Konrad Starck

1715-1787

Almost nothing is known of this 18th century German composer, something you will have read a lot on the (web) pages of Classical Byways. Konrad Starck was the son of Valentin Starck. He probably spent most of his life in Mainz, but that remains conjecture.

He must have had a decent musical education because by the age of 22 he was serving in Mainz as a musician for the Regiment von Welsch, set up by Maximillian von Welsch, a favourite of the Prince Elector.

The same year, 1737, having secured a regular job, he married the singer Maria Eva Beschel.

He had become established as a composer during his mid twenties and is referred to as such in a number of written documents.

By the summer of 1764 he had been appointed as second Kapellmeister at the Court Orchestra of Trier under Georg Friedrich Cron.

He was appointed Kapellmeister in 1765 and then again after Cron's death in 1768, he assumed the post of Hofkapellmeister.

His surviving compositions are nearly all sacred music including a Miserere and several Masses.