Silvius Leopold Weiss is considered to be one of the greatest
lutenist of all times. Weiss was born on October 12, 1686 in
Breslau, Silesia. (Wroclaw, Poland) He learned the lute from
his father, Johann Jakob. He was the leading lutenist of Bach's
time. He was highly regarded as a composer. His compositions
make up a major part of the lute's repertoire. He was responsible
for leaving the largest, both qualitatively and quantitatively,
number of compositions for the solo lute of any composer in history.
650 of Weiss' works have survived. The whole - the largest collection
in lute music history. He became the highest paid musician of
the court orchestra of Dresden. For his solo performances his
early compositions use an eleven course lute. In 1719 he switched
to a thirteen course lute. Weiss missed half of 1722 after a
violinist had almost bit off his thumb, supposedly as an act
of vengeance.
Weiss formed an acquaintence J.S Bach. It is speculated that
the Bach Lute Suites may have been written for Weiss. Weiss'
virtuosity is best described in this account by JF Reichardt
of a competition between the Weiss and Bach in Dresden:
"Anyone who knows how difficult it is to play harmonic
modulations and good counterpoints on the lute will be surprised
and full of disbelief to hear from eyes-witnesses that
Weiss, the great lute-player, challenged JS Bach, the
great harpsichord and organ-player, by playing fantasies and
fugues."
Weiss died on October 16 th 1750, leaving his widow, Marie-Elizabeth,
and 7 children. Only one of them, Johann Adolf Faustinusto followed
in his steps as a lute-player at the court of Dresden.
Silvius Leopold Weiss (1684-1750)
