Hofmann, Leopold (1738-1793)

Leopold Hofmann's Concerto A1 offers the only textual evidence, albeit inconclusive, to support the pedagogical origins of Hofmann’s keyboard concertos. This evidence takes the form of an elaborately embellished version of the second movement which is bound together with the solo part in a volume of keyboard music preserved in the Austrian National Library which formerly belonged to Hofmann’s pupil, Archduchess Elisabeth. In 1768 Concerto A1 became just the second of Hofmann’s keyboard concertos to be advertised in the Breitkopf catalogue. It is not difficult to see why the work circulated comparatively widely. The music is lively and attractive, not overly demanding for the soloist and it contains some unexpected surprises.