Parthia in D (4°496)

Joseph Reicha was born 12 February 1752 in Chudenice near Klattau (west bohemia) and studied cello in Prague. He got an employment playing the first cello at the court chapel of Wallerstein in 1774. Six years later, he even became chapel-master. In 1781, he took his nephew Anton Reicha (1770-1836) to him and taught him several instruments as well as probably composition.

That Prince Kraft Ernst estimated Joseph Reicha can be proved by the fact that he got 750 Gulden, twice as much as the other musicians earned. Nevertheless, Reicha left the chapel in 1785 for an employment of Maximilian Franz, archbishop from Cologne. Short time later, he became concert master of the court chapel in Bonn earning 1000 Gulden. Famous musician like his nephew Anton, playing violin and flute, and the young Beethoven, viola, belonged also to this orchestra.

In 1790, Joseph Reicha got ill because of gout and died 5 March 1795 in Bonn. The main time of composition was at Wallerstein. Within these eleven years, he composed symphonies, solo concerti and chamber music.