Musical contribution - February 2012

Rondo Christian Friedrich Ruppe (1753-1826)

We have a relatively unknown composer this month.  People who have heard of him before, will undoubtedly know him as a result of the Rondo we are offering you this month.

Ruppe was born in Germany. His father was a hat maker and organist, who taught his son that initial love for the organ. He moved to the Netherlands at a later stage. He studied at Leiden University and became an organist in the Lutheran Church in Leiden. The church organ was in a very bad condition. Ruppe was therefore strongly committed to the construction of a new organ for the church. The new instrument was ready for use just 2 years later.

He was appointed as the Music Director and Teacher at the aforementioned university in 1790 and developed many new activities. King Willem I appointed him as Music Lecturer in 1816.

The Rondo probably came from “Twaalf werkjes uit de gedichten voor kinderen” (Twelve pieces from poems for children) and therefore forms part of a type of suite. It’s intended as chamber music and is therefore mainly quite light.  The chorus appears three times. I opted to constantly choose a different registration during the recording, although this was mostly done to provide an impression of the possibilities.  You could simply use a flute 8’ or perhaps even just a flute 4’. But combinations of 8’ + 4’ / 8’ + 2’ / 8’ + 4’ + 2’ are certainly all very possible too. Perhaps your own instrument will inspire you to try other possibilities.

Both of the middle sections are slightly more melodious and form a nice contrast with the choruses. It’s also nice to make this heard in the registration. The piece is intended to be played manually and, partly as a result of this, it reminds me of short pieces like “für Flötenuhr” or “für ein mechanischer Orgel” by other composers from that same era.

With Kind Regards,
André van Vliet