F.E. Fisher Revisited: More on the Life of Friedrich Ernst Fischer (c.1711/12-1760) (original) (raw)

The Musical Times, 2023

Abstract

This article deals with the life and music of the violinist, cellist and composer Frederick Ernest Fisher, first brought to light with enthusiasm in the 1950s by Stanley Sadie but subsequently strangely neglected. Born and trained in Kassel, Friedrich Ernst Fischer worked for a while in Leiden in the service of the university's music society before moving to England in 1746. After a very brief period in London, Fisher (to use the English form of his surname) settled in Cambridge, where he served the local music society as its resident professional musician with responsibility for teaching stringed instruments. The only music by him to survive consists of two published collections of trio sonatas for two violins, cello and continuo: twelve compositions in all. The consistently high quality of these sonatas amply justifies Sadie's assessment of two of them as 'among the finest of their time'. Modern editions of them by the present writer make verification of this claim simpler. The sonatas are remarkable for their thematic economy, contrapuntal and harmonic dexterity, perfection of form, variety and strong musical ideas. They both look back to the High Baroque period and forward to the Early Classical period, exemplifying the galant period (but without any hint of preciosity or triviality). Enquiries to the author are welcomed.

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