as court trumpeter only in 1850, when, according to a medical certificate, he was already "frail and completely deaf". On 6 May 1850, Weidinger submitted a request for retirement to the I. & R.
Hofmusikgrafenamt.
Pages three and four of Anton Weidinger's request for retirement (A-Whh, HA HMK 22, fol. 110v and 111r)
Der ergebenst Gefertigte wagt es, Ein wohllöbliches K.K. Hofmusikgrafenamt um die gnädige normalmässige Pensionierung zu bitten, und seine Bitte mit folgenden Gründen zu unterstützen:
1. Ist er bereits 83 Jahr 11 Monate alt.
2. Dient er beym Allerhöchsten Hofstaate vom Jahre 796 als Expektantist auf eine erledigt werdende Hoftrompeterstelle mit Dienstleistung und
3. seit Jänner 799 als wirklich beeideter Hoftrompeter, endlich wurde er
4. mit 1. May 819 zum Oberhoftrompeter befördert, und weiset demnach mit Ausschluß der Exspektanz eine Dienstzeit über 51 Jahre, und mit Einrechnung derselben eine Dienstzeit von 54 Jahren aus. Auch hat er überdieß
5. im Militär als Trompeter u. z. im Fürst Czatorinskischen Kürassier= und im Erzherzog Toskana Dragoner Regimente durch 7 Jahre gedient, und als solcher den Türkenkrieg mitgemacht.
Über die Verleihung der wirklichen Hoftrompeterstelle ad 3 wurde dem ehrerbiethigst Gefertigten nach damaliger Sitte kein Anstellungsdekret vom damaligen KK. Hoffutteramte ausgefertigt. Den Bescheid ad 2, womit ihm die Exspektanz auf eine Hoftrompeterstelle ertheilt wurde, dann das Dekret des K.K. Oberstallmeisteramtes ad 4, mittelst welchem er zum Oberhoftrompeter befördert wurde, endlich die Nachweise ad 5 über seine militärische Dienstleistung hat der gehorsamst Gefertigte einem Gesuche an Se Majestät unsern Allergnädigsten Kaiser unterbreiteten Gesuche vom 11. April 849 wegen Verleihung der Dienst=Medaille beygeschlossen.
Auf diese Gründe gestützt sieht der ergebenste Bittleger um so mehr der Gewährung seiner Bitte entgegen, als er stets bestrebt war, seinen Berufspflichten immer mit gewissenhafter Treue nachzukommen.
Wien am 6. May 1850.
Anton Weidinger
KK. Oberhoftrompeter
Weidinger's retirement had been delayed for decades with the help of substitutes who were cheaper than the appointment of a successor. Weidinger, who survived two wives, eleven of his thirteen children, and two of his three grandchildren, died on 20 September 1852, of old age and was buried two days later in the Schmelz cemetery.
The entry concerning Anton Weidinger's obsequies and burial. The word "Versehen" refers to the last rites that Weidinger received (Maria Treu, Tom. 12, fol. 231).
The house Strozzigasse 42 today
Owing to the destroyal of all probate records of the
Josefstadt district court from between 1850 and 1898 in the course of the 1927 fire at the Palace of Justice, Anton Weidinger's probate file is not extant.
Weidinger's son and main heir Ferdinand started out as an engraver apprentice, but eventually became a timpanist, first at the
Theater in der Josephstadt, then at the
Theater an der Wien.
Ferdinand Weidinger's family on an 1850 conscription sheet of the house Strozzengrund 57 (A-Wsa, Konskriptionsamt, Strozzengrund 57). On 12 November 1848, Ferdinand had married Aloisia Katharina Rosalia Kaspar (b. 22 April 1821) (Maria Treu, Tom. 9, fol. 205).
After starting service as "Exspektant", in 1848, Ferdinand Weidinger joined the orchestra of the court theaters in 1851, and in 1855, he became a fully employed I. & R. Court timpanist. His only son Ferdinand Rudolph Alois, who was born on 22 September 1849 (Maria Treu, Tom. 26, fol. 82), broke with the family tradition and became a cellist and pianist. He also became a member of the
Hofkapelle and the
Hofoper, gave a lot of public concerts, and arranged a number of popular concert pieces for cello of which some were preserved by his pupil Josefine Donat (1867–1936) and survive in the music collection of the Austrian National Library.
The first page of Ferdinand Weidinger the younger's first employment contract as cellist with the k.k. Hof-Operntheater-Direktion for the time from 1 September 1869, until 31 August 1870. This contract was signed on 9 September 1869, by Weidinger and the then head of the court opera Franz von Dingelstedt. Weidinger's annual salary was 420 gulden (A-Whh, HA Oper SR 72–100).
When his father died in 1895, Ferdinand Weidinger the Younger inherited his grandfather's papers which after his death on 10 March 1898 (Maria Treu, Tom. 20, fol. 17), according to his will written on 23 February 1898, went to his widow Anna Weidinger.
The title page of Ferdinand Weidinger the Younger's 1898 probate file (A-Wsa, BG Josefstadt, A4, 8A, 111/98)
Anna Weidinger, who in 1907 had still been in possession of Anton Weidinger's certificate of apprenticeship, died on 6 November 1911, of uterine cancer at the
Maria-Theresia-Frauen-Hospital (today
Feldgasse 9) (Maria Treu, Tom. 22, fol. 244). In her will, dated 24 May 1904, she requested to be buried in the grave of her husband and her father-in-law and bequeathed an amount of 600 kronen to the City of Vienna "for the preservation of this grave for perpetual times". Accordingly, this grave was granted the status "auf Friedhofsdauer" (preservation for the time of existence of the cemetery). The grave of Anton Weidinger's son Ferdinand (1818–1895), his grandson Ferdinand (1849–1898), and his granddaughter-in-law Anna Weidinger (1855–1911) is located in group 48B (1/38) of Vienna's
Zentralfriedhof.
The Weidinger family grave in the Zentralfriedhof (48B/1/38) in late 2014
The tombstone of this grave will at some time eventually tumble northwards and no institution in the "
Music Capital of the World'" will be willing to pay for its restoration. Anna Weidinger's sole heir was her sister. The fact that this sister was unmarried and had no children makes it rather unlikely that Anton Weidinger's original documents survived. My research in this matter is still ongoing.
Postscript (December 2017)
Just as I predicted in March 2015, the stone of the abovementioned grave of the Weidinger family has since been taken down for security reasons and laid on the ground behind its base.
The Weidinger family grave in December 2017
It will be interesting to see if the City of Vienna will acknowledge her legal obligation to take care of this grave and whether the
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will be willing to contribute to the restoration of the grave of two of this orchestra's former members.
Update (10 April 2019)
In December 2017, via a member of the orchestra, a colleague cellist, who is an old acquaintance, I contacted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and informed them of the destroyed state of the grave of two of their more prominent nineteenth-century members. The orchestra's management allegedly brought the issue up at a board meeting, but eventually decided not to have the grave restored.
The Weidinger family grave in April 2019
The VPO, which according to numerous sources, is awash with money, obviously does not want to set a precedent by taking care of the Weidinger family grave. The VPO's management is afraid that the orchestra may be overrun by more requests to take care of graves of its deceased members.
Bibliography
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Black, David. 2006. "Mozart and Musical Discipline at the Waisenhaus", Mozart-Jahrbuch, Kassel: Bärenreiter 2006 (2008), 17-33.
Dahlqvist, Reine. 1975. The keyed Trumpet and its greatest virtuoso, Anton Weidinger. Nashville, Tenn: The Brass Press. Brass Research Series 1.
Gerlach, Sonja and Ohmiya, Makoto, 1985. Joseph Haydn Werke III/33, Konzerte für ein Blasinstrument und Orchester (Joseph Haydn-Institut Köln). München: Henle. VIII-X.
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–––––––. 1999. Die kaiserlichen Hoftrompeter und Hofpauker im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert. Tutzing: Schneider.
Raab, Armin. Siegert, Christine. Steinbeck, Wolfram (eds.). 2009. Das Haydn-Lexikon. Laaber: Laaber-Verlag.
Tarr, Edward H. "The trumpet before 1800", in: Herbert, Trevor. Wallace, John (eds). 1997. The Cambridge Companion to Brass Instruments. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 103-22.
Wurzbach, Constant von. 1886. "Weidinger, Anton", in: Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich, vol. 53. Vienna: k.k. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, 258f.
© Dr. Michael Lorenz 2015. All rights reserved.
Updated: 10 January 2024
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